By Justin Randell
MELBOURNE "Fight the system" was the theme of the 26th national conference of the socialist youth organisation Resistance, held here July 4-6. Two hundred and eighty delegates and observers attended the conference, many for the first time.
Internationalism was a central feature of the conference, reflecting Resistance's support for the development of socialist forces worldwide. Messages of solidarity from organisations around the world, including Pakistan, Indonesia, East Timor, Britain, the US and Malaysia, were met with enthusiastic applause and served as an inspiration for all those attending.
The internationalism was particularly highlighted in two feature panels focused on the struggles of the Indonesian and East Timorese peoples.
"The Final Year of Suharto" featured Nico Warouw, the international representative of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), who spoke about the PRD's role in the struggle to overthrow the dictator Suharto.
The conference also heard a tribute to David Alex, second in command of Falintil, the East Timorese army of national liberation, who was recently captured and murdered by the Indonesian military.
To commemorate 30 years since his death, the conference heard a presentation on the life and politics of the Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara. Che Guevara featured prominently in conference publicity, and the main banner of the conference held an enormous picture of him.
One of the main discussions of the conference was on "globalisation", which is being pushed by mainstream media and academics as a way to justify continuing (and growing) economic and social inequalities.
Conference participants noted the need to counter this ideological push as well as noting the increasing numbers worldwide taking action to "fight the system" — in France and western Europe, in South Korea, Zaire/Congo, Albania and in many other places.
The conference opened with a public meeting on Thursday, July 3, entitled "Fighting Hanson and Howard's Racism", which drew an attendance of more than 200 and featured speakers involved in the anti-racist campaigning of the past year.
The speeches emphasised that, although Hanson is identified as the spearhead of this racist ideological push, the Howard government is just as culpable. Indeed, Howard's push to squash "political correctness" in the interests of "free speech", and his attacks on "minority special interests" laid the basis for the rise of Hanson.
"The Howard government has used the race card to hide its inability to offer solutions: to the unemployed and people with no job security" , said Kamala Emanuel, one of the speakers at the public meeting.
"And it's used racism to justify the implementation of racist policies such as cutting funding to ATSIC and ABSTUDY, increasing the waiting period before migrants are eligible for social security benefits and toughening restrictions on migrant family reunion."
Resistance pledged not just continued protests outside Hanson's meetings, but also to expose the Howard government's role in the racist ideological push, countering the "solutions" put forward by Howard and Hanson.
Another major subject of discussion was the many attacks on the rights and living standards of young people perpetrated by the Howard government. Massive cuts to education funding, up-front fees, the work for the dole scheme for young unemployed and the common youth allowance are some of the more visible parts of this attack.
Combating these attacks on young people, and the ideology that goes with them, was identified as a major task for Resistance members. A national week of action against the cuts to education funding was proposed by the conference for August 18-27, and will be an important part of building the fight against the Howard governments attack on young people.
Sarah Peart, one of the conference organisers, told Green Left Weekly, "This year's Resistance conference came at an important time. Amidst the Howard government's continued attacks on young people, and the rise of racism over the past year, more and more young people are getting active.
"Resistance's role in this growing campaign is crucial in building unity, and the conference set some clear pointers about how to achieve this. It is important that young people unite and fight together, and direct their anger against the real culprit, the inhumane system we live under.
"Resistance recognises the need to fight for more than just reforms, and as the struggles against the government grow, more young people will be won to the idea of building a socialist future."
Participants' comments
Angela Luvera, 20, student at Edith Cowan University, Perth.
I joined Resistance in response to the social situation today, which includes so much repression and poverty for the people of the world. I found that Resistance offered solutions and a chance to get active in changing the system.
I found the Resistance conference inspiring, particularly around the issue of women's liberation. The feature presentation "Proud to be a feminist — rebuilding the women's liberation movement" really encouraged me as to the possibilities in my work as women's coordinator at ECU, and showed Resistance's clear commitment to the struggle for women's liberation.
I'm looking forward to getting back to Perth and using the ideas put forward at this conference in my work at ECU.
Francesca Alice, 17, university student in Palmerston, New Zealand.
The diversity of people, the feature presentations and workshops all inspired me for my activist work back in New Zealand. I was very impressed with the way young people were encouraged to take an active part in the discussions throughout the conference, as this is very important to building confident activists.
The conference has inspired me for continuing my work with the Aotearoa (New Zealand) Youth Network. I think Resistance members should be proud of the uniqueness of Resistance. I found Resistance to be very clear about what it does, what it aims to do and how to go about doing it, and New Zealand would benefit from having such an organisation.
Keep up the struggle!
Sam King, high school student in Adelaide.
I joined Resistance at the July 1994 national conference, because I'd become very angry at the injustice of the system we live under. In Resistance I found a group of young people who were aware of the reasons behind society's problems and were willing to fight for change for the better.
I'm always inspired by national conferences, and by the atmosphere generated by bringing together so many young people who feel the same way about the need to fight for a system based on human needs, not private profit.