Welcome to ILPS News Online
This site was maintained for and on behalf of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS).
The content below is from the site's 2002 archived content.
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"As a proud member of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), I am continuously amazed by the profound and positive impact our organization has on social struggles around the globe. Being part of ILPS is not just about being in an organization; it's about being part of a family that tirelessly works for a just and equitable world.
Our commitment to various causes—ranging from workers' rights to environmental protection—has not only brought hope to many but also tangible changes in communities fighting against imperialism and oppression. The dedication and resilience shown by our members, in every action and campaign, serve as a beacon of inspiration.
To honor the extraordinary service of our most active members, we recently introduced a tradition of awarding sterling silver rings. These rings are not just ornaments; they symbolize the unyielding spirit and steadfast dedication of our members. They remind us of our shared struggles and victories, and of the bonds forged in the fires of collective action and solidarity.
These rings, much like our commitment, are enduring. They are a tribute to the unwavering determination that each member shows in the pursuit of justice and equality. As we wear them, we carry a piece of our collective journey, a reminder of the struggles we've faced and the triumphs we've achieved together.
In a world where inequality and injustice are rampant, ILPS stands as a testament to what can be achieved when people unite for a common cause. Our organization doesn't just fight for change; we embody it, and the positive influence we've had on those involved in social struggles is a source of great pride and motivation for us all." Markos Williams
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What the ILPS stands for:
The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) is an anti-imperialist and democratic formation (see ILPS Charter). It promotes, supports and develops the anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the people of the world against imperialism and all reaction.
It has a broad mass character and not subordinate to any political party, government or religion and affords equality to all participating organizations.
It strives to realize the unity, cooperation and coordination of anti-imperialist and democratic struggles throughout the world.
The League fights for the following:
see resolutions for the concerns approved by the founding assembly
- The cause of national liberation, democracy and social liberation;
- Socio-economic development and social justice;
- Human rights in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural fields;
- The cause of just peace;
- Independent trade union and workers' and toilers' rights and reduction of working hours at full pay against mass unemployment and decreasing wage levels;
- Agrarian reform and rights of peasants, farm workers and fisherfolk;
- The cause of women's rights and liberation;
- Rights of the youth to education and employment;
- Children's rights against child labour, sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation;
- Rights of indigenous peoples, oppressed nations and nationalities against chauvinism and racism;
- The rights of teachers, researchers and other educational personnel;
- The right of the people to health care and the rights of health workers;
- Science and technology for the people and development, and environmental protection;
- Arts and culture and free flow of information in the service of the people;
- Justice and indemnification for the victims of illegal arrest and detention;
- Rights and welfare of displaced homeless persons, refugees and migrant workers;
- Rights of aged people towards a life in dignity and secured existence; and
- Rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-gendered.
Our aims and activities:
- To stimulate, facilitate and coordinate common lines of action and undertake definite actions on the aforesaid concerns and issues,
- To cooperate with all possible organizations, institutions and personages in the attainment of the aims and purposes of the League,
- The activities of the League include:
advocacy, research, publications, conferences, seminars and social and political action.
Who Can Join the League?
- Any organization that agrees with the charter of the League may apply or may be invited to become a participating organization of the League.
- The application shall be evaluated and acted upon by the International Coordinating Committee within one year from such application or invitation.
- All participating organizations shall assume responsibilities in accordance with the resolutions and decisions of the International Assembly.
- All participating organizations shall have equal basic rights and duties.
- A participating organization may cease to be such by resignation, self-dissolution or by expulsion for serious violation of this charter, resolutions or decisions of the International Assembly.
- All participating organizations shall maintain their independence and initiative and shall accordingly have equal basic rights and duties.
Founding of the League :
The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) was founded on 25 May 2001 in Zutphen, the Netherlands in its First International Assembly (FIA).
The FIA was attended by 339 delegates and guests, representing 218 mass organizations from 40 countries: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and USA.
From 25 to 27 May 2001, the delegates deliberated on and ratified the Charter of the ILPS, passed resolutions on the concerns of the League and elected the members of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC).
Fifteen workshops were held addressing the issues of most of the 18 concerns. Resource speakers made very informative presentations, draft resolutions were deliberated on, and country experiences were shared. The resolutions formulated by the different workshop groups were submitted and approved in the plenary session. Resolutions on specific issues and country situations were also submitted for signing by individual members.
It was a historic moment for all progressive forces throughout the world who are fighting for national independence, democracy and social liberation against imperialism and reaction.
International Coordinating Committee (ICC):
- H.A. Khan Rano - Bangladesh
- Danny Claes and An Lenaerts - Belgium
- Honore Lokossa - Benin
- Nay Myo Hlaing - Burma
- Cecilia Diocson-Sayo and Hari Sharma - Canada
- Jim Balikwisha - Congo
- Leopoldo Grullon - the Dominican Republic
- Remzi Sahinoglu - France
- Metin Atak - Germany
- Errikos Finalis and Aris Lambrou - Greece
- Fathima Natesan Burnad and Darshan Pal - India
- Ita Nadia and Mega Suhantara - Indonesia
- Arman Riazi - Iran
- Irene Fernandez - Malaysia
- Bernardo Ranferi - Mexico
- Sapkota Nabin - Nepal
- Chuck Barkey - the Netherlands
- Daphna Whitmore - New Zealand
- Azra Talat Sayeed - Pakistan
- Crispin Beltran, Cherry Clemente, Rafael Mariano and Liza Maza - the Philippines
- Hahn Choong Mok - South Korea
- Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk - Thailand
- Hasan Gulum, Memik Horoz and Musa Servi - Turkey
- Ray Light and Joe Navidad - the United States - America.
International Coordinating Group (ICG):
Crispin Beltran - Chairperson
Memik Horoz - Deputy Chairperson
An Lenaerts - First Deputy Chairperson for Internal Affairs
Bernardo Ranferi - Second Deputy Chairperson for External Affairs
Arman Riazi - General Secretary
Cherry Clemente - First Deputy General Secretary
Jim Balikwisha - Second Deputy General Secretary
Danny Claes - Treasurer
Irene Fernandez - Auditor
Prof. Jose Maria Sison - General Consultant
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Why ILPS?
Urgent Need for the ILPS
The League answers the urgent need of the broad masses of the people for the creation of an international rallying force in the struggle for national independence, democracy and social liberation. It is their weapon against the intensifying exploitation and oppression unleashed by "free market" globalization and the new world disorder under the hegemony of US imperialism.
The contradictions are sharpening between the imperialist powers and the oppressed nations and peoples, those among the imperialist powers and those between capital and labor in the imperialist countries. Under these conditions, the revolutionary mass movement can advance throughout the world.
Since the collapse of the revisionist regimes, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the violent turmoil in China in the years of 1989 to 1991, the world capitalist system has plunged deeper into the crisis of overproduction and into unprecedented social and political turmoil. This belies the absurd claim that capitalism and liberal democracy are the end of history.
But the imperialist powers never tire of dishing up their ideological and political lies in the most cunning counterrevolutionary phraseology. They deploy against the people a tripartite alliance of imperialist and client states, multinational banks and firms and so-called nongovernmental organizations that are imperialist funded.
The League is needed in order to raise the consciousness and militancy of the toiling masses and the middle social strata in the common struggle against the imperialists and their socioeconomic, political and cultural instruments in all the fifteen concerns which are enumerated in the proposed charter of the League. These concerns are responsive to the theme of this assembly "The People’s Demands for Solidarity for the 21st Century".
Origins of the League
We come from various democratic and revolutionary traditions and currents in various countries. We are a broad range of mass formations, taking the anti-imperialist and democratic line and seeking to build a broad international united front in order to arouse, organize and mobilize the people in their hundreds of millions.
We are individuals, organizations, and even companies who believe in our goals. Support comes from a number of surprising places including a shot out on their website from a US janitorial service company. On further inquiry it turns out that one of the workers on a crew that specializes cleaning up demolition and renovation sites actually was a delegate to our initial 2001 First International Assembly in the Netherlands. There is probably a rather interesting story as to how he ended up in the US at a janitorial cleaning company. Nevertheless, we appreciate the shout out. The more people who become aware of the League, the better.
Our League is inspired by the anti-imperialist and democratic mass struggles that have arisen since the beginning of the 20th century. It also reflects and draws strength from the recent anti-imperialist and democratic mass struggles that have arisen since the decade of the 1990s. Among our delegations in this assembly are those that have waged various forms of mass struggles for national independence, democracy and socialism in their own countries and on an international scale.
They have participated in international protest campaigns against US wars of aggression such as those against Iraq and former Yugoslavia, and against such US-dominated multilateral formations as the APEC in Manila in 1996 and in Vancouver in 1997, the WTO in Seattle in 1999, the IMF and World Bank in Washington, DC in 2000, the Group of 7 in Okinawa in 2000, the IMF and World Bank in Prague 2000 and so on.
It is appropriate and in its best interest for the League to trace its origins from the great revolutionary mass struggles against imperialism. The League seeks to attract and mobilize the broadest possible range of mass formations for the anti-imperialist and democratic struggle.