From daga at HK.Super.NET Mon Dec 2 15:50:02 1996 From: daga at HK.Super.NET (daga) Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 14:50:02 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 264] year of Asia-Pacific in Canada Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961202144411.2e8715b6@is1.hk.super.net> Date: 18 Nov 1996 21:55:37 Reply-To: Conference "act.indonesia" From: kerryp@jungle.achilles.net Subject: Fwd: Year of Asia Pacific in Canada To: Recipients of indonesia-act X-Gateway: conf2mail@igc.apc.org Errors-To: owner-indonesia-act@igc.apc.org Lines: 362 I found the following on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Web Page this morning. Note the schedule of events. Kerry Pither (ETAN-Canada). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ November 14, 1996 No. 207 GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ANNOUNCES CANADA'S YEAR OF ASIA PACIFIC AND UNVEILS WINNING LOGO The Government of Canada announced the designation of 1997 as Canada's Year of Asia Pacific (CYAP) as Transport Minister David Anderson, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan and design student Amy Ho unveiled the official CYAP logo today at Vancouver Technical High School. oAs a people and as a trading nation, Canada's ties to the Asia Pacific community run deep,o said Raymond Chan. oThis special year will celebrate our Pacific dimension and help us build even stronger partnerships in Asia Pacific to create opportunities for Canadians from coast to coast." In 1997 Canada will chair the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which will culminate with the Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vancouver in November. Canada's Year of Asia Pacific is a year-long initiative to promote increased business relations, youth involvement and cultural exchanges to broaden understanding within the Asia Pacific region. Amy Ho, a first-year graphic and visual arts design student at Kwantlen University College in Richmond, B.C., submitted the winning logo design concept in a nation-wide contest open to all college and university students enrolled in graphic or visual arts courses. Composed of a crane whose wings evoke the Canadian maple leaf, and with waves representing the Pacific Ocean, the logo will be featured on all official correspondence, posters and other materials, and will be used for all events and activities related to CYAP, including the 1997 APEC Leaders' Meeting. "Our young people need to be aware of the importance of Canada's relationship with the Asia Pacific region," said David Anderson. "I would like to congratulate Amy Ho for translating her recognition of this fact into a symbol that Canadians will come to associate with Canada's Year of Asia Pacific over the next 12 months." During Canada's Year of Asia Pacific, the Government of Canada is encouraging business and business associations, youth and cultural organizations as well as other groups to focus on Asia Pacific in their activities. The government is currently organizing events, such as business forums and trade fairs, around APEC meetings being held across Canada in 1997 to help Canadians strengthen their partnerships and learn more about doing business in Asia Pacific. Other key events include the January Team Canada 1997 trade mission to South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines; a youth conference and other activities involving youth; as well as cultural activities to underscore the breadth of Canada's close ties with the region and the importance of cultural understanding in doing business in Asia Pacific. -30- Three backgrounders and a calendar of events are attached. For further information contact: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Media Relations Office (613) 995-1874 Canada's Year of Asia Pacific Logo Backgrounder The Logo The official logo for Canada's Year of Asia Pacific (CYAP) has cleverly integrated the Canadian maple leaf, the suggestion of a body of water, and the crane u a symbol of peace and longevity associated with Asia. The crane is a bird that can unite many geographic areas travelling as it does without boundaries; the waves symbolize the movement of the Pacific Ocean and the dynamism of the region; and finally, as the maple leaf completes the tail of the bird, the stroke becomes more odry brush,o reminiscent of Asian calligraphy. The logo will be featured on all official correspondence, posters and other materials, and will be used for all events and activities related to CYAP, including the 1997 Vancouver APEC Leaders' Meeting. Organizations wishing to apply for use of the logo and designation of an activity as an official CYAP event can visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's CYAP site on the Internet at: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca or call: 1-800-267-8376 or (613) 944-4000 (National Capital Region) The Student Winner In September 1996, the Government of Canada sponsored a logo design competition for the official logo for Canada's Year of Asia Pacific. As part of the federal government's commitment to involve youth in CYAP, college and university students across Canada enrolled in graphics or fine arts courses were invited to submit their logo design concepts. Over 100 entries were submitted in competition for the $1500 prize, awarded to the winning concept. Amy Ho, a first-year student at Richmond, British Columbia's Kwantlen University College's Graphic and Visual Design program, submitted the winning design concept. Ms. Ho, 26, was born in Hong Kong and emigrated with her family to Vancouver in 1987. She studied at the Emily Carr School of Art for one year before choosing to enroll as one of only 20 students in Kwantlen University College's specialized Graphic and Visual Design program. In addition to winning the $1500 award for the winning design concept, Ms. Ho will receive a one-month internship at Ken Koo and Associates, the Vancouver graphics design firm that refined the logo into its final format. Canada's Year of Asia Pacific Backgrounder The Government of Canada is pleased to declare 1997 as Canada's Year of Asia Pacific (CYAP). As a people and as a trading nation, Canada has deep ties to the Asia Pacific community. CYAP will celebrate Canada's Pacific dimension and help forge even stronger relationships. The federal government will work in collaboration with business, cultural and youth groups to encourage them to focus their activities on Asia Pacific in 1997 and become fully involved in this initiative. Activities and events already being organized from coast to coast will offer unprecedented opportunities for all Canadians. In 1997, Canada will chair the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which will bring many of the region's government and business leaders to cities across Canada. Created in 1989, APEC has emerged as the leading forum for promoting trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation and economic and technical co-operation in Asia Pacific. The government will organize events, such as business forums and trade fairs, to help Canadians strengthen their partnerships and learn more about doing business in Asia Pacific. Other key events include the January Team Canada 1997 trade mission to South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines; a youth conference and other activities involving youth; as well as cultural activities to underscore the breadth of Canada's close ties with the region and the importance of cultural understanding in doing business in Asia Pacific. CYAP will build on the strong foundation of co-operation that exists between Canada and Asia Pacific, and the momentum generated by the highly successful Team Canada trade missions. Led by the Prime Minister, Team Canada missions have opened doors for more than 700 Canadian businesses and helped secure more than $20 billion in new business deals. Goals of Canada's Year of Asia Pacific - To expand Canada's economic partnerships with the Asia Pacific region and to equip Canada to play an increasingly dynamic role in the emerging Pacific community - To highlight the important role played by the Asia Pacific region in economic growth and job creation in Canada, in the life of the country and in global affairs - To increase participation in Asia Pacific markets by Canadian business by providing more information on opportunities in the region and on how best to act on them - To enhance cross-cultural understanding of common concerns related to peace and security, human rights and legal reform, environmental and social development, culture, education and other areas - To ensure a lasting legacy through new partnerships between Canadian and Asia Pacific business and cultural institutions, better collaboration between governments and the involvement of youth and Asian Canadians. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum Backgrounder As a Pacific nation and a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Canada has an important window on this dynamic part of the world. Formed in 1989, APEC is the principal intergovernmental vehicle for economic co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region. It has evolved into a key agenda-setting body, providing an important opportunity to advance Canadian interests. Canada will see the world come to its doorstep in 1997 when it assumes the chair of APEC. The APEC Ministerial and Economic Leaders' meetings will take place in Vancouver in November 1997. Canada will also host three meetings of senior officials, several sectoral ministerial meetings u including talks on sustainable development, transportation, small and medium-sized enterprises, and energy u and several working group meetings. Canada's participation in APEC is part of the government's commitment to strengthening Canada's presence in Asia Pacific to create jobs and growth at home and to expand Canada*s global involvement and influence. The Team Canada missions to Asia, led by the Prime Minister, also underline Canada's commitment to expanding ties in this region. As an APEC member, Canada can pursue specific objectives, such as expanding trade opportunities, ensuring sustainable growth and development, and making it easier to do business, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. APEC provides an opportunity for greater co-operation in key areas, including human resources development, telecommunications, energy, the environment, transportation and tourism. Four of Canada's top 10 export markets and 11 of Canada*s top 25 export markets are APEC members. APEC economies now consume half of Canada's total exports to markets outside the United States. Two-way trade with APEC economies (excluding the United States) increased by 20 per cent in 1995 to reach $62 billion. Canada*s exports to APEC economies (excluding the United States) increased by 30 per cent in 1995 to $27 billion. Asia Pacific has also become an increasingly important source of foreign direct investment and new technology for Canada. Japan is Canada's third-largest source of direct investment (valued at $12 billion in 1995) and second-largest source of portfolio investment ($43.5 billion in March 1996). Other Asia Pacific economies, such as Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea, have also become major investors in Canada. APEC's 18 current members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. With a combined population of about two billion, APEC members had a combined gross national product of US$13 trillion in 1994, about half of the world's total annual output. APEC members represent nearly 50 per cent of the world's total merchandise trade. By the end of the decade, this figure is expected to rise to over 70 per cent. Foreign direct investment flows to the Asian region of APEC increased from US$5 billion in the 1981-1985 period to US$21 billion in 1992. CANADA'S YEAR OF ASIA PACIFIC PRELIMINARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS* November 14 Vancouver, British Columbia Minister of Transport David Anderson and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan announce Canada's Year of Asia Pacific and unveil winning logo design November 22-25 Manila and Subic, the Philippines Prime Minister Jean ChrUtien, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy, Minister for International Trade Art Eggleton and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan to attend Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial and Economic Leaders' meetings, including keynote address to be delivered by Prime Minister ChrUtien to the APEC Business Forum on November 25 November 26-30 Prime Minister Jean ChrUtien, Minister for International Trade Art Eggleton and Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) Raymond Chan visit China and Japan 1997 January 8-20 Team Canada 1997 mission to South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand January 7-10 Vancouver, British Columbia Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum January 25- February 3 Victoria, British Columbia APEC Senior Officials' Meeting March Asia Pacific Week in Atlantic Canada (St. John's Newfoundland: Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Saint John, New Brunswick) April 27-29 Toronto, Ontario APEC Environment Ministerial Meeting May 4-10 Winnipeg, Manitoba "Asia Connects": Asia Pacific Youth Conference May 4-6 Montreal, Quebec ASEAN-Canadian Business Council May 7-9 Montreal, Quebec APEC Customs "Symposium" May 11-15 Vancouver, British Columbia Seventh ACI-Pacific Regional Assembly and Conference, Pacific Region Airports Council May 12-13 Toronto, Ontario Canada-Japan Business Committee May 12-19 Quebec City, Quebec APEC Senior Officials' Meeting May 21-25 Banff, Alberta APEC Study Centre Consortium Meeting June Montreal. Quebec Conference de MontrUal June Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada-Taiwan Business Association June Victoria, British Columbia APEC Transport Ministerial Meeting August Edmonton, Alberta APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting August Vancouver, British Columbia Fourth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention August St. John's, Newfoundland APEC Senior Officials' Meeting August Geneva Park, Ontario Annual Couchiching Conference September Ottawa, Ontario APEC Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Ministerial Meeting and Business Forum September Ottawa, Ontario Asia Pacific Women's Senior Leaders' Network Meeting October Quebec City, Quebec Alliance of Manufacturers and Canadian Exporters Awards November Vancouver, British Columbia APEC Ministerial and Leaders' meetings * As of November 14, 1996 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ R Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, 1996 --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- From daga at HK.Super.NET Mon Dec 2 18:43:09 1996 From: daga at HK.Super.NET (daga) Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 17:43:09 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 265] Promises, Promises Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961202173719.2dbf959a@is1.hk.super.net> Promises, Promises by Rigoberto Tiglao in Manila and Michael Vatikiotis in Bangkok Far Eastern Economic Review December 5, 1996 Wind-breakers on Blake Island, Indonesian batik in Bogor, day jackets in Osaka, and now barong-tagalogs - the formal attire of the Philippines. It's a familiar photo: 18 heads of state lining up together, smiling from ear to ear and waving to a phalanx of photographers. The only difference seems to be their outfits and the backdrop. The ritual group photos might imply that nothing much about the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum has changed except for the clothes. And that wouldn't be far wrong. Though Philippine President Fidel Ramos closed the Apec summit in the Philippines insisting thast the forum had moved "from vision to action," even that action was heavily hedged. The trade barriers Apec was designed to lift are still in place, and there was no move towards setting the agenda for a new round of trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization. Indeed, Apec continues to disappoint those who hoped the world's most dynamic economies would act collectively and decisively to stimulate global trade liberalization. Meanwhile, as the member-countries' leaders -- and perhaps more importantly, their bureaucracies -- get to know each other better, Apec is fast becoming the political animal its detractors feared it would. Nearly everyone nodded politely over Washington's proposal for an Informational Technology Agreement, which would erase tariffs on computers and software by 2000. Apec leaders called for the conclusion of such an agreement by the World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Singapore in December that would "substantially eliminate tariffs by the year 2000" while recognizing the need for "flexibility" in negotiations currently underway in Geneva. But the wording fell short of the ringing endorsment the United States, which accounts for about 60% of the $1.8 trillion generated by the computer industry each year, wanted. Opposition came from China, Malaysia and Chile, with Thailand in the background. "While we can accept the ITA deadline, we need flexibility," Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told the media after the summit. Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong called the wording "ambiguous," and said he doubted the WTO would conclude a technology agreeement. But in other areas the Apec ministers' discussions are leading to concrete actions which, if they won't lift tariff barriers, will at least facilitate trade. Apec countries agreed in Manila to harmonize tariff categories by the end of this year and customs-clearance procedures by 1998. "The cost savings for companies doing a lot of trade work here will just be in billions," claims Christopher Butler, chairman of the Apec committee on trade and investment. Individual tariff-cutting plans submitted by each country were supposed to demonstrate Apec's commitment to action. But most of the plans were mere briefs on current programmes which member countries have been undertaking either unilaterally or as part of their economic reforms or for with GATT's Uruguay Round. Interestingly, China, with the highest tariff levels among Apec countries, claimed it had reduced its average tariff from 35.9% to 23% and committed its action plan to reduce its average tariff to 15% by 2000, or just about the Philippines' present 1996 level. On the other hand Taiwan's average tariff will be reduced by a miniscule amount by 2000, to 7.9% from 8.6%. Four of the seven high-tariff Asian countries did not even quantify their plans. Indonesia's was not a plan but a vague declaration: "Tariffs will be progressively reduced to reach the Apec goal by 2020." The Philippines submitted the boldest plan, reducing tariffs to 5% by 2004 from the present average of 15.6%. "As host, it is our responsibility to move Apec forward," Ramos said in a pre-summit interview. But he added: "The Philippines, among all Asean countries, seems to have the most powerful lobby groups able to change government policies in midstream." Those groups include Filipino workers protesting against the tariff cuts that they feel undermine their job prospects. At Apec, the Ramos administration managed angry protests quite cleverly, keeping them around 20 kilometres from the summit site itself. Against a disappointing backdrop, questions about Apec's usefulness find some resonance. But analysts say that Apec may be evolving into something more than just a tariff-cutting workshop. Political and security issues, though technically not for discussion, lurk in the background. "The ultimate aim of Apec is to create a sense of community," says Rodolfo Severino, a senior diplomat tipped to be next Asean secretary-general. "And that in a sense will contribute to regional security." But Asian member-states, specifically the Asean countries are strongly opposed to what they see as U.S.-led moves to broaden the Apec agenda and shift the central focus from Asia. Says Carolina Hernandez of the University of the Philippines: "Asean is unlikely to support an initiative that makes it yield a larger degree of control over the [Apec] agenda." From manipon at hknet.com Tue Dec 3 23:40:04 1996 From: manipon at hknet.com (Tony Manipon) Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 22:40:04 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 266] IPR News Message-ID: <2.2.32.19961203144004.006995f8@hknet.com> Copyright experts tackle Internet piracy By Elif Kaban Reuters December 2, 1996 9:35 AM EST GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuter) - Negotiators and industry officials met in Geneva on Monday to modernize copyright legislation for the multi-billion-dollar information superhighway, with efforts to stamp out cyberspace piracy high on the agenda. Copyright laws based on national boundaries have been made irrelevant by the borderless and fast world of the Internet -- a giant copying machine where anything from music to software can be duplicated and distributed at the click of a computer mouse. The three-week Geneva conference, under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) that coordinates international patents, trademarks and copyrights, is the first major revision of international copyright laws in 25 years. "This is an attempt to settle problems caused by new technologies," said Alfons Schafers, German government representative to the diplomatic conference. In Geneva, representatives from more than 100 countries will approve three new treaties -- for literary and artistic works, the rights of performers and producers of music and producers of databases -- to ensure electronic transmission of any copyrighted work is subject to the same rules as hard copies. They will come under scrutiny from multi-billion-dollar industries ranging from music production to computer databases, battling to keep profits against the hi-tech information age revolution and for whom intellectual property is big business. Adrian Strain of the London-based International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which groups 1,100 record producers in more than 70 countries, said electronic delivery of music recordings could take a $2 billion share in the $40 billion-a-year global music business in coming years. "Electronic delivery of music is itself a huge potential market for the recording industry," he told Reuters. Once the new treaties are accepted, then the question will be enforcement. In the multi-media world of Internet and its "copyright havens," officials acknowledge there will be huge technical problems in enforcing copyright legislation. Once new treaties are passed, distribution of copyrighted work will be illegal. But new mechanisms will be needed to catch the uploaders, say officials, who hope that national governments will pass laws accordingly. "There are gaps in the umbrella. But once these treaties are improved, it will clarify the situaation," said Mihaly Ficsor, assistant director general of WIPO. Added IFPI's legal affairs chief Lewis Flacks: "The answer to the problem of the machine is the machine itself." ==== Tony Manipon ===== manipon@hknet.com tmanipon@hk.super.net tony.manipon@cwolhk.com ===== Hong Kong ====== From kctuint at chollian.dacom.co.kr Mon Dec 9 10:40:59 1996 From: kctuint at chollian.dacom.co.kr (KCTU-International) Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 09:40:59 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 267] Government Retreats on Labour Law Reforms Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961209093506.264fa854@is1.hk.super.net> KOREAN CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS ---------------------------------------------- Struggle for Labour Law Reforms Campaign News XIV December 4, 1996 Labour Law Retreat, Regress, Regrets Korean government formally announced its proposal for the amendment of the labour laws. The proposal was revealed by Prime Minister Lee, Soo-sung, on December 3, 1996, in a live television broadcast. Kim Young Sam government aims, according to this proposal, to legislate broad employer powers to layoff worker, bring in replacement (scab) labour during a strike, and order employees to work a maximum of 56 hours a week without overtime payment. At the same time, the changed law will continue the current system of compulsory arbitration for broad range of enterprises while postponing the introduction of 'union plurality' at the shopfloor level for 5 years. The proposed amendment also calls for legal codification of a ban on wage payment for the period of strike and a ban on wage payment for full-time union officers. The proposal, while paving the way for the introduction of 'union plurality' at the federation and confederation levels, introduces new conditions which may, in effect, prohibit the legal recognition for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and most of its affiliated industrial federations. Furthermore, the government proposal calls for the continued ban on the unionisation of government employees and teachers. The "reform of labour laws" proposed by the government, in reality, will have the effect of, on the one hand, critically undermining the basic freedom and right of collective bargaining and strike, and on the other, severely worsening the working conditions and workers' welfare. Restriction of Association and Collective Bargaining The government proposal for the "reform of the labour laws" makes clear what President Kim Young Sam meant when he called for the establishment of a "new system of industrial relations". It will be one where unions are powerless while employers are given unlimited powers over workers. Legal Recognition for KCTU: New Obstacle The proposal will pave the way for legal recognition for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and most of its affiliated federations. These organisations, however, may have to "dismiss" their current elected officers and forced to seek new leaders to obtain legal recognition. This is because most of the leaders, including president Kwon Young-kil and general secretary Kwon Yong-mok of KCTU, and president Dan Byung-ho of the Korean Federation of Metalworkers Unions, for example, are "dismissed workers" who are ineligible for union membership or office under the to-be-revised law. The present and revised law does not recognise the freedom and right of unions and their federations to induct (elect) leaders of their choice to represent and advance their interests. The situation is aggravated by the proposed changes in the eligibility of union membership. Currently a dismissed worker can maintain his/her union membership until the validity of the dismissal is decided by the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. The proposed amendment, however, limits people eligible to join a union to persons who have a direct employment contract with an employer while a dismissed worker can maintain his/her union membership until the decision of the appeals hearing by the Central Labour Commission. As a result, the union membership of a worker who challenges the dismissal can be terminated within 2 to 3 months. President Kwon Young-kil's claim to his position in KCTU may no longer be "legal" as his challenge against the validity of his dismissal is currently being heard in the appellate court, having exhausted the administrative relief procedures provided by the Central Labour Commission. KCTU, hence, may be barred from legal recognition as long as it maintains that president Kwon is the rightful leader of the organisation. Legal Recognition for Teachers Union? NO! The government "reform" package remains unclear on the freedom of association for teachers. Nevertheless, one thing is clear. The new law will not allow right of teachers to form or join a union. And whatever organisation teachers form will not be allowed to use the term "(trade/labour) union" in its name nor affiliate with a trade union federation, such as KCTU. According to the proposal, the government will revise the existing "Special Act for Promotion of the Status of Teachers" to allow for the existence of multiple teachers organisations. However, this body will only have limited consultation rights and will be without any right to take collective action. The government proposal falls far short of the demand for legal recognition of the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers Union. The proposal calls, also, for the maintenance of the current ban on freedom of association for government employees. This means that some 600,000 white-collar workers, apart from the manual labourers employed in public services, will not be allowed to form or join trade unions. Crippling the Right to Strike The government proposal introduces new rights of employers to by-pass the effect of a strike. The proposal calls for a revision of current law concerning replacement of striking workers. The current law prohibits hiring of new employees, deployment of replacement labour, and engagement of new sub-contracting agreement. The current law, however, allows for deployment of non-striking workers within the same company to take over the work of striking workers. However, with the revision proposed by the government, employers will be able to deploy worker from the same business concern. This means that a conglomerate company which has a number of subsidiaries can deploy workers from any one of its subsidiaries to replace the striking workers in one of its subsidiaries. The revised law will also allow hiring new employees on temporary basis in case of a union shop company. Worst of all, the amended law will allows employers to engage new sub-contractors during a strike. The amendment of labour laws proposed by the government will also introduce other measures which will critically restrict the right of collective action. The proposal calls for a legislative codification of 'no-work no-pay', prohibiting the payment of wages (or other kinds of payment in lieu of the wage) for the period of a strike. By codifying such a clause, which can best be left to collective bargaining, the government is, in effect, aiming to create a restriction on the right to bargain collectively and the right of collective action. The revised labour laws, according to the proposal, will continue to extend the ban on industrial action to banks, telecommunication enterprises, and all hospitals, by including these in the list of "public service enterprises" which are subject to "compulsory arbitration". Restriction on Trade Union Activities Eligibility of Union Membership. The government proposal will severely restrict the recourse available to unionists to challenge "unfair" dismissal. Currently, a dismissed worker can maintain his/her union membership until the Supreme Court (the highest court of the land) brings down a verdict on the validity of the dismissal. However, under the to-be-revised law, dismissed worker can main his/her union membership only until the decision of the appeals hearing of the administrative Central Labour Commission. Given the prevalence of retaliatory dismissals -- aimed at disrupting the normal function of a union -- against key union leaders, the proposed change will bring about serious restriction on the trade union activities. Ban on Wage Payment to Union Officers Greater restriction on trade union activities can be foreseen from the proposed ban on payment of wages to full-time union officers. The proposed amendment will define the payment of wage to full-time union officers as an "unfair labour practice". The total ban will come in place in 2002 when multiple unions will be allowed at the shopfloor level. However, the revised law will call for a graduated reduction in the total amount of wage paid out as wage to full-time union officers. The government explained that no country among the OECD members allows payment of wage to union officers to justify the new legislation. The government argument, however, overlooks the fact that large number of shopfloor-based union officers in many OECD countries, including Germany, England, and France, are paid wage. Furthermore, the issue of wage payment in these countries is not codified in a law but left as a matter to be decided by a collective bargaining agreement. The KCTU believes the government proposal reflects an intention to create difficulties for union operations rather paving the way for an improved industrial relations. Such a ban will have severe impact on trade union movement in Korea given its enterprise-level union system enforced by the law. Disruption of Union Internal Democracy and Autonomy Autonomy of union activities will also be impaired due to the enforcement of the right and power of the union representative to adopt a collective bargaining agreement. Under the current law, a representative of a union is defined to have right and power to engage in negotiation with the employer for a collective bargaining agreement. This has allowed unions to adopt a constitution and rules which enables the union to call a general meeting of the membership to "ratify" or refuse a provisional agreement reached between the union and management negotiators. By changing the law to give the union representative engaging in a CBA negotiations not only the right and power to negotiate but also the right and power to adopt an agreement, the government severely restricts the autonomy and internal democracy of unions. Once the changed law comes into effect, the constitutions and rules adopted by most of the unions will be seen as violating the law. The Ban on Political Activities by a Trade Union The proposed amendment calls for the repeal of the prohibition on political activities by a trade union stipulated in the current Trade Union Act. The Ministry of Labour background paper on the government proposal states, "it is not desirable, in the light of the practices in the advanced industrialised countries, to stipulate additional restriction in the industrial relations law" because, "the laws governing political activities and elections already prohibit political activities of a trade union as with other social organisations". The same backgrounder cites the relevant other laws, such as, the Article 12 of the Political Funds Act and the Article 87 of the Act on Election of Public Offices and Prevention of Election Corruption, which prohibit donation of political funds or election campaigns by a trade union. Freedom of Employers The meanness of changes "in favour" of trade unions stands in stark contrast to the "concessions" made to the employers. The government proposal for the revision of the labour law embraces all the demands of employers -- the Federation of Korean Industrialists and the Korean Employers Federation, the Chamber of Commerce, etc. -- apart from the their call to maintain the current prohibition on union plurality. The proposed amendments will virtually give free hand to employers to layoff workers. It will also allow employers to demand employees to work a maximum of 56 hours a week (without overtime rate) as long as the monthly average remains within 44 hours. The proposed revised law does not contain any indication for the reduction of working hours. The government proposal will also bring about a legislation which will institutionalise "dispatch labour" or "contingency workforce". The proposed legislation will have the effect of legalising the currently illegal "manpower agencies" operated by the big conglomerate chaebols. The three "flexibility" measures will, together, will, the KCTU believes, severely disrupt the employment security and trade union activities. The General Strike: the looming crackdown On December 4, 1996, the member unions of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, including the unions at the major car makers and heavy industries with thousands of employees, conducted a pre-strike ballot. While the exact figures are not yet known, the results so far indicate that more than 90% of workers in some 300 unions which have so far conducted the ballot have voted to go on a general strike. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions will hold an extraordinary session of its Central Committee on December 6 to decide on the date(s) and form(s) of nation-wide general strike. In response to the call for general strike, the government has responded by threatening to arrest and imprison the key union leaders who "instigate" an "illegal" general strike. A high level Public Prosecutors Office officer suggested president Kwon Young-kil, who is out of jail on bond while still facing a trial, may be "recalled" to prison once the KCTU embarks on the general strike. KCTU expects large number of arrests and imprisonments as 500 union leaders vowed to end up in prison in their determination to resist the government amendment which will severely restrict trade union rights and radically worsen the working conditions. From kctuint at chollian.dacom.co.kr Mon Dec 9 10:41:08 1996 From: kctuint at chollian.dacom.co.kr (KCTU-International) Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 09:41:08 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 268] General Strike on December 13 Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961209093514.261f1dce@is1.hk.super.net> KOREAN CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS ------------------------------------------------------- Struggle for Labour Law Reforms Campaign News XV December 7, 1996 Strike! Strike! General Strike! Korean Confederation of Trade Unions will launch nation-wide general strike on December 13, 1996 The 10th session of the Central Committee of the KCTU decided to call out all the members for a 4-hour general strike on December 13 if the government does not withdraw its regressive amendment bill until midnight December 12, 1996. If the government, despite the December 13th general strike, pushes ahead with its amendment aimed at emasculating the trade union movement and radically undermining the employment security and working conditions of all working people, KCTU will embark on an indefinite nation-wide general strike from December 16, 1996. The Central Committee called for the resignation of the entire cabinet headed by prime minister Lee Soo-sung. The Central Committee also decided to begin a concerted struggle calling for the dissolution of the conglomerate chaebols. The Central Committee resolved also to call on the Federation of Korean Trade Unions to bring the date of its scheduled general strike forward for a concerted coordinated struggle. On the Strike Path Prior to the December 13th nation-wide general strike, 2,000 leaders of the KCTU-member unions will converge in Seoul on December 9 for an overnight protest meeting. On December 11, the 929 KCTU unions will hold lunch-time general meeting, while on December 12, the officers of local unions will hold regional meetings to call on the various political parties to end the government and chaebol's attack on the trade union movement and the working people. Following the 4-hour general strike on December 13, KCTU unionists will join with other people's organisations to take part in a nation-wide rally calling for a democratic and genuine reform of the labour law. The rally will take place in some 20 major urban centres throughout the country. Strike for Genuine Reform The Central Committee reaffirmed that the repeal of the prohibition on the union plurality and the ban on the unionisation of teachers and government employees as the basic criterion of a genuine reform of the labour law. The Central Committee attended by all of 95 members decided to reject the government proposal for amendment which will have the effect of downgrading the basic working conditions and the basic trade union rights. The Central Committee called on the government to withdraw its proposal for "labour law regress" and to prepare an entirely new amendment which complies with the general orientation of democratic reform and the international labour standards identified by the ILO and the OECD. The Central Committee identified that the government proposal for "labour law regress" was a part of the overall retreat in democratic reform which includes the plan to strengthen the repressive instruments of the National Security Planning Agency Act, the Law on Assembly and Demonstration, the Election Act, and the plan to introduce a law on broadcasting aimed at strengthening government and chaebol's control. The Central Committee also criticised the recent announcement to freeze the price of government purchase of rice which would drive the farmers into even greater hardship . The Central Committee, therefore, called for the resignation of the present cabinet headed by Lee Soo-sung responsible for suppression of democracy and general well-being of the working people. Targeting the Chaebols The Central Committee, then, made a special resolution to mount a concerted struggle for the dissolution of chaebols-centred system of economy. The special resolution was made in response to the "urgent call" to the government made by the head of Federation of Korean Industries -- the umbrella organisation of the chaebols -- for a "five-year wage freeze", continued ban on union plurality, and even further worsening of the basic labour standards. The Central Committee denounced the chaebols, who in their quest for absolute control of the economy, were responsible for strangling the economy and the well-being of the working people. The chaebols were the primary culprit, through their unrepenting graft and corruption, speculative profiteering through property speculation, deepening of dependency in technology and essential parts, and snowballing of luxury imports, for the current economic woes. The Central Committee, therefore, resolved to work in solidarity with all people's organisations in the struggle to bring about the dissolution of dinosaur chaebols. The Confrontation The Central Committee noted that the major security-hawk authorities within the government, the Public Prosecutors Office, the Ministry of Labour, the Federation of Korean Industries, and the Korean Employers Federation have stepped their preparation to arrest and imprison key KCTU leaders and file criminal and damage suits against union leaders who participate in the general strike. KCTU denounced their plan as blatant repression of the just efforts by workers to defend their basic labour union rights and working conditions. The Central Committee vowed to repel the repressive design of the dinosaur chaebols and the pro-chaebol elements and the security-hawks in the government who aim to consolidate their domination by emasculating the trade union movement and lead the general strike to victory. From daga at HK.Super.NET Mon Dec 9 18:50:31 1996 From: daga at HK.Super.NET (daga) Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 17:50:31 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 269] PRD/Pakpahan Trial Appeal Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961209174439.284f6596@is1.hk.super.net> /* Written 1:33 PM Dec 7, 1996 by achis in igc:list.labor */ /* ---------- "ASIET/IND: PRD/PAKPAHAN TRIAL APPEA" ---------- */ From: Alex Chis & Claudette Begin Subject: ASIET/IND: PRD/PAKPAHAN TRIAL APPEAL (fwd) From: asiet Subject: ASIET/IND: PRD/PAKPAHAN TRIAL APPEAL Path: asiet Date: Sat, 7 Dec 1996 18:37 AEST To: asietnews-l@peg.apc.org Cc: apakabar@clark.net Sender: owner-asietnews-l@peg.apc.org Precedence: bulk EMERGENCY APPEAL PRD LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS, MOCHTAR PAKPAHAN TRIALS TO START. On December 12 the Soeharto dictatorship will begin the trials of leaders and activists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) and its affiliated mass organisations as well as against Mochtar Pakpahan, head of the Indonesian Prosperous Labour Union. The primary, secondary, and sub-secondary charges against them are all "subversion" which carries a maximum penalty of death. Among the PRD leaders charged are Budiman Sujatmiko, President of the PRD and Petrus Haryanto, PRD Secretary-General. Charges have also been filed against ms Dita Sari, President of the Indonesian Centre for Labour Struggles (PPBI) and Ignatius Pranowo, PPBI Secretary General. Also charged is Wilson, coordinator of the Indonesian People in Solidarity with the Maubere People and a member of the PRD Executiv and Astika Anom, head of the PRD education department. Garda Sembiring, head of one of the largest branches of Students in Solidarity with Democracy in Indonesia (SMID) is also among those charged. The arrests of the PRD leaders and activists were originally defended by the dictatorship by accusing the PRD of being behind rioting that occurred on July 27, following an attack by government military and police on the offices of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party. Lawyers for the PRD prisoners now say the indictments hardly mention the July 27 riots at all but concentrate on attacking the political documents of the PRD and its programme of protest actions during 1995. The dictatorship has singled out the PRD for total supression and has issued orders for detention of all PRD personnel. The subversion charges were filed two weeks after Indonesia's Supreme Court reimposed a four-year jail term on one other of the accused, namely, Muchtar Pakpahan. Pakpahan was jailed in 1994 on charges of inciting mass labour unrest after riots broke out when soldiers attacked a workers demonstration in the Sumatran city of Medan. He was freed last December after the Supreme Court found that there was insufficient evidence for his conviction. Pakpahan had been arrested again in August following the July riots in Jakarta. On November 28 Indonesian judges released all 124 Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) supporters of Megawati Sukarnoputri who spent four months in jail on lesser charges of refusing to obey orders by the security forces to disperse. URGENT APPEAL ASIET calls on all supporters of democracy and human rights to protest the filing of these subversion charges against the PRD leaders and activists as well as Mochtar Pakpahan. We urge you to send letters to the Indonesian Embassy in your country and to your foreign ministers calling on them to raise the matter publicly with the Indonesian government. We urge all groups and individuals to follow ASIET reports over the coming weeks. Further protest activities will be necessary. We also urge all supporters to help the defence campaign by making a donation. Donations will be sent to Jakarta for the PRD defence campaign and to produce publicity materials. Please send cheques or money orders to the address below. ACTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR (ASIET) P.O. BOX 458, BROADWAY 2007, AUSTRALIA Tel: 61-02-6901032 Fax: 61-02-6901381 subscribe to asietnews-l Web Page: http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet/ Free East Timor! Free Xanana Gusmao! Freedom in Indonesia! Free all political prisoners! Defend the PRD! Suharto regime out of the internal affairs of political parties! No military ties with Suharto dictatorship! From infolink at portalinc.com Tue Dec 10 18:34:48 1996 From: infolink at portalinc.com (kakammpi) Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 17:34:48 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 270] IWCA declaration Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961210172853.11373102@is1.hk.super.net> Statement of the International Women's Conference on APEC Shalom Center, Manila, Philippines, 15-16 November 1996 ASIA-PACIFIC WOMEN REJECT APEC AND CALL FOR A PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE COOPERATION We, the women of Asia and the Pacific Rim, reject APEC because the free trade policies it promotes blatantly lead to the violation of people's human rights, loss of democracy and social justice, environmental degradation and increased impoverishment of peoples. In the name of trade liberalization, our governments have put the interests of transnational corporations (TNCs) and international financial institutions at the expense of the interests of people. Economic growth has created more inequalities within the countries, and between countries, as a result of profit-oriented and investment-led policies. Corporations have pursued cheap labor within the region and the use of unfree migrant labor has increased dramatically. This pattern of economic growth is unsustainable and has left environmental devastation in its wake. APEC will only exacerbate this situation and cause the further marginalization of peoples, particularly women and children. The indiscriminate opening up of the economy will heighten unfair competition, benefit only those who monopolize capital and technology, marginalize the poor and accelerate the depletion of natural resources. As a result of trade liberalization, we see large-scale, capital intensive agroculture, monocropping and changing land use patterns. This has tightened monopoly control of transnational corporations and their practices of double standards which in turn have caused the people's loss of control over basic resources such as land, seed and plant varieties, and fuel. Through these trade policies, developing countries are obligated to allow the unrestricted importation of subsidized and cheap food products and thereby discouraging domestic food production and continue to be subjected to impositions regarding tariff reduction on the small countries. This has discouraged massive and rapid conversion of agricultural lands devoted or suitable to food production to non-agricultural or non-food production uses. As a result, we are faced by food insecurity and deleterious changing patterns of food consumption among our peoples. Contrary to the general notion that trade liberalization and competition will open more factories, and create more jobs, we are now looking at massive unemployment and underemployment especially among women and the increased exploitation in the informal sector. Massive displacements because of land conversion and development aggression continue to force our people to migrate to urban centers or to other countries. Massive homelessness and migration have destroyed communities and families, destroying the skills and knowledge base of peoples. In every country, women are the poorest of the poor. Women are carrying the brunt of free trade policies which have had a devastating impact on women's rights. The loss of livelihoods and decreasing control over resources are inccreasing women's marginalization. Unemployment and underemployment of women are forcing many of them into prostitution, even as the horrendous poverty of women and their families has led to an explosion in the trafficking in and sexual slavery of women. As migrant workers, women's exploitation has been further intensified as receiving countries have refused to protect their rights as workers making them vulnerable to sexual harassment and increased exploitation. In the name of so-called free markets, governments have destroyed social programs which protect women. Not one of the governments that are part of APEC have a mandate from their peoples to negotiate anything. Free trade is bringing about an erosion of democratic rights and the destruction of democratic institutions as governments are becoming more authoritarian and dictatorial. New forms of human rights violations are emerging, and the women of this region unequivocally condemn this agenda. We call upon our governments to: 1. Ensure women's full participation in policy formulation and decision-making processes. 2. Regulate and control TNCs and international financial institutions (IFIs). 3. Live up to commitments made in the UN conventions, including the following: -Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women -International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights -Beijing Platform for Action -International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants Workers and Members of Their Families -International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions on Labor Standards -International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment -International Convention on All Forms of Racial Discrimination -International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid -Convention on the Rights of the Child. 4. Allocate resources for the basic needs of people, such as health care, education, housing and social assistance, especially for women and children and all disadvantaged persons. 5. Promote regional cooperation based on promoting self-sufficiency, capacity building through technology transfer, information flow and special courses. 6. Stop demolitions, ensure proper relocation in cases where it cannot be avoided and generate more jobs for urban poor dwellers. 7. Recognize women's role and contributions in safeguarding the environment, including the conservation of local plant varieties. 8. Provide adequate employment locally with decent living wages to discourage labor outmigration. Governments of receiving countries should provide crisis centers for migrant workers. 9. Make food security a priority, ensuring the food needs of peoples and immediately stop the dumping of cheap food that is detrimental to local food production. 10. Subsidize and suppport efforts for sustainable agriculture, stop land conversion and enact or implement land use laws, and provide suppport services to small farmers, particularly women farmers. Furthermore, ensure fair prices for farmers' produce. Henceforth, we call upon NGOs and people's movements to: 1. Develop people's alternative structures of fair trade. 2. Undertake campaigns to raise awareness, and to mobilize and organize peoples movements against APEC. 3. Initiate and strengthen links between and among women, indigenous and aboriginal peoples, trade unions and migrant workers organizations. 4. Respond to urgent alert actions for migrant women and women workers and victims of human rights violations. 5. Make the struggle for women's equality a priority agenda. 6. Call upon trade unions to include organizations of workers in the informal sector. 7. Hold the TNCs accountable for the social and environmental impact of their operations. We call on all governments, peoples' organizations, non-government organizations to unite in resisting and rejecting APEC. From daga at HK.Super.NET Tue Dec 10 18:34:41 1996 From: daga at HK.Super.NET (daga) Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 17:34:41 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 271] Declaration: Manila People's Forum on APEC Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961210172846.1137952c@is1.hk.super.net> DECLARATION MANILA PEOPLE'S FORUM ON APEC November 21-24, 1996 Reaffirming the historic Kyoto Declaration of November, 1995, we have gathered in Manila as representatives of people's movements, women's movements, trade unions, non-governmental and religious organizations from 22 nations of Asia, Pacific, the Americas and Europe. In five Pre- Forums we have studied and developed plans of action related to gender equality, labour and migrant rights, people's rights and democratization, environment and ecology, and economic and social development. In each of these events we prepared recommendations for action and further research related to APEC. While we recognize the importance of trade and rules to govern trade, we are here to oppose the kind of trade represented by the APEC process of global economic integration in service to a corporate agenda at the expense of the human rights, dignity and well-being of the peoples of this region. We are also here to learn from each other and to strengthen our linkages and solidarity with organizations and movements throughout the APEC region. APEC '96 has been portrayed by the host government as having injected a "social face" into the process by the inclusion of elements of civil society in preparation for this week's meetings. However, the real face of APEC has been deftly revealed by the refusal of the host Philippine government to allow Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos Horta and other foreign delegates entry into the Philippines to participate in this forum, as well as the repression of any form of protest for the duration of the APEC meetings. It has also been painfully demonstrated by the demolition of urban poor homes and the forced removal of hundreds of thousands of poor people from Manila so that the corporate and political elites attending APEC will not be disturbed by seeing them. Hiding the poor will not erase poverty. Nor will refusing entry to a Nobel Peace laureate bring peace and justice to the people of East Timor. These acts only amplify the demands and strengthen the resistance of the people of this region against the wholesale surrender of their sovereignty, their cultural integrity and the economic well-being to the APEC agenda. The people are not "human resources" to be minded, exploited and depleted. The people are the wealth and the future of our nations, whose well-being defines development and whose participation makes it possible. Political leaders, following the lead of transnational corporations like mice following a trail of spilled grain, are pursuing an illusion of a borderless world in which riches would flow without impediment into their national cofferes or the accounts of their corporate allies. We call on them to abandon that fantasy, and wake up to the reality that our legacy, our dignity, our culture and our natural world are being drained away instead into the offshore accounts of global robber barons. We call instead on all the governments participating in the APEC "summit" to fulfill the democratic mandate to secure justice, preserve the dignity and advance the economic, social and cultural well-being of all the people, and protect the natural heritage for our children's children. In particular, we recommend to the governments of APEC, NGOs and people's organizations the following considerations and principles for action: GENDER AND ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION In every country, women and the poorest of the poor. Women carry the brunt of free trade policies which have had a devastating impact on women's rights. The loss of livelihoods and decreasing control over resources are increasing women's inequality. We reject economic and social systems which create and perpetuate the exploitation of women's bodies, and call on governments to make the eradication of women's poverty a priority. Further, the unpaid labour of women should be measured and included in satellite accounts parallel to national accounts as agreed to at the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing in 1995. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT In a global economy dominated by transnational corporations with their operation in almost every country, the theoretical underpinning of free trade is no longer tenable. Yet, free trade is still dominant in APEC's development policy. Genuine development must be centred on the needs of people and nature, and deliver real social and economic justice. However, the kind of globalization being pushed by big business and neo-liberal governments and institutions is creating an economic and financial framework that widens povery throughout the APEC region. In both developed and underdeveloped countries, poverty continues to deepen both in character and magnitude. No longer do most people of developed countries enjoy the economic and social benefits of their countries' affluence. Worse, structural adjustment, which is integral to APEC agenda, dictates severe cuts to social infrastructure, leaving poor people more vulnerable and intensifying social stratification and disintegration. APEC governments are instituting economic, financial and social policies and programmes that are biased against sustainable and self-sufficient production in favour of rapid industrialization for export markets. The net effect is further dispossession of indigenous peoples, heightened rural poverty and aggravated exploitation of newly urbanized industrial workers. Women suffer most from these changes, ending up as cheap labour, overseas migrant workers or prostitutes at the mercy of international traffickers. Children too are not spared. Child labour and child prosititution are becoming rampant in many APEC nations. The violation of the rights of the child, including the right to education and security of person, are also common in many APEC nations. We call upon all governments, NGOs and people's organizations and civil society to defend and promote the child's best interests, as provided for in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS We reaffirm the universality, interrelatedness and interdependence of human rights as the highest priority of states. The rights of the majority of our populations continue to be violated. We are already living with the negative impacts of economic liberalization. In the face of overt human rights violations spawned by the accelerated economic liberalization policies of Asia-Pacific and Latin American governments, we call on the peoples of the region to assert and defend their rights, including the right to basic food security and livelihood; to independent economic, social, political and environmental policies and programmes, to self- determination to manage, protect, develop and defend ancestral domains of indigenous peoples; to gender equality; and to the rule of law in respect for human rights. We demand the end of state-supported violence in the name of economic and financial liberalization, and the incorporation of respect for human and peoples' rights in the negotiation of trade and economic agreements. We demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners. GOVERNANCE AND THE ROLE OF THE STATE Since its inception, APEC has deliberately conducted its agenda in an antidemocratic manner without transparency, accountability, or popular participation. This is symptomatic of the underlying neo-liberal model, which seeks to transfer power from states to markets. The resulting lack of democracy is manifested in all levels of the policies and practices of APEC -- subsuming states to the directives of business advisory bodies, corporations and international financial institutions. Among APEC states are some of the most authoritarian governments in the world. More and more governments, due to pressure from their neighbours or on their own volition, are undertaking anti-democratic practices. What is urgently needed now is a strategy to mobilize democratic forces against the arbitrary powers of state, corporations and policy bureaucracies and their economic institutions, including APEC. Governments must put in place rules and mechanisms to regulate and monitor the conduct of TNCs, particularly with respect to their ecologically damaging practices and their obligations to their employees with respect to laws regulating wages, benefits, health and safety and other labour standards. We demand a highly inclusive level of political participation in the selection of leaders and policies so that no major social group is excluded. We demand a level of civil and political liberties -- freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom to form organizations -- sufficient to ensure the integrity of governance and meaningful participation. We further demand support for the democractic values associated with community and social justice which lend substance to a genuine concern with social and economic rights. LABOUR AND MIGRANT RIGHTS Global market pressures reinforce and magnify state repression of workers, or undermine the ability of some governments to protect labour standards. Globalization also undermines the security of employment, the right to a living wage, and the ability to organize and bargain collectively. The resulting pressure on workers to survive leads to the "informalization" of the workforce. Informalization is turning workers, in both the formal and informal sectors, into an even cheaper, more docile, exploited and un-unionized labour force, and impacts particularly on women. It forces families to resort to sending their children to work, and some women to engage in prostitution to survive. Globalization intensifies migration, and also has a particularly negative impact on women. The exploitative system of migrant labour recruitment, often operating outside state regulation, must be addressed by governments. Special attention must be given to the rampant and brutal abuses associated with the feminization of migration, and the violation of the human rights of both documented and undocumented migrant workers. Governments must respect, improve and enforce national labour laws, which are consistent with internationally recognized basic labour rights, and refrain from involving military or police in labour disputes to intimidate workers, or as corporate scabs. We insist that each government develop and maintain workplace health and safety laws and that failure to provide, or continually lowering, workplace safety standards no longer be used to entice or retain investment. We demand the repeal of anti-migrant laws and policies in both sending and receiving countries. These measures must include the regularization of all undocumented workers. Governments should advance the welfare and protection of migrant workers by ratifying the UN Convention for the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, and through bilateral agreements with receiving countries. ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT The experience of Chile and Taiwan demonstrates that liberalized trade and investment will further accelerate environmental degradation. Exploitation of natural resources for export resulting in deforestation, depletion of fish stocks, destruction of coral reefs and mangrove forests, desertification and loss of control by communities and indigenous peoples over their ancestral doman (land, air, water, skills and knowledge) are what we have already witnessed. Continuing to rely on non-renewable, polluting energy sources to fuel the demands of industrialization causes irreversible damage to ecosystems and human health, and robs future generations of a resource base for their survival. The dumping of toxic waste, export of hazardous materials, and migration of dirty technology to developing countries leads to environmental catastrophe, with terrible consequences for human health. To prevent thse devastating effects, we bind ourselves to the principles of ecologically and sustainable social development that is people-oriented and environment based, protects biodiversity, and places a premium on preserving women's livelihoods, people's participation, and improved quality of life. We reject any slogan of "sustainable development" which fails to include these elements. We call for the support and strengthening of people's movements, especially farmers and fisherfolks, who are resisting injustice and encroachment to their lands and livelihoods by transnational corporations and so-called development programmes. ONWARD TO VANCOUVER We are confident that the struggles of people throughout Asia, Pacific and the Americas to expose the false promises of APEC have succeeded in challenging the narrow interests that are driving this process. We have grown in numbers and understanding, in mobilization and strength during the past three years of popular activity. We have established an ambitious programme of research and mobilization to prepare for the next phase of our work in developing liveable and sustainable alternatives to market-driven globalization based on the principles of democracy, equality and social justice. We will meet next year in Vancouver to continue this effort. During the next year, our work will focus on the role of the state, the environment, and an alternative economic agenda. Action proposals from the Pre-Forums and the People's Forum are appended to provide guidance for this work. From bayan at mnl.sequel.net Thu Dec 12 10:37:15 1996 From: bayan at mnl.sequel.net (bayan) Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 09:37:15 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 272] Declaration of the People's Conference Against Imperialist Globalization Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961212093121.1defcf5a@is1.hk.super.net> DECLARATION OF THE PEOPLE'S CONFERENCE AGAINST IMPERIALIST GLOBALIZATION Quezon City, Philippines, Nov. 21-23, 1996 We, participants in the People's Conference Against Imperialist Globalization, representing people's organizations, nongovernmental organizations, solidarity groups, movements, networks and individuals from 34 countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, North America and Europe, have come together to confront a common danger and respond to a common challenge. Monopoly capitalists, frontlined by multinational/trans- national corporations (MNCs/TNCs) backed by their respective states, are in haste to expand and tighten their rule in the world. They have created the bandwagon of "globalization" with its three elements: trade and investment liberalization, deregulation and privatization. These monopoly capitalists, invariably called modern-day imperialists or neocolonial powers, use globalization to extricate themselves from three decades of recurring prolonged recessions induced by the international debt crisis and the crisis of overproduction. In the post-Cold War era, the traditional imperialist powers that have long divided the world among themselves -- the United States, the leading states of the European Union, and Japan -- are colluding more than ever. They connive, using their MNCs/TNCs, to exploit and oppress the peoples of the Third World and of the former Soviet bloc, and their own workers too. But in the inevitably intensifying rivalry, each power plots to penetrate and take over the other's domains and redivide the world. Thus, the promised "new world economic order" of prosperity and peace is far from coming. Emerging instead is a new world disorder far more destructive of the lives of billions of peoples, in industrial and non-industrial countries alike. The prescribed path, free trade, is not free at all. To advance their unified goal, the major imperialist powers have harnessed various instrumentalities. Chief of these are the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund- World Bank tandem and its nefarious structural adjustment programs, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, lately restructured as the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as international, regional and bilateral military alliances and agreements. Reactionary regimes, particularly of imperialist client-states in the Third World, have conspired with imperialism to further this goal. The major and minor imperialist powers are using regional free trade blocs -- principally the European Union, the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) -- to speed up the WTO trade and investments liberalization timetable. Meantime, they secure their national and regional markets. With NAFTA in its tight grip, the US has seized the initiative in APEC to regain economic preeminence over Japan in Asia-Pacific, check China's growing influence, and consolidate American geopolitical hegemony in the region. In face of this situation, we, participants in the People's Conference Against Imperialist Globalization hereby resolve collectively to oppose globalization in every way and by every means possible in our respective countries and worldwide. We denounce and oppose the subservient client-states for selling out their peoples' interests. They connive with imperialism in promoting distorted concepts of "democratization," "civil society empowerment," and "sustainable development" in a bid to disarm the people and co-opt their organizations into the imperialist strategem. We oppose imperialist globalization because the schemes it promotes worsen the uneven development among and within nations, intensify the exploitation of peoples, and deepen inequality and social polarization. They accelerate the concentration of wealth in the handful of imperialist states, their MNCs/TNCs and the billionaire-owners, and drive the majority of nations into deeper impoverishment. These schemes also foster mindless consumerism and trash Western culture that warp, marginalize or efface the cultures of Third World peoples and debase their humanity. Globalization schemes are wiping out jobs and livelihoods in industry and agriculture, both in industrial and non-industrial countries. Evidence we have seen undoubtedly show that globalization is causing mass layoff of workers via "downsizing," "labor flexibilization," "labor-only contracting" and other management designs; massive landlessness and worsening forms of feudal and capitalist exploitation of peasants and farm workers; displacement, commodification and modern-day slavery of women; eviction of the urban poor; deprivation of indigenous peoples of their ancestral lands and patenting of their human genes; wanton human rights violations and political repression; commodification of migration; razing of the environment; de-industrialization and bankruptcy of small and medium enterprises; cutdown or total absence of state social services; rising costs of consumer goods and services and declining levels of income and standards of living of the majority of the people. They also aim to deprive the toiling masses of their capacity to organize and effectively fight for their rights and survival and to resist imperialist domination. No wonder workers and peasants of many countries, men and women alike, have raised their banners in defiance. They and their fellow oppressed represented in this conference -- indigenous peoples, women, youths and students, intellectuals, the middle classes, among others -- are determined to shatter the myths and expose the false promises of globalization by showing its all-too-real adverse impacts on peoples'lives and environments. More than that, they are waging varied forms of struggles to frustrate globalization. By its own rapacity and cupidity, monopoly capital is fast bringing together the world's exploited and oppressed peoples to share their common pains as well as their common struggles and aspirations. In more and more countries, they are developing new means of struggle or taking up proven ones, including the revolutionary recourse to armed struggle. Having resisted and survived state reaction and brutal repression, the people are resolved to win. We hereby resolve to carry out the following actions: = Fully expose and vigorously oppose the deceptive slogan, destructive schemes, and the programs and policies of globalization in our own countries and worldwide; = Junk APEC, NAFTA, the European Union and the WTO as imperialist instruments to further subjugate and exploit the toiling masses and peoples of the world; = Fight for the dismantling of imperialist military alliances, the abrogation of Cold-War vintage security agreements, and the withdrawal of overseas US military bases and troop deployments. = Struggle to establish a social, economic, political and cultural order in our countries that shall ensure freedom from foreign domination and domestic exploitation and oppression. Develop our natural and human resources for our peoples' well-being. Foster international cooperation based on equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. = Resist imperialist economic, political, military and cultural aggression, political repression by reactionary states. Campaign for the freedom of all political prisoners, and demand justice for the victims of all human rights violations; = Strengthen our anti-imperialist solidarity, perseveringly build our national organizations and alliances and enhance our capacities to carry out both independent and coordinated action programs. Forge strong solidarity links among ourselves and with other anti-imperialist and progressive organizations to further advance the world's anti-imperialist movement. (Approved and adopted in plenary session by the participants, People's Conference Against Imperialist Globalization, November 23, 1995.) The BAYAN homepage is-- http://www.sequel.net/~bayan/ E-mail address is -- bayan@mnl.sequel.net Papers at plenary, country cases, workshop resolutions can either be requested through e-mail, or accessed at the BAYAN homepage. From alarm at pw.net Thu Dec 12 20:52:20 1996 From: alarm at pw.net (alarm) Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 19:52:20 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 273] Labor & Migrant Forum Statement Message-ID: <32AFF1F4.7312@pw.net> Labor and Migrant Rights Forum Manila Peoples' Forum on APEC ?96 18-20 November 1996, IIRR Silang, Cavite, Philippines STATEMENT In 1995, the NGO Forum on APEC in Kyoto, Japan issued a challenge to governments of the Asia-Pacific region. In that declaration, it was stated: Genuine development must be centered on the needs of people and nature, and deliver real social and economic justice. The form of indiscriminate, unregulated economic growth and trade which APEC advocates delivers the opposite of this --- ecologically unsustainable; it imposes irreversible social and environmental costs; and it enables governments to abdicate their responsibilities to their citizens and leave them at the mercy of transnational corporations and international financial institutions who are accountable to no one. Genuine development must also affirm the fundamental civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of individuals and peoples, and the obligations of states to promote and protect such rights. One year later, we, the 90 delegates to the Labor and Migrants Rights Forum coming from 20 countries of Asia, the Pacific, the Americas and Europe, reaffirm this declaration. Again, we must emphasize that the process of market-driven globalization has continued to deepen the crisis faced by peoples of all our countries and to intensify the poverty it is advertized to combat. The promise of globalization, which APEC is fostering in this region, was to bring mutual prosperity to all our countries. The reality is the integration of the poor and vulnerable workers into the global economy in ways that exacerbate their poverty. Globalization also undermines the prosperity of workers elsewhere. We hereby declare that "globalization", in the forms advocated by APEC, must be rejected. In its place must be built a system of international economic relations that is people-oriented, based on respect and the promotion of human rights, participation and democratic decision-making, gender equality, efforts to lessen the disparity between nations and to break the cycles of debt and impoverishment, protection of international labor standards and respect for sound environmental practices. Global market pressures reinforce and magnify state repression of workers, and undermine the ability of some to protect labor standards. Globalization also undermines the security of employment, the right to a living wage, and the ability to organize and bargain collectively. The resulting pressure on workers to survive leads to the "informalization" of the workforce. Informalization is turning workers, in both the formal and informal sectors, into an even cheaper, more docile, exploited and un-unionized labor force, and impacts particularly on women. It forces families to resort to sending their children to work, and some women to engage in prostitution to survive. Globalization intensifies migration, and also has a particularly negative impact on women. The exploitative system of migrant labor recruitment, often operating outside state regulation, must be addressed by governments. Special attention must be given to the rampant and brutal abuses associated with the feminization of migration, and the violation of the human rights of both documented and undocumented migrant workers. We are committed to a process of economic development which responds to these needs and ends these violations, and we hereby declare that no pattern of economic integration or any other international agreement will be acceptable unless it includes at a minimum the following measures. 1. Alternative Development Strategies Economic growth does not equal development; poverty is growing in our countries faster than the GNP. Trade, in and of itself, is also not development. Current market-based development strategies, which rely solely on growth in trade, are causing ecological and human disasters, and are further intensifying the gap between wealthy and poor. We therefore call on our governments to pursue development and build international cooperation based on people-oriented principles mentioned earlier, and to re-examine development priorities, in at least the following ways. A. Land Use Land is a finite resource. Its use and sale can not be left to market forces alone. Food security and the tenurial right of farmers are primary considerations. We call on all governments to reverse policies that undermine the protection of indigenous or peasant land rights and the protection of people to produce their food. We urge them to develop land use policies that minimize the involuntary conversion of land at the cost of displacing poor or indigenous populations, or the use of inordinate commercial pressures to deprive the poor of their land rights. B. Marine Resources We are very much concerned with lack of adequate governmental interventions and concerns to protect the marine resources and life. When these resources are exhausted, the livelihoods of thousands of families depending on them are lost. Added to this is the growing pollution of all waters, threatening the health and safety of all. We call on governments to actively intervene to halt such marine resource destruction, not only for ecological and health reasons, but also to develop a sound marine resource economic plan, for food security and clean potable water. C. Transitional Assistance When workers are faced with dislocation, job loss, or informalization caused by trade pressures or policies, we demand that governments provide assistance and relief, through realistic and adequately funded education and training programs. Employment policies that foster the export of people to other countries as a substitute for developing domestic employment must be amended. All people have a right to live in the country of their birth, and all governments have a responsibility to make it a priority concern to enable that right to be realized. 2. Legal Protections and Procedural Safeguards A. Honor International Commitments As was noted at Kyoto, member governments of APEC have participated in many inter- governmental conferences: on the Rights of the Child (New York), the Environment (Rio de Janeiro), Human Rights (Vienna), Population and Development (Copenhagen) and Women (Beijing) and Sexual Exploitation of Children (Stockholm). Despite their participation, none of the commitments made in those conferences is visible in the APEC process. Rather, the consequence of this form of economic and trade liberalization violates the fundamental rights to which they agreed. We call on all governments participating in APEC to subject their economic plans to the social criteria and commitments they made in these international events. B. Respect, Enforce and Improve National Law Existing laws in our countries are frequently ignored, by-passed, or even amended in the interest of enticing foreign investment. Genuine development demands first that all governments: 1) strengthen the enforcement of existing laws protecting human and labor rights, 2) take measures to inform migrant workers of their legal rights, and 3) where those laws do not meet international standards, amend them to bring them into compliance. In particular, we insist that informal sector workers, farm workers, migrant workers and free trade zone workers be brought within the scope of labor law protection on a par with other workers. We urge all governments in the Asia-Pacific region to refrain from involving military or police in labor disputes, or to harass, intimidate or threaten workers, or as adjunct corporate security personnel. We further urge the immediate release of all imprisoned labor leaders and workers detained for the exercise of their labor rights. We demand that each government develop stringent workplace health and safety laws and regulations that include, but are not limited to: *The right of workers to refuse dangerous work; *The right of workers to refuse to work with substances that may harm the worker, the air, water and/or the land; *The complete disclosure of information regarding workplace hazards to workers and their trade union representatives. We remind all the governments that their first responsibility to their own citizens, whether they are at home or overseas, and urge them to resist the temptation to sacrifice the rights of migrant workers abroad for the sake of diplomatic or trade relations. C. Ratify and Enforce International Conventions The basis for international economic relations must be respect for law and human rights. It is necessary for all governments to ratify and enforce, without reservation, the UN's International Convention on Political and Civil Rights, the International Convention on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, and the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of all Migrants and Members of their Families. Further we call on governments to ratify and enforce all ILO conventions on migrant workers and their families, as well as the core worker rights conventions guaranteeing freedom of association, the right of collective bargaining, prohibitions against forced labor and child labor, and non-discrimination in the workplace (Conv. 29, 87, 98, 100, 105, 11, and 138.) D. Strengthen the Ability to Regulate Multinational Corporations We call for international treaties or agreements to allow claims against multi-national corporations to be filed in their country of corporate headquarters, or in international courts, when legal claims can not be adjudicated in the country of the alleged violation, or when damages can not be collected in that country. E. Protect Migrant Workers Against Abuse Governments must establish protocols among receiving and sending countries to institutionalize protection of migrant workers against abusive practices or conditions, both in the recruitment process and in the workplace. These measures must include the regularization of all undocumented workers. We demand the repeal of anti-migrant laws and policies in both sending and receiving countries. F. Strengthen the ILO's Complaint Procedures We call on governments, employers and workers representatives to the ILO to establish complaint mechanisms related to migrant worker conventions, as well as the core labor rights conventions mentioned above. Further we ask that enforcement systems to redress violations be developed at the ILO in conjunction with other international bodies. 3. Research and Information A. Migrant Worker Protection We call on the governments to compile and publish a compendium of laws and regulations regarding migrant workers in the different APEC member economies, as well as judicial procedures for protecting their human and labor rights, and to make this information widely available. B. Accuracy of Information Governments should refrain from issuing partial and misleading information on the impacts of APEC, and commission independent research on the consequences of liberalization, as it relates to various sectors of the economy and workforce. 4. Corporate Codes and Enforcement While corporate codes of conduct or codes of labor practice can not by themselves be expected to lessen or control violations of workers rights or environmental regulations, we nevertheless call on governments to encourage corporations, in dialogue with workers and unions, to adopt codes of conduct for all phases of their operations, including contractors and sub-contractors everywhere in the Asia Pacific region. These codes must include respect for all relevant labor laws, and especially recognize the right of freedom of association and expression and collective bargaining rights. Governments should also encourage establishment of independent systems to monitor compliance with this codes. Governments must develop mechanisms to hold corporations accountable to their obligations to workers, including back pay and severance pay, when they relocate. We further believe that governments should cooperate with trade unions and NGOs to develop means to monitor compliance with such codes of conduct and to asses the practices of corporations related to environmental pollution and cleanup. Preparing for Popular Action As trade unions, non-governmental organizations, and people's movements committed to a different model of development and the full participation of the people in their own destiny, we recognize the need for consolidating and strengthening our efforts not only to combat the globalization model of APEC but to imagine and construct an alternative world based on fundamental principles respecting human rights and human dignity. We need to engage our membership in these issues to develop new inclusive paradigms for relations among local workers and migrants, and to fully foster gender equality and the affirmation of women's perspectives. There is much work to be done on every front. As a start, focusing on preparations for coordinated activities, we propose to our colleagues to undertake as appropriate the following actions. 1. Trade unions, people's movements and NGOs throughout the region should undertake investigations and advocacy related to their own nationally-based multinational corporations or MNCs operating in their own country, and communicate this information to home country organizations in order to develop international campaigns of corporate accountability. 2. A multinational study of migrant worker-related laws, regulations and practices, together with a listing of resources available to assist migrant workers, should be developed and made widely available in all relevant languages. 3. We urge an international study be undertaken regarding the legal obligations of multinational corporations in various countries of the region, in order to develop proposals for strengthening the legal mechanisms to hold MNCs accountable for their action. As a part of these recommendations, we endorse and append to this statement the action recommendations of this year's Labor and Migrants Rights Forum. We also adopt the action recommendations by the following conferences: The Migrant Workers Challenging the Global Structures Conference, Seoul, South Korea, August 28-September 1, 1996 The International Women's Conference on APEC, Shalom Center, Manila, Philippines, 15-16 November 1996. Approved and adopted by the Labor and Migrants Rights Forum of the Manila People's Forum on APEC, 18-20 November 1996, IIRR, Cavite, Philippines. From alarm at pw.net Thu Dec 12 21:04:15 1996 From: alarm at pw.net (alarm) Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 20:04:15 +0800 Subject: [asia-apec 274] Action Plan: Labor & Migrant Forum Message-ID: <32AFF4BE.48AE@pw.net> Labor And Migrant Rights Forum IIRR, Silang, Cavite, Philippines 18-20 November 1996 ACTION PLAN (LABOR) 1. ALARM's work be extended at least through the 1997 Vancouver parallel APEC meeting, for the following tasks: - continue to disseminate information on APEC-related labor issues in the region - work with the Candian organizers to help with a similar pre-forum on labor and migrant rights - help expand the outreach of groups in the region so as to have more representative delegations at Vancouver, including trade unions, migrant worker activists, other POs and NGOs - gather and circulate examples of successful campaigns waged against corporations. 2. Launch common inititatives to develop social agenda, e.g. through: - exchange of information on labor and migrant rights situations in APEC economies - adopt a common method of observing and monitoring labor practices in APEC economies - identify specific initiatives that can relate to the APEC experience, for example NAFTA. 3. Identify common solidarity campaigns in certain industries. - discuss what common initiatives have been sucessful and what potential obstacles are in the region - establish a concrete agenda in Canada - do more with the solidarity cases (presented during the LMF) than simply to listen; there should be more discussion and planning for joint response/action on these cases - possible points of solidarity campaign might be: telecommunications, forestry & fishing industries 4. Identify concrete impacts of APEC on labor rights and migrant workers. 5. Mass media and education campaigns among organiziations in their respective countries. 6. Campaigns specifically focusing on corporations in the region 7. Build and strengthen workers' networks in the region, e.g. through - ALARM and/or Canadian groups as a clearinghouse for organizations that wish to communicate or otherwise disseminate information - continuing the networks established at this labor cluster conference, including linking exchange of information and working together on related initiatives - possibly bring in the ICTFU and other labor groups and trade unions to distribute information to member unions about the Vancouver forum - possible meetings between now and next year to update and launch additional initiatives. ACTION PLAN (MIGRANT) 1. Continue and increase efforts towards education of migrants and would-be migrants. Discussion should include the phenomenon of globalization and migrants rights. Some recommended themes/ideas: - migrant workers are cheap unprotected labor; - labor migration is not new and is not a product of globalization -- globalization intensifies migration and exploitation of migrants; globalization will result to more movements of people therefore; the issue of labor migration in the era of globalization assumes renewed significance and therefore can not be taken aside; - sending countries/governments will further encourage migration and generate even more money from migrant workers to finance debt, state deficits and "development" projects; - receiving countries on the other hand are expected to be more restrictive; more tensions between local and migrant workers may be expected as local workers may feel threatened and think that migrants are competing for their jobs; - other topics for discussion/exploration: conceptualizing on the nature, characteristics and roles of migrant workers; what is their role in the worker's and people's movement? 2. Since migrant issue is not new, action to deal with the phenomenon should start from what we are already doing. 3. Grassroots organizing of/by migrants at home and host countries; develop methodologies and share them at regional level; link-up with trade unions; highlight basic point that migrants are workers. 4. Do more public awareness campaign about the real situation, concern and initiatives of migrant workers. 5. Intensify the campaign on migrant's rights as human rights - organize migrants' activities during human rights weeks, women's day, other events - set an international migrant month or week. 6. Improve system for migrants' action alerts (including linking up with human rights groups); standardize and improve system of documentation/information exchange on migrants' issues 7. Pressure governments (e.g. embassies) to extend assistance and to work for protection of migrants 8. Continue initiatives regarding alternative economic activities, including re-integration of migrant workers to their home countries. From asia at worldcom.nl Fri Dec 13 11:44:56 1996 From: asia at worldcom.nl (by way of daga ) Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 10:44:56 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 275] ASEM WATCH I Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961213103902.08477d46@is1.hk.super.net> this is msg 1 of 7 messages that came through on ASEM (Asia European Ministers' Meeting) which you may want to subscribe to directly from: Apologies to those who may be receiving this copy a second time. Dear friends, The first joint Asia-Europe NGO Conference took place late February in Bangkok. Approximately 400 women and men, representing a wide range of people's organisations and NGOs participated in this historic event. This NGO Conference was scheduled on the eve of the ASEM, the first Summit bringing together 15 European Union (EU) and 10 Asian government leaders, from the seven ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea. The Transnational Institute in Amsterdam (TNI) was among the organizations in Europe (with CIIR in London and Asia House in Germany) involved in organizing the Asia Europe NGO Conference. At the Asian side Focus, ACFOD, Forum Asia, ARENA, PARC, Just, CCEJ and others were involved. As a follow-up to this NGO Conference it was decided that the TNI Asia programme would set up a home page on the world wide web on Europe-Asia relations. Since this takes a while we decided not to wait and to compile in the meantime a mailing: 'ASEM WATCH'. This first mailing contains a set of official ASEM documents, background information on ASEM and opinion articles around the current developments concerning ASEM. 'ASEM WATCH' is where you can learn about other people's ASEM-related work and they can learn about yours. Please send us your ASEM-related information (by e-mail, fax or snail-mail!) -- including news items, research papers, opinion pieces and information on grassroots activities happening in your respective country. We welcome your comments and suggestions! We are preparing a book on ASEM, based on "The first Asia-Europe NGO Conference: Beyond Geopolitics and Geo-economics: Towards a New Relationship Between Asia and Europe", which was held in Bangkok 27-29 February 1996. The book will contain a selection of articles which were presented at this conference. The book will be ready and published spring 1997. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this book, it is possible to send us an advance order by mail, E-mail or fax. Finally, we want to let you know that working committees in both Europe and Asia are in place to prepare for the next ASEM, to be held in Spring 1998 in London. We will provide you with an update on the planned activities in the next ASEM WATCH. If you want to stay informed on further initiatives in relation to ASEM please write, fax or E-mail to TNI: Brid Brennan / Pietje Vervest/ Erik Heijmans Asia Programme Transnational Institute Paulus Potterstraat 20 1071 DA Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: 31-20-662-6608 Fax: 31-20-675-7176 E-mail: asia@worldcom.nl If you know of any other organization wanting to receive ASEM WATCH please let us know as well. ------------------------------------------------ ASEM WATCH I official documents Contents: 1. Background Note 2. ASEM Calendar ====================================================== 1. BACKGROUND NOTE Follow-up of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) 1. General As was recognized by all participants, the first Asia-Europe Meeting in Bangkok on 1-2 March was a major success. This first ASEM: - confirmed the clear will on both sides to develop further the essential relationship between Asia and Europe, based on a genuine partnership among equals; - laid the basis for a strengthened political dialogue, contributing to peace, global stability and prosperity; - paved the way for a reinforced economic dialogue and cooperation between the two regions, with a particular emphasis on the facilitation and promotion of two-way trade and investment flows; - opened exciting new avenues for cooperation, in a wide range of areas including development, global issues such as environment and crime, and in particular in strengthening mutual awareness and cultural links between Asia and Europe; - and confirmed the interest of expanding our dialogue on human values, in a constructive climate and respecting our cultural diversity. While all participants agreed that ASEM should not be institutionalised, the timing and location of the next two ASEM summits has been fixed (London 1998 and South Korea 2000), and a substantial programme of work has been commenced in the different aspects of the ASEM dialogue. Following on the specific decisions taken in Bangkok, the most immediate follow-up actions have been concentrated on the economic side of the ASEM process, with a customs cooperation meeting in June, and a major Business Forum in October. At the same time, significant progress has been made in developing initial proposals for follow-up in certain other areas of cooperation (notably with respect to the proposed Asia-Europe Environmental Technology Centre, and the Asia-Europe Foundation). Discussions have also commenced as to how the ASEM political dialogue might best be strengthened, and this will be taken further in preparing for the first ASEM foreign Ministers' Meeting in February '97. Nevertheless, it is important that the economic aspects of the ASEM process are not seen to overshadow the political side of our dialogue. Both aspects are essential components of the strengthened partnership between Europe and Asia which was established by the ASEM Summit. 2. Status of agreed follow-up actions The decisions reached in Bangkok are set out in the Chairman's Statement, emphasising: - the fostering of political dialogue - the reinforcement of economic cooperation - and the promotion of cooperation in other areas (notably science, education and development; environment and the fight against crime; and cultural cooperation) Political dialogue Specific follow-up actions agreed by the heads of state and government included: - the continuation of the ASEM process proper, through the 2nd and 3rd ASEM summits in the UK in 1998 (dates in April have been suggested) and in South Korea in 2000, assisted by a Foreign Ministers' meeting (to be held in Singapore in February 1997) and by a Senior Officials' Meeting (to be held in Dublin in December 1996); - the enhancement of our existing 'bilateral' dialogues (ASEAN Ministerial, PMC and ARF; dialogues with China, Japan and Korea); - the establishment of an ASEM dialogue on UN reform, in New York (the first meeting took place in New York on 21 June); - the establishment of networking and seminars among think-tanks on international and regional issues; - and, at an overall level, the possible establishment of a general 'Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework'. Economic cooperation Specific follow-up actions agreed by the heads of state and government included: - a customs cooperation meeting, which took place in Shenzhen on 21 June 1996. This agreed to strengthen cooperation among ASEM partners with regard to control or illicit trade in drugs, firearms and other items such as counterfeit goods, and to promote the harmonisation and simplification of customs procedures. Two working groups have been established (one covering each of these main fields), and future meetings will be held anally. - a government/private sector working group on investment promotion, which took place in Bangkok on 8-9 July 1996. Proposed by Thailand, this group is intended to produce an Action Plan for the facilitation and intensification of two-way investment flows between Asia and Europe, for consideration at the Economic Ministers' Meeting in 1997. Discussions at the meeting focused on both the promotional and regulatory aspects of investment, and it is expected that a final paper will be produced around the end of the year, following comments on the group's recommendations from both the SOMTI and the Business Forum, - a Senior Officials' Meeting on Trade and Investment (SOMTI), with the objective of promoting the liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment. This was held in Brussels on 25 July 1996, and focused on two themes: - WTO issues (including such topics as Uruguay Round implementation, ongoing work & built-in agenda, and other issues including trade & investment, trade & competition, trade & development, regional initiatives & RTAs, accession), with a view to assisting in preparation for the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Singapore in December 1996; - and other measures to facilitate trade and investment, including in particular investment facilitation, customs cooperation, and trade facilitation. One important conclusion was that a Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP) should be prepared, intended to reduce non-tariff barriers and promote trade opportunities between the two regions. It was also agreed that a second SOMTI meeting will be held in spring 1997, in Asia. - The creation of an ASEM Business Forum, the first meeting of which took place in Paris on 14-15 October 1996. Business leaders from the two regions considered how to further strengthen trade and investment flows between Asia and Europe, and gave particular emphasis to the need for a clear, stable, transparent and non-discriminatory framework for intensifying business operations, and for continued efforts to reduce barriers to trade in goods and services. Also emphasised was the importance of joint ventures and strategic alliances in enhancing business cooperation between the two regions, of training and staff exchanges in promoting business awareness, and of improved information flows in upgrading business opportunities for SMEs. The Business Forum also suggested that consideration be given to the possible establishment of a Europe-Asia infrastructure Fund. In addition to these four initial actions, other activities in the field of ASEM economic cooperation include: - a Business Conference, to be held in Indonesia in July 1997, and to be followed by further meetings of the Business Forum ( in Thailand in 1997, and proposed for the UK in 1998, and Korea in 1999) - an Economic Ministers' Meeting in 1997 (which will probably be held in Tokyo, in autumn of 1997); - a Finance Ministers' Meeting, proposed for autumn 1997 in Thailand; - a study on economic synergy between Asia and Europe, for which Japan is elaborating proposals; - and a study on integrated railway networks, both trans-Asia and trans-Europe, for which a paper is expected from Malaysia, (Also relevant here is a study of surface transport routes between Europe and Asia, currently being prepared by the Commission). Cooperation in other areas Specific follow-up actions agreed by the heads of state and government included: - the establishment of an Environmental Technology Centre in Thailand; a joint Thai/Japanese/European study of this proposal commenced in October 1996; - the establishment of an Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore; a concept paper has been prepared by Singapore and is currently under discussion among ASEM partners; it is hoped that the Foundation may be launched on the occasion of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting in February 1997; - an Asia-Europe University Programme, for which a paper is awaited from Malaysia, and where the commission is also considering a possible contribution; - youth exchange programmes, for which both Japan and Austria are preparing proposals; - a proposed expert group on the promotion of technology exchanges; China has presented an outline proposal on this topic, suggesting that the first expert group meeting might take place in the first half of 1997; - customs cooperation on drugs (taken up in the Shenzhen meeting of June 1996); - and proposals on cooperation for development of the Mekong Basin (for which a paper is awaited from Thailand). A considerable amount of detailed work is obviously required before substantive proposals in these various field can be finalised, and the first concrete ASEM programmes are thus likely to be approved in 1997. More generally, it will be useful also to bear in mind possible supportive actions (in addition to the specific activities decided in Bangkok) which can help contribute to the main themes highlighted at the Summit. *********************************************************** 2. ASEM CALENDAR: past and forthcoming meetings *********************************************************** Please note: - items with a question mark are subject to confirmation, - ASEM FMM (15 February 97) will follow EU-ASEAN FMM (13-14 February) - Customs Cooperation Meetings are foreseen to be back-to-back with relevant WCO meetings. Past meetings: *********************************************************** ASEM 1, Asia Europe Meeting Bangkok 1-2 March 1996 CCM, Customs Cooperation Meeting (Directors General) Shenzhen 21-22 June 1996 ASEM dialogue on UN Preliminary Meeting New York 24 June 1996 WGI, Working Group on Investment Bangkok 7-9 July 1996 SOMTI Senior Officials' Meeting Brussels 24-25 July 1996 on Trade & Investment BF, Business Forum Paris 14-15 October 1996 Forthcoming meetings: ********************************************************** SOM Senior Officials' Meeting Dublin 20 December 1996 (general follow-up) SOM Senior Officials' Meeting Singapore 11-12 February 1997 (general follow-up) FMM Foreign Ministers' Meeting Singapore 15 February 1997 CCM Customs Cooperation working group meetings - enforcement Brussels (?) early February 1997 - procedures Brussels (?) late March 1997 SOMTI 2 Senior Officials' Meeting on Trade & Investment Asia Spring 1997 CCM Customs Cooperation Meeting 2 (Directors General) Vienna(?) mid June 1997 (?) BC Business Conference Indonesia (?) July 1997 (?) FinMM Finance Ministers' Meeting(?) Thailand (?) 26 September 1997 EMM Economic Ministers' Meeting Tokyo (?) 28 September 1997(?) BF 2 Business Forum 2 Thailand late 1997 ************************************************************* ASEM 2 Second ASEM Summit London April 1998(?) FMM 2 Foreign Ministers' Meeting Europe (?) 1st semester 1999 (?) ASEM 3 Third ASEM Summit Seoul 2000 ************************************************************ ================ From tristar at pixi.com Tue Dec 17 11:19:14 1996 From: tristar at pixi.com (Julia Estrella by way of daga ) Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 10:19:14 +0800 (HKT) Subject: [asia-apec 276] Christmas and New Year Clemency Appeal Message-ID: <2.2.16.19961217101318.1fc71bdc@is1.hk.super.net> Christmas and New Year Clemency Appeal Dear Friends: At this busy time of the year, I hesitate to write to you and ask you to pick up a pen and write a short letter to Pres. Clinton asking for Christmas/New Year release of the 15 Puerto Rican political prisoners in U.S. custody, but I will anyway, hoping you will respond with a 'yes'! After you have e-mailed, faxed, or called the White House, please send this message to as many people you can think of globally--we hope there will be an outpouring of requests for releases which might lead to a Christmas or New Year's release. The 15 prisoners were involved in the liberation struggle for independence for Puerto Rico and were charged under the 'seditious conspiracy' law--the same charge under which Nelson Mandela was incarcerated in South Africa before his release. President Carter released four Puerto Rican prisoners when he was president so it is very possible that President Clinton can be urged to release all Puerto Rican political prisoners. Furthermore, a letter signed by heads of national organizations and religious bodies, such as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. George Wald, Joe Ramos-Horta, Coretta Scott King, Elise Boulding, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Bishop Federico Pagura and 17 other well known leaders has been sent to Pres. Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno, asking for unconditional amnesty for the Puerto Rican political prisoners. Most U.S. citizens do not realize that there are political prisoners in the United States. We hope we can let our government know that the whole world is spotlighting the human rights violations in the U.S. Please e-mail or fax President Clinton at: president@whitehouse.gov or fax (202-456-2461). Janet Reno's fax number is (202)514-4507 and e-mail: justice.usdoj.gov Mahalo. Julia Matsui-Estrella, PACTS (tristar@pixi.com) If you can blind cc me, it will help us gauge the response. Sample Letter Dear President Clinton: I write to urge you to grant the release of fiteen Puerto Rican political prisoners (see below for list) in light of the lengthy sentences they have already served, the advanced age and illness of many of these prisoners' loved ones, and the compassion and humanitarian concern these prisoners have demonstrated during their imprisonment. Since the 1980s, they have been incarcerated throughout the U.S. for acts and beliefs in favor of Puerto Rican independence. They are serving disproportionately long sentences of 15 to 105 years (averaging 65.4 years, which is six times the average time served for murder although none of them was charged with any act of bloodshed). The majority of these prisoners have already served over sixteen years in prison. During their imprisonment, they have been subjected to brutal treatment and have been denied paroles because of their political beliefs. In spite of this, they have demonstrated compassion and humanitarian concern in their relationship with other prisoners. Many people throughout the U.S. and around the world have called for their release. In this spirit of Christmas/New Year, I urge you to help re-unite these women and men with their loved ones by granting their immediate and unconditional release. Concern for human rights can begin at home and then ripple throughout the world. Sincerely, (your name and address) The prisoners' names and sentences are: Luis Rosa, sentenced to 105 years Ricardo Jimenez, sentenced to 98 years Carmen Valentin, sentenced to 98 years Alicia Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years Lucy Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years Adolpho Matos Antongiori, sentenced to 78 years Carlos Alberto Torres, sentenced to 78 years Oscar Lopez Rivera, sentenced to 70 years Elizam Escobar, sentenced to 68 years Dylcia Pagan, sentenced to 63 years Juan Segarra Palmer, sentenced to 55 years Alerto Rodriguez, sentenced to 35 years Edwin Cortes, sentenced to 35 years Alejandrina Torres, sentenced to 35 years Antonio Camacho Negron, sentenced to 15 years From motten at worldcom.nl Tue Dec 17 20:25:57 1996 From: motten at worldcom.nl (motten@worldcom.nl) Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 11:25:57 +0000 Subject: [asia-apec 277] Re: Christmas and New Year Clemency Appeal Message-ID: <199612170920.KAA20715@worldcom.nl> What relation does this case have with Asia-APEC? From motten at worldcom.nl Tue Dec 17 20:25:57 1996 From: motten at worldcom.nl (motten@worldcom.nl) Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 11:25:57 +0000 Subject: [asia-apec 278] Christmas and New Year Clemency Appeal Message-ID: <199612170920.KAA20715@worldcom.nl> What relation does this case have with Asia-APEC? From dete at nusa.or.id Thu Dec 19 12:21:37 1996 From: dete at nusa.or.id (Siti D. Aliah) Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 12:21:37 WIB Subject: [asia-apec 279] Re: Christmas and New Year Clemency Appeal In-Reply-To: <2.2.16.19961217101318.1fc71bdc@is1.hk.super.net> Message-ID: Sample Letter Dear President Clinton: I write to urge you to grant the release of fiteen Puerto Rican political prisoners (see below for list) in light of the lengthy sentences they have already served, the advanced age and illness of many of these prisoners' loved ones, and the compassion and humanitarian concern these prisoners have demonstrated during their imprisonment. Since the 1980s, they have been incarcerated throughout the U.S. for acts and beliefs in favor of Puerto Rican independence. They are serving disproportionately long sentences of 15 to 105 years (averaging 65.4 years, which is six times the average time served for murder although none of them was charged with any act of bloodshed). The majority of these prisoners have already served over sixteen years in prison. During their imprisonment, they have been subjected to brutal treatment and have been denied paroles because of their political beliefs. In spite of this, they have demonstrated compassion and humanitarian concern in their relationship with other prisoners. Many people throughout the U.S. and around the world have called for their release. In this spirit of Christmas/New Year, I urge you to help re-unite these women and men with their loved ones by granting their immediate and unconditional release. Concern for human rights can begin at home and then ripple throughout the world. Sincerely, Maria Pakpahan Jl. Mampang Prapatan VI/39 Jakarta Indonesia > The prisoners' names and sentences are: > Luis Rosa, sentenced to 105 years > Ricardo Jimenez, sentenced to 98 years > Carmen Valentin, sentenced to 98 years > Alicia Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years > Lucy Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years > Adolpho Matos Antongiori, sentenced to 78 years > Carlos Alberto Torres, sentenced to 78 years > Oscar Lopez Rivera, sentenced to 70 years > Elizam Escobar, sentenced to 68 years > Dylcia Pagan, sentenced to 63 years > Juan Segarra Palmer, sentenced to 55 years > Alerto Rodriguez, sentenced to 35 years > Edwin Cortes, sentenced to 35 years > Alejandrina Torres, sentenced to 35 years > Antonio Camacho Negron, sentenced to 15 years > > > > > > > > From dete at nusa.or.id Thu Dec 19 12:33:29 1996 From: dete at nusa.or.id (Siti D. Aliah) Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 12:33:29 WIB Subject: [asia-apec 280] Re: Christmas and New Year Clemency Appeal In-Reply-To: <2.2.16.19961217101318.1fc71bdc@is1.hk.super.net> Message-ID: Dear President Clinton: I write to urge you to grant the release of fiteen Puerto Rican political prisoners (see below for list) in light of the lengthy sentences they have already served, the advanced age and illness of many of these prisoners' loved ones, and the compassion and humanitarian concern these prisoners have demonstrated during their imprisonment. Since the 1980s, they have been incarcerated throughout the U.S. for acts and beliefs in favor of Puerto Rican independence. They are serving disproportionately long sentences of 15 to 105 years (averaging 65.4 years, which is six times the average time served for murder although none of them was charged with any act of bloodshed). The majority of these prisoners have already served over sixteen years in prison. During their imprisonment, they have been subjected to brutal treatment and have been denied paroles because of their political beliefs. In spite of this, they have demonstrated compassion and humanitarian concern in their relationship with other prisoners. Many people throughout the U.S. and around the world have called for their release. In this spirit of Christmas/New Year, I urge you to help re-unite these women and men with their loved ones by granting their immediate and unconditional release. Concern for human rights can begin at home and then ripple throughout the world. Sincerely, M. Anik Wusari Jl. Mampang Prapatan VI/39 Jakarta Indonesia The prisoners' names and sentences are: Luis Rosa, sentenced to 105 years Ricardo Jimenez, sentenced to 98 years Carmen Valentin, sentenced to 98 years Alicia Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years Lucy Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years Adolpho Matos Antongiori, sentenced to 78 years Carlos Alberto Torres, sentenced to 78 years Oscar Lopez Rivera, sentenced to 70 years Elizam Escobar, sentenced to 68 years Dylcia Pagan, sentenced to 63 years Juan Segarra Palmer, sentenced to 55 years Alerto Rodriguez, sentenced to 35 years Edwin Cortes, sentenced to 35 years Alejandrina Torres, sentenced to 35 years Antonio Camacho Negron, sentenced to 15 years From dete at nusa.or.id Thu Dec 19 12:35:55 1996 From: dete at nusa.or.id (Siti D. Aliah) Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 12:35:55 WIB Subject: [asia-apec 281] Re: Christmas and New Year Clemency Appeal In-Reply-To: <2.2.16.19961217101318.1fc71bdc@is1.hk.super.net> Message-ID: Dear President Clinton: I write to urge you to grant the release of fiteen Puerto Rican political prisoners (see below for list) in light of the lengthy sentences they have already served, the advanced age and illness of many of these prisoners' loved ones, and the compassion and humanitarian concern these prisoners have demonstrated during their imprisonment. Since the 1980s, they have been incarcerated throughout the U.S. for acts and beliefs in favor of Puerto Rican independence. They are serving disproportionately long sentences of 15 to 105 years (averaging 65.4 years, which is six times the average time served for murder although none of them was charged with any act of bloodshed). The majority of these prisoners have already served over sixteen years in prison. During their imprisonment, they have been subjected to brutal treatment and have been denied paroles because of their political beliefs. In spite of this, they have demonstrated compassion and humanitarian concern in their relationship with other prisoners. Many people throughout the U.S. and around the world have called for their release. In this spirit of Christmas/New Year, I urge you to help re-unite these women and men with their loved ones by granting their immediate and unconditional release. Concern for human rights can begin at home and then ripple throughout the world. Sincerely, Dete Aliah Jl. Mampang Prapatan VI/39 Jakarta Indonesia The prisoners' names and sentences are: Luis Rosa, sentenced to 105 years Ricardo Jimenez, sentenced to 98 years Carmen Valentin, sentenced to 98 years Alicia Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years Lucy Rodriguez, sentenced to 85 years Adolpho Matos Antongiori, sentenced to 78 years Carlos Alberto Torres, sentenced to 78 years Oscar Lopez Rivera, sentenced to 70 years Elizam Escobar, sentenced to 68 years Dylcia Pagan, sentenced to 63 years Juan Segarra Palmer, sentenced to 55 years Alerto Rodriguez, sentenced to 35 years Edwin Cortes, sentenced to 35 years Alejandrina Torres, sentenced to 35 years Antonio Camacho Negron, sentenced to 15 years > > > > > > > From cdeere at mail.usyd.edu.au Sat Dec 21 06:58:58 1996 From: cdeere at mail.usyd.edu.au (Carolyn Deere) Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 08:58:58 +1100 (EST) Subject: [asia-apec 282] unsubscribe Message-ID: terribly sorry, i don't know how to unsubscribe from this list ! Carolyn Deere A SEED Australia From caid at gn.apc.org Mon Dec 23 08:30:11 1996 From: caid at gn.apc.org (Christian Aid) Date: Sun, 22 Dec 1996 23:30:11 GMT Subject: [asia-apec 283] Re: unsubscribe Message-ID: <199612222330.XAA09732@gn.apc.org> likewise!