BEIRUT CONFERENCE FROM THE ARCHIVES. THE KILOMBO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICA, AFRICANS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WAS PROPOSED AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE EXPERIENCE AT THE BEIRUT CONFERENCE. THE COLLAPSE OF THE HISTORIC TRIPOLI CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS IN EUROPE FOLLOW UP STRENGTHENED OUR RESOLVE TO BUILD THE KILOMBO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA, AFRICANS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: 26 Jan 2013 BEIRUT CONFERENCE 16th – 18th JANUARY 2009. I registered for this conference as an activist of the Stop the War Coalition in UK . However, I explained to al from whom I requested sponsorship that my objective of participation was bring the situation of proxy war in Africa to attention of the of the international progressive as the analysis of a forcibly and externally imposed proxy war in Africa is not present in any of such forums. I’m again very grateful to Evans Afenya (USA), Judith Amanthis, Justin Baidoo, Colchester Trades Council, Francis Dakura, Kosi Dedey (Ghana), Aminata Diaby, Rema Diallo, Saraid Dodd, Ateinda Egema, Sarah Eldridge, Firinne, Forthwrite Journal - Ireland (through Brian Garvey), Eki Gbinigie, Sophie Harriot, Independent Workers Union - Ireland (through Brian Garvey), Michael Johnson, Kilombo Pan African Journal, Kofi Mawuli Klu, Andy Kwawukume, Oasis Mastara, Gem Melbourne, Rony Mosebach, John Jara Nutakor(USA), Ama Adumea Ohene (USA), Stanley Opoku, Kwesi Quartey, RMT Union Finsbury Park (through Glenroy Watson), Asari St Hill, Union of the Cameroon Populations (France Chapter), UNITE ( T&G Voluntary Sector - Central London) and Youth Global Concern Network for contributing to make it possible for me to travel to participate in the conference. Michel Collon, a Belgian writer and one of the most popular speakers at the Beirut conference was asked which organisation he represented. He answered that he writes and does some, has a team he works with but didn’t know whether he’ll call that an organisation. My own personal concept of organisation one is similar to that of Michel Collon. When I had the opportunity of being given one and half minutes to make an intervention, I referred to myself as a follower of the politics of Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana who was overthrown through the USA CIA collaborating with other western intelligence agencies and their African stooges led mainly by Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, J.W.K. Harlley and A.A. Afrifa. There were several workshops. I missed the opening session because I didn’t get an early connecting flight from Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , from where I went to Beirut , Lebanon . I participated in the General session on Gaza, entitled – “In defense of Gaza : towards practical steps”, and Workshop on Support for the Resistance and anti-colonial emancipation’s fights – Resisting American and Zionist occupation is not the resistance movements’ sole responsibility, Workshop on Anti-imperialism and Solidarity between Peoples – The imperialist and capitalist crisis : Structural or temporary? Which prospect?; Lifting Gaza’s siege. I made an intervention at the Workshop on Anti-imperialism and Solidarity between Peoples – Anti-imperialism and solidarity between peoples : Coordination mechanisms, exchange of expertise and means of support. I also participated in the Media Workshop – Media Experiences : coping with censorship and propaganda and the Final Plenary Session on the Conclusion of Proceedings. My main interventions were outside the sessions. I raised a question with the organisers that the programme of the opening session had representatives of continents – Asia, Europe, N. America and S. America, but large land mass of Africa didn’t have a representative. I insisted that that look racist. I was supported by Yasser from Egypt resident in Canada and who is with the group – The Alternative. One of the organisers of the event, Mohamed Kassem, said he had himself raised the issue of the programme looking racist with his colleagues and therefore took personal responsibility for inviting Cynthia McKinney from USA . He also said he intervened to get a Sudan representative to facilitate a session. I pointed out that for the reasons why I stress African representation Sudan will not be an appropriate representative as it the pro-government delegation couldn’t even be the best representative of South Sudan and Darfur let alone the whole Africa – South of the Sahara . Yasser supported me by saying that when his fellow Arabs call for solidarity they should also accept the Arab collusion in enslavement of black Africans. Cynthia McKinney thanked for drawing attention of the organisers that Africa exists. In fact, I always said Africa- South of the Sahara, the Caribbean and large chunks of Oceania . The Libya representative of the Green Study Group told me that black Africa should organise by themselves and not expect others to do it for them. He is the only one who gave me an email address that bounced. I wasn’t surprised as he gave complimentary cards to people but decided to write his details for me instead of giving me the complimentary cards to others. He was visibly not happy to hear that I have been opposed to Flt-Lt J.J. Rawlings who he described as a great friend of Libya . In the corridors, a young man rushed to me, calling me by my name. I immediately assumed he was from Britain but I was wrong. That is not the normal way anybody from the British Left enthusiastically greets me. It turned out that this man is a co-ordinator of the 4 Corners Programme of the Iranian TV Channel – Press TV. He had phoned me from Iran to do five (5) programmes after watching me on Between the Headlines on my first ever appearance on Press TV. He even gave me his phone to make calls. He, Yasser and Cynthia McKinney became the people I was with during the conference as it is always difficult for me to integrate with the British Left despite my being in Britain for 20 years. Although, I was in Beirut , Lebanon , as from the Stop the War Coalition of UK, I had to find my own crowd. All people of African descent, except the Sudanese delegation, were like a family. The young Venezuela MP and Houria, the Algerian based in France , were also close as Yasser and Cynthia. It helped me develop a network participants of black African descent. I was very non-racial in the way I interpreted things as you can see from the report of Dave Paenson. During the anti-imperialism workshop, where I intervened, I said people of the south should organise in struggle to control their resources instead of just managing these resources whilst the resources are controlled by the ruling classes and organised economic/financial interests in the north; that solidarity activities in the north should go beyond mere demonstrations to develop strategies of removing the war mongering parties from office; and finally that organisation future forums should address the issue of the failure to include Africa – South of the Sahara, the Caribbean and large chunks of Oceania. I concluded by drawing attention to the fact that I am follower of the theory and practice of the politics of Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana. I also intervened on the media workshop and suggested that we should publicise the alternative media which present what we cannot get from the mainstream media and that is what I am doing as managing editor and publisher of Kilombo Pan-African Journal. To build on the participation in the Beirut Conference, I’ll work further on strengthening the presence and involvement of Africa – South of the Sahara and the Caribbean in the Cairo Conference and the World Social Forum and also ensuring that African involvement in the World Social forum is not the preserve of western funded NGOs. After the Beirut Conference, I went to Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , as my first return to Africa in 25 years. I haven’t been back to Ghana , where I was born, in 26 years. Ubuntu Democracy In Action Network had issue a statement of a message to Africa Union summit. As we were not participants in the summit we had to do our work outside. I spent the time with ordinary people on the streets to know more and work with them beyond the summit arena. I was interviewed live from the UN ECA buildings, the venue of the AU Summit, by Press TV (the Iranian English TV company) on 1st February 2009. My efforts resulted in African youth domiciled in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia from Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Kenya , Morocco , Namibia , Nigeria , Rwanda , Somalia , South Africa , Tanzania , Uganda and Zimbabwe constituting themselves into Peace & Love for African Youth (PLAY) under co-ordination Harnet Teklay. They want to see a Free Africa, which is free of “war, poverty, conflict, external influence and illness”. RMT trade union Finsbury Branch, under the chair of Glenroy Watson, one of the sponsors of my participation in the conference and my trip, will be organising a Report Back meeting in London . There will be report back meetings in other countries as well. Explo Nani-Kofi
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 17:02:57 +0000
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