The anti-war, anti-globalization assembly adopts a United-Nations
from Afamia - 18.09.2004 17:32
The anti-war anti-globalization movements are gathered in Beirut from September 17 to 19, 2004 with two main objectives: First, to broaden and strengthen the movement by debating and developing common perspectives, strategies and campaigns for the coming years. The second objective is to deepen existing links, and to develop new links, with anti-war and anti-globalization forces especially in the Arab world, which partly explains the decision to hold this assembly in Beirut, as claimed by the organizers.
The International working group of the anti-war, anti-globalization movements was formed after the United States and UK invasion of Iraq. Representatives from various anti-war groups and organizations such as the Asian Peace Alliance, the UK Stop the war coalition, United for Peace and justice, and the Italian Social Forum gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia and produced the “Jakarta Peace Consensus”, which is at the same time a declaration and a plan of action to advance global peace and justice. Representatives from Iraqi democracy activists, WSF-India, and Focus on the Global South were also present.
Organizers
The Assembly, entitled "Where Next for the Global Anti-War and Anti-Globalization Movements?" is organized by members the international working group, namely Focus on the Global South, CCIPPP (International Civilian Campaign for the Protection of the Palestinian People), and Babel (interpreter network). The call was sent out in June 2004. Subsequently, more than 200 organizations from all regions of the world endorsed the call.
Surprisingly, the call to the assembly stated that it will be a meeting of representatives to limit the number of participants. Therefore only 1 or 2 representatives per organization were allowed to register for the meeting. The organization should have one three criteria to participate. It has to be an anti-war group and coalition which mobilized and continue to mobilize against the war in Iraq and the occupation in Palestine; a social movement such as trade unions, peasant's groups, women and youth organizations, etc.; or an NGO and research organizations working on war or corporate led globalization related issues. Despite of all these limiting criteria, the organizers expected around 150-200 representatives from around 50 countries around the world, including a delegation from Iraq.
Local groups
The organizers held meetings with Lebanese and Palestinian organizations in Beirut, political parties, trade unions, NGOs, student groups and social movements. A representative of Al Yassari Magazine, a local leftist political magazine, complained that many local grassroots organization, NGOs, and other social movements were excluded from these meetings. They explained that they approached the organizers immediately after they heard about the assembly from international groups they collaborate with. The organizers confessed their ignorance about the local movements and organization and their dependence on CCIPPP and Nadi Al Leqaa (a local cultural club) to contact the local groups. Thus, they held meetings with some of those groups, namely Inymedia Beirut, Al Yassari Magazine and Helem, and collected their criticism on the objectives, the agenda of the assembly and the process of its organization. Unfortunately, it was late to amend any aspect of the assembly, especially the program.
Program of the Assembly
The program of the assembly stretches over 3 days followed by a press conference at the fourth day to announce the declaration or the consensus reached by the participants. There are three main themes that the program is centered around, 1- Overview of the current situation by representatives from Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the US. 2- Analysis and debate of the strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures of the movements against war, imperialism and globalization. 3- Development of a strategy or a plan of action that reflects the priorities of the international movement, and the assessment of past experience.
The structure of the program, though at first sight looks systematic and logical, follows the United Nations approach in planning for a better world, except that no time-frame was allocated!! The many and diverse movements of the different regions are expected to melt into one body: “the international movement”. In addition, the participants are asked to study the various causes of all movements, prioritize them, and choose those on the top of the list to develop a strategy and an action plan for them!! This approach undermines the importance and relevance of each cause in itself and ignores the diversity of the international movement with its issues, means of resistance, targets of its struggle, different political affiliations, and the context under which the struggle is carried out.
Reflections - Day 1
The first thing that stroke many of the local groups the first day of the assembly was the presence of a representative of the Hizbollah political party, a military organization, as the speakers of the first session of this anti-war organization which was about “The Lebanese People’s successful struggle against Israeli occupation and US”. Ali Fayyad, the Hizbollah representative, glorified the achievements of the Islamic resistance in defeating the Israelis in Southern Lebanon and reclaiming the occupied land. He clarified that Islam is a religion that respects communication and dialogue and aims at global peace and security, contrary to the American propaganda about Islam. He explained that the "Liberating Islam" is distinguished from Terrorism and its main examples are the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine. Finally, he called for an alternative globalization that causes no poverty and no and stated that nothing stands in the way of people's will to achieve freedom.
The speakers while applauding the Lebanese armed resistance against the occupation overlooked that the aim is to liberate the people as much if not more essential than reclaiming the land. He also bypassed the question about the contribution of Hizbollah to the local demands of the people for better living conditions and about their silence facing the massacre of seven people in Hey El Sellom by the Lebanese Army last May during the demonstrations against the dreadful economic conditions. It is important to note that Hey El Sellom is one of the impoverished areas on the outskirts of Beirut, the capital city and that it is still under the control of Hizbollah not the Lebanese government.
Doreid Yaghi from the Progressive Socialist Party (Lebanon) identified five key strategies to achieve the goals against war and imperialism. 1- To adopt the strategy of resistance rather than compromise; 2- Say no to totalitarianism, and grant the people with their political rights which will provide them with strength to struggle; 3- Initiate a dialogue between all political groups; 4- Boycott Israel politically and economically; and finally 5- Join the international movement.
Ghassan Issa, from Nadi Al Leqaa, a local cultural club, stressed that participatory democracy is the answer to our struggle. He criticized the traditional political opposition that aims to reclaim power and once it does it assumes the role of the autocratic ruler. He called for the appreciation of the diversity of the international movement which is the main tool to face its challenges. Finally, he stated that the armed resistance is a basic right and should be differentiated from terrorism when people are struggling for their land and freedom.
Other speakers in the first session included representatives from the Lebanese Communist Party and the Lebanese NGO network.
After the first session, participants went to Sabra and Shatila Palestinian camps to commemorate the anniversary of the massacre that was committed by the Israeli forces and the Lebanese Phalangist Militia against unarmed Palestinian refugees in 1982.
Another anomaly recognized by many local and international participants was the luxury of the venue where the conference is held. After announcing on the organizers' website that organizations are expected to raise funds to send their representatives to Beirut, participants expected the venue to be a humble place that is congruent with the limited budget of the assembly rather than the Bristol Hotel, one of the most expensive hotels in Beirut. One participant from Canada found it very agonizing to have lunch at the hotel with the other participants because they serve the three-course set menu on silver plates!!
