I met Ram Seegobin, of Lalit (The Struggle) in Mauritius, two years ago at the Asia-Pacific Solidarity Conference in Sydney. He is a dedicated and charming man, who is also single-handedly responsible for what felt like an epiphany (though it simply makes sense, when you think about it): that one way for peripheral nations — and even those in the semi-periphery and the core — to effectively place roadblocks before the empire is to wage local, popular campaigns against US military bases around the world. In Ram’s case, and that of Mauritius, this meant the strategic hub-base in Diego Garcia, located in the Indian Ocean (within striking range of everything from India to East Africa). These campaigns array popular forces not only against the US military bases themselves, but apply intense pressure against local politicians who are inclined to play the role of imperial servant. Those with grievances are anti-imperialists and local nationalists, women (who are exploited and abused in base-ring economies), and environmentalists (military bases are notorious polluters). These kinds of united fronts also benefit local efforts in base-hosting nations by consolidating new social solidarities for future movements. We are posting Lalit’s report from a recent, and very encouraging, international anti-base conference in Ecuador, with gratitude to Ram for sending it forward.
-Stan Goff