Red Spark’s inaugural International Solidarity Dinner to Defeat Imperialism filled the Brunswick Neighbourhood House on 4 October in Melbourne.

The event brought together around 70 people of all ages for an evening of internationalism and revolutionary spirit. Guests came to show support for struggles against imperialist domination in Palestine, Indonesia, Timor Leste, and beyond. Over dinner, they heard stories of resistance, contemporary political analysis, and glimpses into the history of the Communist movement.

Shamikh Badra representing the International Committee of the Palestinian People’s Party (PPP) and a Palestinian from Gaza, travelled from Sydney to attend. He shared personal experiences and the PPP’s analysis of the current situation in Palestine. The following day, Badra also addressed the Palestine Solidarity Action held on 5 October.

Cheago “Agus” Perez, a Central Committee Member of the Socialist Party of Timor, delivered a spirited account of the Timorese people’s victorious independence struggle — a new story for many in the audience.

Andrew Irving, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Australia, “toasted” the Black Armada struggle – the historic union bans on Dutch shipping that supported Indonesian national independence. Irving noted that these actions, led in Australia by the Communist Party, were part of a broader wave of solidarity in Asia. Members of the Lebanese Communist Party based in Australia were also in attendance.

Kieran Bennett from the Anarchist Communist Federation motivated the coming anti-fascist mobilisation in Melbourne on 19 October.

Bureaucratic obstacles in Australia’s visa system affecting people not in the middle class meant Ilham Jimbo, leader of the Indonesian union SEBUMI, was not able to attend in person. Addressing the crowd via video, Jimbo and Susi, SEBUMI’s president, discussed their union’s work including tactics for fighting sexism and harassment of women in factories and other worksites.

Marxist intellectual Vijay Prashad also addressed the crowd, sending a short video analysing the current situation in Palestine.

Performers from Musik Bergerak – who are active in the campaign against the Prabowo Government in Indonesia – including Pipin Paradigma, further raised the mood with revolutionary songs ranging from Hasta Siempre (Comandante) to Bella Ciao and Darah Juang – an anthem of the Indonesian movement.

The evening’s MC, a young Red Spark member, a worker who migrated to Australia as a high-school student, proved an outstanding and popular host. In closing, Max Lane, a founding member of Red Spark, thanked Badra for his contribution to the evening and the struggle. Lane proposed a minute’s silence to remember the Palestinian Martyrs – though with a spirit of defiance. The minute was observed with fists raised in air – reflecting the losses while pledging to fight for victory in Palestine.

Gathering together comrades from different generations, traditions and organisations was a big success. It produced an interactive, lively and very interesting environment appreciated by all. Red Spark is a project to re-establish revolutionary Marxist organising in Australia. Bringing a new generation of revolutionaries in contact with the history, traditions and personalities of struggle is a crucial step forward. There is much more to come.

Photos: Diana Pratiwi and Red Spark