27 May 2001
Zutphen, The Netherlands

We, anti-imperialist and democratic mass organizations from different countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Europe and Oceania, are happy to announce the successful holding of the First International Assembly establishing the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS). This is a historic moment for all progressive forces throughout the world who are fighting for national independence, democracy and social liberation against imperialism and reaction

From 25 to 27 May 2001, we 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).

The First International Assembly was attended by 339 delegates and guests, representing 232 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.

Prof. Jose Maria Sison, chairman of the International Initiative Committee (IIC), opened the assembly. He welcomed the delegates on behalf of the IIC and delivered the report on the historical background of the assembly and the preparatory work undertaken by the IIC that led to the successful launching of the League.

As approved by the delegates, the nature and objectives of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle are as follows:

The League is an anti-imperialist and democratic formation. It shall promote, support and develop the anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the people of the world against the ideological, political, military, economic, social and cultural domination and attacks of imperialism and reaction.

The League has a broad mass character and shall not be subordinate to any political party, government or church and shall afford equality to all participating organizations. It shall strive to realize the unity, cooperation and coordination of anti-imperialist and democratic struggles throughout the world.

The League stands and fights for the following:

1. The cause of national liberation, democracy and social liberation against imperialism and all reaction;
2. Socio-economic development for oppressed and exploited countries and nations and social equity for all working people;
3. Human rights in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural fields against state violence, national oppression, class exploitation, gender oppression, fascism, casteism, racism and religious bigotry;
4. The cause of just peace and struggles against wars of counterrevolution and aggression and against nuclear, biological, chemical, missile and other weapons of genocidal and random mass destruction;
5. Promotion of trade union and other democratic rights of the working class, improvement of wage and living conditions against all forms of intensifying exploitation of labor and the destruction of working class organizations in their pursuit of the historic mission of fighting for social liberation;
6. Agrarian reform and rights of peasants, farm workers and fisherfolk against feudal, semi-feudal and capitalist exploitation and oppression;
7. The cause of women’s liberation and rights against all forms of sexual discrimination, exploitation and violence;
8. Rights of the youth to education and employment;
9. Children's rights against child labor, sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation;
10. Rights of indigenous peoples, national minorities, and nationalities for self-determination and de-colonization against discrimination, racism and national oppression by imperialism and local reaction;
11. The rights of teachers, researchers and other educational personnel and struggle against ideas and researches directed against the people;
12. The right of the people to health care and the rights of health workers;
13. Science and technology for the people and development, environmental protection against plunder and pollution and the destruction of the foundations of human life, the right to safe and healthy food and water and opposition to manipulation of genetic technology for imperialist profit;
14. Arts and culture and free flow of information in the service of the people and the rights of artists, creative writers, journalists and other cultural workers and against imperialist and reactionary propaganda and oppression;
15. Justice and indemnification for the victims of illegal arrest and detention (especially political prisoners), violations of due process, torture, extra-judicial executions, disappearances, mass displacement, and other blatant forms of human rights violations;
16. Rights and welfare of homeless persons, refugees and migrant workers displaced by imperialism and local reactionaries;
17. Rights of aged people towards a life in dignity and secured existence; and
18. Rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered against discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia.

Fifteen workshops were held addressing the issues of most of the above 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.

Elected to the International Coordinating Committee (ICC), the highest decision–making organ of the League between assemblies, were: H.A. Khan Rano of Bangladesh, Danny Claes and An Lenaerts of Belgium, Honore Lokossa of Benin, Nay Myo Hlaing of Burma, Cecilia Diocson-Sayo and Hari Sharma of Canada, Jim Balikwisha of Congo, Leopoldo Grullon of the Dominican Republic, Remzi Sahinoglu of France, Metin Atak of Germany, Errikos Finalis and Aris Lambrou of Greece, Fathima Natesan Burnad and Darshan Pol of India, Ita Nadia and Mega Suhantara of Indonesia, Arman Riazi of Iran, Irene Fernandez of Malaysia, Bernardo Ranferi of Mexico, Sapkota Nabin of Nepal, Chuck Barkey of the Netherlands, Daphna Whitmore of New Zealand, Azra Talat Sayeed of Pakistan, Crispin Beltran, Cherry Clemente, Rafael Mariano and Liza Maza of the Philippines, Hahn Choong Mok of South Korea, Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk of Thailand, Hasan Gulum, Memik Horoz and Musa Servi of Turkey, Ray Light and Joe Navidad of the United States of America.

The ICC elected the following as its officers to constitute the International Coordinating Group (ICG): Crispin Beltran as Chairperson; Memik Horoz as Deputy Chairperson; An Lenaerts as First Deputy Chairperson for Internal Affairs; Bernardo Ranferi as Second Deputy Chairperson for External Affairs; Arman Riazi as General Secretary; Cherry Clemente as First Deputy General Secretary; Jim Balikwisha as Second Deputy General Secretary; Danny Claes as Treasurer; and Irene Fernandez as Auditor. The ICC decided to invite Prof. Jose Maria Sison as consultant of the League or in a similar capacity in recognition of his services as Chairman of the International Initiative Committee and in prospect of his continuing advisory role.

The ILPS shall make immediate efforts to publish and distribute the decisions and documents of the First International Assembly, in English and in other languages.

The ICC shall encourage mass formations to apply as participating organizations on the basis of accepting the results of the assembly.

The ICC decided that the General Secretariat and the international headquarters of the ILPS shall be located in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

FOR THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY:

The International Coordinating Committee

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