ASIAN FARMERS DENOUNCE G-20 SUMMIT

Media Release: October 30, 2008

The Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) strongly criticizes the White House’s invitation to host the Group of Twenty (G20) economic summit on November 15, 2008 supposedly to “discuss the current global economic and financial problems that are affecting the world.” The G20 members are Argentina , Australia , Brazil , Canada , China , France , Germany , India , Indonesia , Italy , Japan , Mexico , Russia , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , South Korea , Turkey , the United Kingdom , the United States and the European Union.

Some are saying that the November 15 G20 meeting will be a “Bretton Woods II”—a replay of the 1944 gathering where leaders agreed to rebuild the global monetary system in the chaotic aftermath World War II (WWII) and the Great Depression। However, the degree to which this is possible has come into question. Beyond the G20 leaders, the IMF, the World Bank and the United Nations have all been invited to participate in the ‘special’ summit.

According to a statement by US Press Secretary Dana Perino, “the leaders will review progress being made to address the current financial crisis, advance a common understanding of its causes, and in order to avoid a repetition, agree on a common set of principles for reform of the regulatory and institutional regimes for the world’s financial sectors."

But militant peasants of APC from 9 countries in Asia are pessimistic as to whether such forums can truly alleviate the severe consequences of the current financial crisis. “The G-20 was primarily created to prevent the kind of crisis we are experiencing now. How can mere discussions possibly help the international economy at present?” stated APC Secretary-General Danilo Ramos in a statement he made today.

“They want to strengthen the foundations of capitalism by discussing how they can further liberalize their economies and make them ‘competitive’ to global market. But we all know that the neo-liberal policies that the US and other imperialist countries have espoused before and continue to espouse today have contributed to the ruin of the financial markets.” added Ramos.

In the 1980s, capitalist forces open the markets of developing countries as a source of cheap labor and raw materials, and at the same time, the former’s dumping ground for its excess products in order to alleviate its worsening crisis of overproduction. The unholy trinity of trade liberalization, privatization of public assets and deregulation of markets are the backbone of the so-called “free-market globalization” .

According to the data of “World Distribution of Household Wealth”, in the year 2000 “the richest 1% in the world own 40% of global assets, the richest 2% own 51%, while the poorest half of the world population own barely 1% of global wealth." Furthermore, overproduction makes investments in new productive facilities unprofitable, since a rapidly rising share of surplus capital seeks profit not in the real economy, but in financial speculation. Thus, a slight movement in the stock markets leads to drastic effects in businesses. This perfectly illustrates the fact that only imperialist countries and their monopoly capitalist elite benefit from neo-liberal policies while the conditions in third world nations continue to deteriorate.

Ramos ended by saying that “the financial crisis clearly exposes the weakness of capitalism and the truth that it is not a viable economic system. It is bound to fail due to its inherent contradictions – the crisis of overproduction and overaccumulation of capital in the hands of a few. Third world countries must therefore take a stand against the US and other imperialist nations for letting them dictate their economic policies with us. We must join hands and onward the struggle to assert for our national sovereignty and resist imperialist globalization!” #

IRENE FERNANDEZ'S HIGH COURT APPEAL HAS BEGUN

Media Release: October 29, 2008

The Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) supports its Vice-Chairperson for External Affairs, Irene Fernandez, who is also the Executive Director of Tenaganita - an NGO which promotes the rights of migrant workers in Malaysia , in the hearing of her appeal in court which started yesterday. It will last up to October 30 and will resume on November 24 to 28.

In 1996, Irene was arrested and charged with “maliciously publishing false news” after Tenagenita released a report exposing the maltreatment of undocumented migrant workers in detention centers. That trial spanned seven years and Irene was found guilty on October 16, 2003 and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. She was later released on bail pending an appeal. But her civil rights were nonetheless limited. The courts have her passport and since she was convicted, Irene was disqualified from standing as parliamentary candidate in the 2004 and 2008 Malaysian elections.

In a statement made by APC Secretary-General Danilo Ramos, he said that “Irene’s case represents the kind of harassment experienced by activists today; not only in Malaysia nor in Asia , but all over the world. We are the ones fighting for basic rights and liberties, against corruption and state violence. But at the same time, we become the primary victims of oppression.”

The initial date set for Irene’s appeal was last June 11, but was moved to August 5 because allegedly, “papers with statements of important prosecution witnesses went missing”. However, appeal records were still incomplete by August, as notes of evidence were yet to be fully encoded. Moreover, the courts were informed that a computer virus corrupted the notes of one volume of typed notes of evidence. Thus, the registrar requested for an extension of one more month.

Ramos had this to say: “The series of technicalities, such as incomprehensible or incomplete documents and un-typed notes are the Malaysian government’s delaying tactics. They hope that Irene will be discouraged in her fight for truth and justice. But she knows better than to be disheartened by these events. Instead, the APC and other progressive organizations fully support her battle against the state’s restrictive laws on freedom of expression.”

Malaysia’s Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) was amended in 1987 to allow the Minister of Home Affairs to have complete control, whether to ban or restrict, those publications he deems as “undesirable”. It is also an offence to “maliciously” publish “false news”. However, the term “malice” is loosely defined by whether or not the accused took “reasonable measures” to verify the truth.

Ramos adds that “the PPPA’s weak definition on certain terms make it subjective and easily allows the government to file charges against anyone who opposes them. This then gravely violates the rights of human rights defenders, such as the “right to seek, obtain, receive and hold information relating to human rights” and the “right to make complaints about official policies and acts relating to human rights.”

The APC therefore calls on all its member organizations and other progressive movements all over the world to show their support and solidarity for Irene Fernandez and her appeal in court. Human rights activists must continue to scrutinize issues wherein fundamental people’s rights are violated and to courageously fight for truth and justice.

DEFEND PEOPLE’S RIGHTS!
LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

Millions of peasants and supporters protest the World `Foodless' Day

Media Release: October 16, 2008

The Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) is observing October 16 as the World `Foodless' Day as food crisis remain an enormous predicament of countries whose governments act in contrast of the interests of the people and in favor of U.S. imperialism, local big landlords and traders. APC believes as long as government does not centralize on the primary issue of landlessness or the abolition of feudalism, food security would remain an illusion. The observance is the "Global Day of Action" against food crisis, coordinated with countries such as the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mongolia, Hongkong, Uganda and Kenya. This involve about 22 peasant and support organizations in Asia and Africa.

"We at the Philippines, an initial 10,000 peasants nationwide are actively participating with the international activity. Our activities range from holding dialogues with agriculture and agrarian reform offices, to camp-outs and farm strikes, educational discussions and forums, agit-prop (agitate-propaganda ) teams and more," Danilo Ramos APC Secretary-General and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) Secretary-General.

"It is always U.S. imperialism that compels puppet governments to implement anti-peasant and anti-people programs," Ramos added. "Imperialism, through WTO, bilateral or multilateral talks or agreements always keep in mind on how they are going to rake up huge profits, sacrificing local people of subject countries. Its realization in the Philippines, Arroyo's liberalization, deregulation and privatization policies all add up to the exploitation of the people and towards the interests for huge profits of foreign monopoly corporations, " Ramos hinted.

Moreover in India, Chennaiah Poguri of Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU), "Our strength is made visible in the number of people who are joining us in the struggle against the crises. We are expecting 25,000 individuals from Andhra Pradesh alone and we are estimating about 574,000 people observing World Foodless Day around the country as we are able to organise with other groups."

Erpan Faryadi of Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA) of Indonesia said, We are mobilising 4,000 people in protest rallies where we will highlight the problems and agricultural conflicts that are affecting the peasants in Indonesia as well as call for implementation of a genuine agrarian reform. We resist International Financial Institutions for creating global issues that trickle down and make us suffer."

"With the millions of peasants and members of support groups from joining countries, the `Global Day of Action' is surely a big start to annually observe WFD, puppet governments to U.S. imperialism would surely reconsider if with our numbers, we are able to raise our actions to higher forms of struggle," Ramos declared.#

"First" International Day of Rural Women Celebrated

Media Release: October 15, 2008

The Asian Peasant Coalition today commemorates the first ever International Day of Rural Women, as established by the UN General Assembly declared in its resolution 62/136 last December 18, 2007. The observance of this day started in 1995 by various international non-government organizations at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing . Since then, this day honors the integral role of women in the agricultural sector, food production and food security.

Rural women are engaged in all aspects of agriculture – from sowing to nurturing, harvesting, selecting and preserving seeds for the next cropping season. However, given the largely feudal society in which they live in, their vital roles are largely downplayed and their contributions are undervalued. They are being discriminated against having access to resources and opportunities, in the same way that men do.

“We are thankful of the recognition by the world body but more importantly the first was when the peasant-women organized themselves and realized that they should be recognized,” opened Danilo Ramos, APC Secretary-General and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines ) Secretary-General. “Statistically, women are half of the population and they deserve all the rights and opportunities, that is why it is just and logical that they should be recognized,” he added.

“We all know that women and children are systematically neglected in particular forms at the countrysides, such as the existence of unpaid family labor. Being family members is abused by the government as they treat them as employed to bloat their statistics,” Ramos shared.

Discrimination based on gender is one of the worst things that women experience in the countrysides, “There are cases that farmworker-women and children receive lower wages than men, also they are sexually-exploited by landlords and their administrators,” Ramos narrated.

Moreover, the present food crisis experienced all over the globe has severely hit peasant and indigenous women. Through the neoliberal policy of trade liberalization, corporatization of agriculture has been practiced in developing countries. Vast lands and productive resources are controlled by landlords, transnational corporations, and are turned into big businesses. Women then become more exploited in corporate farms that continually spring up in the countryside. They are subjected to low wages, toxic chemicals and hazardous technologies. Massive displacement of rural and farming communities are also occurring, resulting to hunger, food insecurity and harassment.

In the Philippines, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), joined the AMIHAN (National Federation of Peasant Women Network), and GABRIELA in rally at Malacanang palace today. Imleda Lacandazo, KMP national vice-chairperson said, "on the occasion of the first International Day of Rural Women, our struggles must be brought to the forefront and our roles be highlighted. Let us advance the peoples struggle for genuine freedom and democracy!"

The Asian Peasant Coalition, together with other progressive organizations all over the world are in solidarity with dalits, indigenous and peasant women in their resistance against imperialist globalization and exploitation. Their rights to land, livelihood, productive resources, safe working conditions, health and reproductive rights must be recognized. Thus, to pursue the basic interests of the rural women is to integrate it with the general people’s struggle against feudalism and U.S. imperialism!

Rural Women Unite!
Resist WTO and Imperialist Globalization!
Assert Women’s Rights!
Struggle for Genuine Agrarian Reform and Peoples’ Food Sovereignty!