[asia-apec 873] Statement from Aotearoa/New Zealand APEC Monitoring Group

[APPA]

STATEMENT FROM AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND APEC MONITORING GROUP

The Asia-Pacific Peoples Assembly (APPA) in Malaysia should be seen both as
a turning point and a new beginning for the direction of the APEC people's
fora that began with the NGO Forum on APEC in Osaka, Japan in November
1995.
These types of regional fora have served a very useful purpose in
uncovering the nature of APEC and developing a peoples response and
consolidating the regional peoples opposition to APEC.
Events have vindicated our stand as we witness the havoc caused by capital
markets on a rampage in so many countries in the region.  Faced with a
series of crises, the very architects of APEC are now looking to
incorporate some of our criticisms as they struggle to find solutions for
the problems of international capital.
But changed circumstances call for new strategies that go beyond uncovering
the nature of the APEC process, which focus on strengthening local and
national organisations and struggles, and initiating the process of finding
alternatives that emerge from people's experience and struggles.
There is a risk that we may get caught up in a round of yearly peoples fora
that do not take the process of analysis or action any further but end up
being an end in themselves or part of the counter-summit industry.
We believe that it may be useful in 3-4 years to meet together again as a
regional peoples forum if the APEC process continues, but in the meantime
we must concentrate on acting rather than meeting.
This does not undermine the worth of regional meetings or exchanges but
simply reaffirms our view that our strategies need to change with the
changes in circumstances.
We from Aotearoa/New Zealand, the country that will be holding the next
APEC Leaders Summit, believe that 1999 should be the year where we change
our tack in organising opposition to APEC, globalism and neo-liberalism.

We believe this for a number of reasons:
1) The regional peoples fora on APEC have now served their usefulness as
described above.
2) Aotearoa/New Zealand is a remote part of the region to which it would be
very costly to bring large numbers of international participants.
3) The New Zealand Government is attempting to bribe local NGOs there to
either support APEC or only make "soft criticism" and is trying to ensure
that a "safe" peoples forum is organised in New Zealand in 1999.
4) The 2000 APEC leaders meeting will be held in Brunei and in China in
2001.  In both it would be almost impossible to organise any counter
activity.
5) If the APEC process stalls in Kuala Lumpur then we could see an early
end to the Leader Meetings.

We would propose for the next few years:
1) The educational work and oppositional activity to APEC should be
organized in all APEC countries on an on-going basis to build local
communities' understandings of the connection between APEC and what is
happening to them.
2) That coordinated protests in all APEC countries should be organised at
the time of each APEC Leaders Summit as long as they exist.
3) That an informal Asia Pacific Peoples Solidarity should be promoted in
opposition to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.
4) This peoples solidarity should be an on-going and increasing commitment
from the people of the region.

In particular in 1999 we in Aotearoa/NZ propose:
1) We will organise opposition to APEC and its neo-liberal policies through
a year-long education programme, with counter conferences and people's
actions at the time of all Senior Officials Meetings, Ministers and
Business meetings culminating at the Leaders Meeting of APEC in September
1999.
2) We will invite a small number of international guests to Aotearoa as
resource people for these various activities.
3) We will commit ourselves to acting as a coordination point for APEC
information and Asia Pacific Peoples Solidarity during 1999 and if required
during the year 2000.
4) We will try to integrate the outcomes of other regional peoples
initiatives in our activity such as PP21.

We seek from APPA 1998 endorsement of our proposals and our offer to
coordinate anti-APEC action and education activities for the next 1-2
years.

Aotearoa New Zealand APEC Monitoring Group
November 1998