[asia-apec 500] invitation and registration for peasant forum

[px.isda at skyinet.net]

1 July 1998 

Dear comrades and friends,

KMP (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) invites you to the Peasant
Forum: Throwing Off the Yoke of Imperialist Globalization on November
11-12, 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of the sectoral fora
within the People's Assembly which is being held parallel to the 6th APEC
Leaders Summit.
 
The 1998 APEC Leaders Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on
November 18-19, 1998 amidst a worsening economic and political situation in
the region. The current economic and financial crisis spurred by
IMF-WB-WTO maldevelopment policies, particularly those pertaining to
liberalization, privatization and deregulation, is gripping the Asian
economies and sparing no one, even Japan's.  This has led to mass layoffs
and worker dislocation, and further immiserization of rural communities
with intensifying landlessness, poverty and hunger. 

Even so, governments continue to fit their economic policies to the
globalization scheme as its leaders profit politically and financially from
it. State bureaucrats would rather protect the interest of MNCs/TNCs
(multinational and transnational corporations) and follow the lead of the
centers of imperialism -- the US, Japan and EU -- than those of the
majority of the people.

Parallel to the APEC Summit will be a People's Assembly to be convened by
the Malaysian non-governmental organizations on November 8-14. Its theme
is "Confronting Globalization, Reasserting Our Rights." Below is the
Assembly's schedule:

Nov. 8-9    Third International Women's Conference with the theme 
	    "Women, Resist Globalization! Assert Women's Rights!"

Nov. 10     Whole day: Registration for the People's Assembly
	    Afternoon: Registration for the Peasant Forum
	    Evening: Opening Ceremonies of the People's Assembly

Nov. 11-12  Peasant Forum: Throwing Off the Yoke of Imperialist Globalization
	    Other Sector and Issue Fora/Workshops 
	     
Nov. 13-14  Plenary Sessions of the People's Assembly

Nov. 15     Anti-APEC People's Action  

The KMP, along with the Asian Peasant Forum of the AIWPS (Anti-Imperialist
World Peasant Summit), APWN (Asian Peasant Women's Network), AMIHAN
(Philippine Federation of Peasant Women Associations) and PAMALAKAYA
(Philippine Federation of Fisherfolk Organizations), will convene the
Peasant Forum.

To be attended by peasant and fisherfolk leaders, activists and advocates
from the different APEC-member countries, the forum aims to (1) provide a
venue for sharing and discussion of effective strategies adopted by the various
peasant movements in their struggle against monopoly capitalist
globalization; (2) expand and consolidate the Asian and global network of
peasant and fisherfolk organizations which were started by the AIWPS, APWN
and the People's Campaign Against Imperialist Globalization (People's
Campaign); and (3) identify and plan for specific international peasant
campaigns.

Leaders of peasant movements in selected APEC member-countries in Latin
America, South Asia, South-East Asia and East Asia will share their
experiences of struggles against monopoly capitalism in a plenary session.
Workshops will be conducted to provide the participants small-group venues
to discuss the impact of globalization in their global region, share with
one another the strategies that have proven effective in their fight
against globalization, and pinpoint burning issues as bases for
international peasant campaigns. A Peasant Forum Statement of Unity will be
presented in the plenary session of the People's Assembly. 

In line with this, it is our pleasure to invite you to the Peasant Forum and
the People's Assembly. Please fill out the attached registration form and
send it back by e-mail, fax or post to:

The Peasant Forum Secretariat
c/o KMP (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas)
69 Maayusin corner Malambing Streets
UP Village, Diliman 1100  
Quezon City, Philippines    
Telephone: (632) 920-5668; (632) 435-3564
Fax: (632) 435-3564; (632) 434-3836
E-mail: <KMP at info.com.ph> or <PAMPIL at skyinet.net>
	  or <PX.ISDA at pop.skyinet.net>

Please feel free to send a copy of this invitation to other peasant
organizations and advocates in your country.

To cover primarily the cost of conference preparations and materials, a
registration fee of U$50 for the People's Assembly and U$20 for the
Peasant Forum will be collected from each participant. The latter will be
waived if we are able to get enough funding for the Peasant Forum.  

The cost of food and accommodation is estimated at M$150 (US$40) per
person per day. Actual plane fares, visa fees, travel and airport taxes and
other incidental expenses will also be borne by the participants.  

We enjoin Third World participants to source funding to cover their
expenses. However, those who will not be able to and thus need financial
support to attend the Peasant Forum/People's Assembly can communicate with
the Peasant Forum Secretariat to request for subsidy. We are trying to
raise funds to be able to subsidize the cost of plane fares, food and
accommodation of some Third World participants. But visa fees, travel and
airport taxes and other incidental travel expenses will be borne by them in
the spirit of shared responsibility.   

We also seek the help of our First World partners to sponsor at least one
participant from the Third World and cover the cost of his/her plane
ticket, food and accommodation. This way, we will ensure participation of a
number of the rural poor in the Peasant Forum and People's Assembly. Please
communicate with the Peasant Forum secretariat if your organization is
able to respond positively to this request.

Further communications about the Peasant Forum will be sent to you as soon
as we receive your registration form. 

We hope that you can join us in a meaningful exchange of views and
experiences in the Peasant Forum and the People's Assembly. 


For the Peasant Forum Organizers, 


Rafael Mariano
KMP Chairperson and AIWPS Convenor



*************************************


                           1998 PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY ON APEC
        Peasant Forum: Throwing Off the Yoke of Imperialist Globalization 
                           November 11-12, 1998 
                           Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 


                        R E G I S T R A T I O N    F O R M


Please type or write your answers in capital letters. Please send the
accomplished form on or before August 15, 1998 through email, fax or post to: 

The Peasant Forum Secretariat
c/o KMP (Peasant Movement of the Philippines)
69 Maayusin corner Malambing Streets
UP Village, Diliman 1100  
Quezon City, Philippines    
Fax: (632) 435-3564; (632) 434-3836
E-mail: <KMP at info.com.ph> or <PAMPIL at skyinet.net>
	  or <PX.ISDA at pop.skyinet.net>
Telephone nos.: (632) 920-5668; (632) 435-3564

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First Name _______________________ Last Name ______________________________
Age ____ Sex ____ Nationality ______________ Citizenship __________________ 
Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Telephone ______________ Fax _______________ E-mail _______________________ 
Languages spoken __________________________________________________________
Name of organization ______________________________________________________
Position in organization __________________________________________________
Office Address ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Telephone ______________ Fax ________________ E-mail ______________________ 

Please write a brief description of your organization. Please include
nature of your organization; coverage (regional, national, provincial,
etc.); scope (what sectors and/or issues); number of membership;
strategies/programs; links or membership in international
network/formations; other relevant information. Please use a separate sheet
if necessary and/or send your organization's brochure.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Will you stay for the People's Assembly Plenary? Yes _____  No _____
For women: Will you attend the Women's conference? Yes ____  No _____
Special food requirement (Vegetarian, etc.) _______________________________



Signature: ____________________________________ Date: _____________________