BY IGGY KIM
Left parties and activists around the world have enthusiastically welcomed a further step in the international process of socialist renewal and regroupment. The Socialist Alliance's first national conference received 41 greetings of solidarity from overseas organisations.
From the Asia-Pacific region, greetings were received from the People's Democratic Party (Indonesia), the Acehnese People's Democratic Resistance Front, the Socialist Party of Timor, the Socialist Party of Malaysia, Malaysian People's Party, the Socialist Party of Labour (Philippines), the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, the Inquallabi Communist Sangathan (India), the All-India Anti-imperialist Forum, the Labour Party Pakistan, the Pakistan Working Women Organisation, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), the Sri Lankan New Left Front, the Afghanistan Labour Revolutionary Organisation, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, South Korea's Power of the Working Class, the Korean Youth Progress Party, New Zealand Greens city councillor, Marie Leadbeater, and Afghani socialist Hanif Loyand.
From Europe, greetings were received from the Scottish Socialist Party, the British Socialist Workers Party, Global Struggle (England), Germany's Party of Democratic Socialism, the Cypriot Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Synaspismos in Greece, International Solidarity with Workers in Russia, the Socialist Party of the Netherlands, and the youth section of the Estonian Social-Democratic Labour Party.
From North America, the US International Socialist Organisation, renowned left academic, James Petras, and the Freedom Socialist Party's international executive committee sent greetings.
From Latin America, the Communist Party of Brazil greeted the conference.
Many of the messages expressed vivid excitement and congratulations at the difficult task of coalescing nine socialist organisations. But there was also an understanding of the trend of developments that has driven the process.
Chris Bambery, national secretary of the British Socialist Workers Party, stated in his greetings: "Globally we are witnessing the rebirth of the left. The marvellous protest in Genoa in July... is just the most recent example of that... We hope your conference is successful. This is the time for unity. Let's unite around what we agree on. Let's work together. This is our time. As we chanted in Genoa, 'We are winning!'."