[asia-apec 560] THE RAG-- Issue No. 1, July 1998 (part 1 of 3)

[PAN Asia Pacific]

*************THE RAG************* 
(Resistance Against Globalisation)
The Monthly Newsletter of the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Assembly
Issue No.1, July 1998

In this issue:
-The APEC Roadshow hits Malaysia
-Mahathir: Globalisation only for the rich
-The Third Women's Conference Against APEC
-Monsanto and AHP merge in latest multi-billion dollar merger
-The MAI drowns in a flood of protest
-Report on APEC (Finance Ministers' Meeting and Trade Ministers'
Meeting) 
-Notes From the APPA Secretariat


THE APEC ROADSHOW HITS MALAYSIA

A series of important APEC meetings were held in June in Kuching,
Sarawak , Malaysia.  The second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) took
place from June 18-20 and the 1998 APEC Trade Ministers Meeting was
held from June 22-23 in Kuching (see p.4).  A number of other
meetings and working groups will occur in Malaysia in the build-up
towards the APEC Ministerial Meeting and Economic Leaders' Meeting
in Kuala Lumpur in November.  The latter is actually a meeting of
all 21 APEC Heads-of-State, the most substantial annual gathering of
its kind.  Given the enormity of hosting such an event, it is
surprising that APEC has received so little attention in the
media.  Last year, Canada spent over US$50 million  on the APEC
Meetings in Vancouver and other APEC activities and New Zealand, the
host for 1999, has already allocated US$35 million.

The APEC events in November will bring massive disruptions to KL.
The meetings in Manila in 1996 were marked by appalling traffic
jams, the militarisation of the surrounding area, human rights
abuses, and the suppression of domestic opposition to APEC.
Thousands of poor Manila dwellers were relocated and squatter
communities demolished as the government sought to hide the visible
effects of APEC's liberalisation agenda from view. (with info from
"Overview", May 1998) 


Mahathir: Globalisation for the rich 

At a gathering of economists in Tokyo during the first week of June,
Datuk Seri Dr.  Mahathir Mohamad lashed out at the proponents of
liberalisation.  Malaysia's PM described the current financial
system as "messy, unreliable and destructive" and criticised
economic theorists who "had never run any country, much less help
(sic) it grow."

Mahathir singled out the IMF for its policy flip-flops in response
to the Asian crisis.  "Just two weeks before the July 2 'currency
hurricane' struck, the IMF director Michel Camdessus was handing
bouquets to Malaysia for its sound economic management," he said. 
The IMF and like-minded institutions keep pushing globalisation as
the remedy, but, according to Mahathir, so far the advantages have
only accrued to the rich.

Mahathir's frustration with the current economic system was obvious
recently when he lamented the state's declining power in the face of
global capital.  "If we cannot direct the banks, then our objectives
cannot be realised.  But if we try to order the  banks then we will
not only be criticised, but our ringgit will depreciate further," he
said.  Yet, while Mahathir attacks liberalisation of the financial
sector, the Malaysian government engages in agreements and
multilateral forums that further this process.  APEC is a prime
example. 

At last year's APEC Trade Ministerial, "Ministers were
unanimous in their view that continuing trade and investment
liberalisation and facilitation is essential to economic growth and
employment in our economies, and acknowledged their responsibility
for helping to promote a better understanding of these benefits."
And, at this year's Finance Ministerial, Ministers, including
Malaysian Deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim, reaffirmed "our commitment to
doing our part to support the goal of free and open trade and
investment" and endorsed "the approach of the IMF, the World Bank
and the Asian Development Bank in addressing the financial
instability in Asia."

Despite the obvious causes of concern generated by the recent crisis
in Asia, APEC's liberalisation agenda is moving ahead without any
assessment of its impacts.  In Vancouver, APEC Leaders called for a
study of the impacts of liberalisation, but the study will only be a
PR job.  The request for proposals states that "the aim of the . .  .
project is to provide tangible and easily-understood examples of the
benefits of liberalisation" in order to "obtain community support for
APEC's trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation agenda."
(Info from The Star, June 3, 1998 and The Sun, July15, 1998)


The Third Women's Conference Against APEC

"Resisting the integration of globalisation and the disintegration
of people"

Trade liberalisation and globalisation impact women adversely.  The
current economic and political agenda in the Asia-Pacific region
disempowers women, feminises poverty, and disintegrates families and
communities.  It has also given rise to dangerous anti-globalisation
forces, based on narrow, chauvinistic nationalisms.  In South Asia,
fundamentalism increases violence against women.  In East Asia,
nationalist reactions to the crisis amplify harsh treatment of
migrant workers.  In Australia, the lobby against Asian immigration
escalates.  These emerging local and national trends are especially
worrying for women.  It is essential that we define and build a
resistance: one that is people-centred and feminist in perspective
and practice.

There is a more positive reaction to globalisation: the people's and
women's resistance from the grassroots, which is gaining ground
throughout the world.  There are many examples of such struggles:
the Forum of the Poor in Thailand, the Wheat Revival Movement in
Korea, the movements against the trafficking of women, and the
anti-dam movement in Malaysia.  There are movements for alternative
development that support ecological agriculture, that ensure
community livelihoods, and that empower women.  These efforts are
becoming more prominent as the impacts of globalisation are felt at
all levels.  Women need to share, strengthen, and be a part of these
movements.  Women are not victims; they are survivors-- a force of
resistance.

The Women's Conference will be held on November 8-9 in Kuala Lumpur.
The forum intends to enhance women's participation and leadership in
developing alternatives, build a women's network against
globalisation that will maintain discussions, analysis, and actions,
and develop strategies of resistance. Conference workshops will
include: Labour; Migration; Trafficking; Land, Food Security and
Sustainable Agriculture; Indigenous Women; Health, Privatisation and
Reproductive Rights; UN Instruments; and Struggles, Gains,
Strategies and Challenges for Women.  Keynote speakers include
Vandana Shiva and Irene Fernandez.  At least 100 participants from
outside of Malaysia are expected to attend.

To find out more about the conference or to register please contact
PAN-AP at tel: 604-6570271 fax: 604-6577445 
email: panap at panap.po.my

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The Rag is the monthly newsletter of the Asia Pacific Peoples'
Assembly ( APPA).  All organizations and individuals from within
and outside of Mala ysia that are concerned about globalisation are
encouraged to participate and join in hosting APPA.  If you or your
organisation are interested in participating in or hosting or
assisting with a Peoples' Assembly event, an issue or sector forum,
or a cultural activity, please contact the Secretariat for more
information.  The intention is to create a genuine space to contest
crucial ideas and issues in an open and participatory way.  Comments
about and contributions to the Rag should be addressed to the
Secretariat.

If you would like to receive the printed version of The Rag, please
send a request by email to the Secretariat with your complete
address.

The Secretariat

57 Lorong Kurau,
59100 Lucky Gardens, 
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Email: appasec at tm.net.my
Tel: 604-2836245
Fax: 604-2833536
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