BY IGGY KIM
Renowned Russian Marxist writer and political commentator Boris Kagarlitsky will speak at the Second Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference, to be held in Sydney, March 29-April 1, 2002.
Kagarlitsky was jailed for his activities in the democratic socialist opposition in the former Soviet Union and has written extensively on Russian politics, including contributions to Green Left Weekly and Links, the international socialist journal published in Australia. More recently, he was active in the Prague S26 actions and has provided useful analysis of the general anti-globalisation movement.
The conference already has a growing list of European socialists speaking. They will address the exciting socialist renewal and regroupment projects developing there. So far, Alain Krivine, a leader of the French Revolutionary Communist League and a member of the European Parliament, has agreed to be a keynote speaker. From Portugal, the Left Bloc has confirmed that they send one of their members of parliament. There is also a good chance that a leader of the Scottish Socialist Party will be attending.
Core participation will be from the Asian parties that the Democratic Socialist Party has developed close collaboration with in recent years — the People's Democratic Party in Indonesia, the Socialist Party of Timor, the Socialist Party of Labour in the Philippines, the Labour Party Pakistan, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation and the Power of the Working Class in South Korea. The Seraiki National Party will also send its president and spokesperson. The SNP is struggling for national self-determination for the 50 million Seraiki people currently ruled by Pakistan.
African participation has also been confirmed. Mauritius's Lalit will send one of its leaders, Ram Seegobin. From South Africa, Dale McKinley, a regular contributor to Green Left Weekly and Links has accepted the invitation to speak.
The immensely successful first Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference in Sydney in April 1998 was attended by more than 750 people, including 67 representatives from overseas left parties and organisations.
The 2002 conference will be organised by the Asia Pacific Institute for Democratisation and Development, PO Box 515, Broadway 2007, Australia. Email: <apisc2002@greenleft.org.au.>.