[asia-apec 597] International Conference on the Engagement of Civil Society in the APEC Process

[PAN Asia Pacific]

The Engagement of Civil Society in the APEC Process

Paradise Sandy Bay Hotel
Penang Malaysia
5-7 October 1998

The Research and Education for Peace Unit of the School of Social
Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, in collaboration with the
Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto will host
an International Conferene on the Engagement of Civil Society in
the APEC Process" in Penang, October 5-6.  The conference is
sponsored by SEAFILD-CIDA.


CONCEPT

In the past, it has seemed that civil society and the APEC forum
were in opposition.  For example, during the 1996 Manila APEC
conference, a counterpart conference was held by NGOs and other
groups opposed to APEC.  A similar conference was held in response
to the most recent APEC meeting in Vancouver.  These groups
perceive APEC as a process driven by regional business interests
and political elites which will inevitably undermine the rights of
labour, the protection of the environment, and the ability of
ordinary citizens to participate in their own governance. 
Ultimately, if APEC is to be successful, it must address the
concerns of these opposition groups.  The idea we are proposing is
the study of if and how these representatives of civil society can
be reconciled with APEC.  WE accept the fact that there has been
informal and indirect participation of civil groups in such
structures as the human resources development working group;
however, we are suggesting that there be a deeper and more formal
process of engagement between civil society and APEC governments. 
We hope to intitiate the beginnings of a necessary dialogue
between governments and civil societies through the holding of a
conference designed to explore the possibilities of productive
interaction between these opposing forces.

The conference in Malaysia hopes to bring together academics,
representatives of civil society and government officials.  We
propose that they discuss the creation of structures that will aid
the inclusion of civil society in the APEC process.  The critical
issues they should discuss are:

i)    environment
ii)   human rights and labour
iii)  gender issues
iv)   economic development and crisis management

The conference will have up top fifty invited individuals
representing those sections of the academic, NGO, and official
policy-making communities who are concerned with these questions. 
Over the course of two days, a series of discussions with panels
will broadly address these central issues.  Academics will prepare
papers addressing specific areas of conflict.  Government and NGO
representatives will direct their comments towards the content of
these presentations.  We believe that following this format will
facilitate productive discussions based on on definite proposals. 
Limiting the size of the conference will encourage the creation of
informal contacts between the participants.

It is important to emphasize that this conference is not
envisioned as part of the official "track two" process.  All
conference delegates will be expected to participate in an
unofficial capacity and at a level of informality greater than
what is usually found in track two fora.


TENTATIVE PROGRAMME AND UNCONFIRMED INVITEES

Monday, October 5

8.00 am         Registration

Welcoming Remarks:
                -Y. Bhg. Dato' Ishak Tambi Kechik, Vice-Chancellor
USM 
                -Director of Seafild-CIDA

Session One: THE ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN APEC: MODELS AND
STRUCTURES

Chair:  Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, Malaysia

Panelists: 

Johan Saravanamuttu, USM, Malaysia: "Engagement Approaches in the
        Asia Pacific"
Alison Van Rooy, North-South Institute, Ottawa: "Models of
        Engagement"
Woo Yuen Pau, Canadian APEC Study Centre: "Role of APEC Study
        Centres"

Discussants: Robert Scollay, New Zealand
        Mignon Chan, Chinese-Taipei


Session Two:  The Canadian APEC Experience in Civic Engagement

Chair:  Chris Tremewan, New Zealand 

Panelists:
        John Kirton, CIS, Toronto: "The Canadian FEEEP Agenda:
Successes and Failures"
        John Curtis, APEC Economic Committee, Canada: "Government
Inputs in Civil Engagement"
        Heather Gibb, North-South Institute, Ottawa: "Engagement on
Gender Issues: The Canadian Approach"

Discussants:
        Seiichiro Takagi, Japan
        

Session Three: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN APEC

Chair:  K.S. Jomo. Malaysia

Panelists:
        Martin Khor, Third World Network, Malaysia: "The Limits and
Potential of Regional Organisation in Managing Economic Crisis"
        Jusuf Wanadi, CSIS, Indonesia: "Implications of the
Indonesian Meltdown on APEC"
        Peter Petri, Brandeis University, USA: "Towards a New
Architecture for Financial Crisis Management" 

Discussants:
        Zainal Aznam Yusof, Malaysia
        Sung Hoon Park, Korea


Session Four: ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Chair:  F. Josie, Malaysia

Panelists:
        Jakrit Kuanpote, Thailand: "Intellectual Property Claims
and APEC: The Basmati/Jasmine Rice Patents Controversy"
        Gurmit Singh, Malaysia: "Kyoto Protocol to UN Framework on
Climate Change
        William Rees, Canada: "Strategies for an Ecologically
Sustainable APEC Region"

Discussants:
        Sven Hamrell, Canada
        Michel Lambert, Canada
       
        
Tuesday, October 6
                
Session Five: GENDER

Chair:  Heather Gibb, Canada

Panelists:
        Cecilia Ng, UNU, Malysia: "Gender Sensitive
Information Technology: Policies for APEC"
        Ermilita Valdeavilla, National Commission on the Role of
Filipino Women: "Successes and Failures of the APEC Women's
Leaders Network"
        Pasuk Phongpaichit, Thailand: "The Social and Economic
Impact of the Asian Crisis on Women"

Discussants:
        Judith Nagata, Canada
        Vanessa Griffen, APDC, Women's Programme

        
Session Six: LABOUR AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Chair:  Ishak Shari, Malaysia

Panelists:
        Irene Fernandez, Tenaganita: "Economic
Liberalisation and Labour Rights"
        Marzuki Darusman, Human Rights Commission of Indonesia:
"The Role of National Human Rights Commissions for Regional Reforms"
        Unconfirmed Speaker: "Human Rights as an Agenda for APEC"

Discussants:
        Chuah Beng Huat, Singapore

Session Seven: ENGAEMENT EXPERIENCES OF ABAC, PECC, AND PBEC

Chair:  Osman Rani Hassan, Malaysia

Panelists:
        Shafiq Sit Abdullah, Malaysia ABAC: "Business-Government
Engagement in APEC"
        Rohana Tan Sri Mahmood, MSRC, Malaysia: "PEBC/PECC and
their Role in APEC"
        Ponciano S. Intal, Philippines: "Linking Technical
Cooperation Initiatives in Civil Society"

Discussants:
        Mohamed Ariff, Malaysia
        Mehdi Krongkaew, Thailand


Session Eight: FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN APEC

Chair:  Johan Saravanamutu, Malaysia

Panelists:
        Walden Bello, Focus on the Global South: "Towards a
People-Oriented APEC"
        Anwar Fazal, SERI-UN, Malaysia: "The prospects of Good
Governance Through APEC"
        John McKay, Australian APEC Study Centre, California:
"Economic Liberalisation and Community Building in APEC"

Discussants:
        Federico M. Macaranas, Philippines
        Devlin Kuyek, Pesticide Action Network, Malaysia

        
Wednesday, October 7

WORKING MEETING OF RAPPORTEURS AND PREPARATION OF
DOCUMENTS

Chair:  Shaun Narine, Canada (Models and Structures/ Canadian
Experience)
        S. Subramaniam (Economics/ Business)
        Chan Chee Khoon (Environment)
        Maznah Mohamad (Gender)
        Michael Chai (Labour and Human Rights)
        Alison van Rooy (Recommendations)
        

The conference coordinators are:

Professor Johan Saravanamuttu
email: johans at usm.my

Ms. Teh Gaik Lan
Administrative Assistant
email: glteh at notes.usm.my