[asia-apec 877] News & Stories from Asia Pacific Peoples' Assembly (Pages 4 to 6)

[APPA]

THE RAG
Resistance Against Globalisation

APPA Daily Bulletin No. 5, Friday, November 13, 1998
(Page 4 to Page 6)


CAPITAL-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT FLAWED
Community Enterprises for Sustainable Development 

Grand Pacific Hotel, Thurs: Thirty-five participants from 10 countries Ð
Canada, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines,
Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia Ð listened to Bishan Singh, President of
Malaysia's Sustainable Development Network (SUSDEN) open the issue forum
with his paper An Option For Fair Trade, Environment Conservation and
People-centred Development. He said that the current economic crisis faced
by the Asian economies was due to a flaw in our development approach. 
	"The flaw is that our development approach is capital-centred and not
people-centred," he said. "A capital-centred approach is not working for
the majority, only benefiting a small segment of society." According to the
UNDP's Human Development Report, growth has failed more than a quarter of
the world's people in over 100 countries, some of them rich countries.
Bishan elaborated by raising the issue of ethics and economics. 
	Ethics must be integrated into economics. "Without ethics in economics,
the process will unleash negative human values like greed - it is the soul
of economics. The capital-centred approach is based on the principle of
exploitation, extraction, acquisition and control. It is not based on
sharing, giving and sustaining, which are the norms and values of the
people-centred approach. This approach will trigger and eventually bring
about the transformation and a development that are socially just,
ecologically sustainable, economically viable, politically participatory
and culturally vibrant."
	Bishan lists three fundamental principles for sustainable development: 1)
responsibility and management of stewardship in the use of natural
resources as well as the protection of such resources from being depleted
permanently; 2) distributive justice that is greater sharing in the
resources with priority over survival and livelihood before luxury; 3)
inter-generational equity which addresses the protection of resources and
means of livelihood for the future generation. 
	He stressed that these principles cannot be achieved under the dominant
development approach.  Hence, it is important to be people-centred -
"people and ecology before profit".


GLOBALISATION STEALS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' LAND

FEDERAL HOTEL,  TUES:  Participants to the Indigenous Peoples Forum agreed
that the major problem of indigenous peoples is the non-recognition of
indigenous peoples' rights. Central to this is the violation of land rights
which led to the displacement of the peoples from their ancestral lands,
either by legalised landgrabbing or by brute force.
	The Sarawak representatives said that the denudation of their forest
habitation by excessive logging and the setting up of palm oil plantations
are being perpetrated by businessmen in collaboration with government
officials. The continued destruction of their lands have forced the Penan
to blockade the roads leading to the logging areas.
	Prof Martin Kanene of Papua New Guinea added that because of lack of
understanding of the implications of globalisation, the clan chiefs in his
country have allowed the logging of their forests for token fees.  The
repressive political environment has stifled efforts to educate the people
on a massive scale.
	The Philippine representative, a member of the Cordillera Peoples
Alliance, said that globalisation was an expanded form of neo-colonisation
where the country's resources are exploited by multinationals with support
from the state and the ruling elite. Liberalisation further opened the
country to exploitation, with the government passing laws to facilitate the
entry of multinationals. She cited the 1995 Mining Act which allowed 100%
profit repatriation by foreign companies and tax exemptions on imported
equipment. She expressed the urgency of uniting and collectively rejecting
imperialist globalisation.
	Highlighting the indigenous peoples' spiritual connection to the land, the
Dene Indian from Canada informed the group that her people succeeded in
asserting their land rights through the use of oral history as proof of
their  inherent right to their territory.
	The group also recognised that they and their forest ecosystems were not
only threatened by mega-development projects and commercial agricultural
activities, but also by bio-pirates disguised as academic researchers and
medical practitioners stealing body tissues for genetic studies and samples
of their flora for commercial purposes. These problems prompted some 
participants to call for unity, information exchange and concerted action
to stop the appropriation of indigenous peoples' bodies and knowledge for
profit.


NATIONALISE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC AMENITIES IMMEDIATELY!

Ritz Garden Hotel, Thurs: One hundred and six participants representing 16
Asia-Pacific nations called for the rejection of the privatisation of 
healthcare, public amenities and education. The issue forum demanded that
these privatised services be nationalised immediately.  			
	Governments should embrace a development model that is people and
community-centered as opposed to profit-motivated. "People should be at the
heart of any development model," said Charles Santiago, forum organiser.
	The victims of privatisation are the poor, marginalised, working and
middle classes. The beneficaries are local elites and multinational
corporations. Thus, privatisation is a strategy to expand wealth
accumulation of the bourgeoisie at the expense of the community at large,
he said.  
	Privatisation has led to an increase in cost, created oversupply
conditions, and loss of jobs. In addition, these companies are presently
waiting in the bailout queue as a result of the economic crisis. In many
countries, money for bailouts come from workers pensions and savings.
Privatisation thus privatises profit but socialises losses and debts. 


FLOWERS FOR TOWERS
Migrant Worker Forum protest at KLCC

Kuala Lumpur, Thurs: There have been many accolades for the KL Twin Towers,
"the pride of our nation". Tonight though, a different sort of recognition
was bestowed upon it. 
	A wreath, with candles lit around, was placed near the lift of one of the
towers, "to remember migrants and workers who had died or got very little
compensation while constructing this 'Malaysian pyramid'," said Tenaganita
Director Irene Fernandez, "and to remember their families who continue to
suffer."
	Held in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the two-day Fourth
International Migrant Workers Forum on APEC, the gesture was also "to
remind us that sometimes, as a nation, we pride ourselves over all these
tall buildings when in fact they're symbols of exploitation, particularly
of migrant workers," she said.
	According to Fernandez, Asian migrants in Hong Kong and other migrant
workers have done a similar expression at the new Hong Kong airport
Òanother kind of pyramid". She calls these "the new pyramids of Asia, built
by the new Pharoahs of Asia".
	Watched by curious up-market shoppers and even a few migrants, the
ceremony went by without a hitch; the only objection that came from the
security people was that the candles should not be lit inside the hall
where the declaration and conclusion of the forum were read out to some 60
participants. 
	So the organisers had to improvise and fortunately, they found the more
impactful location outside.
A fittingly placed "tribute" indeed.


HUMAN RIGHTS ABOVE PROFITS

Federal hotel, Thurs: All APEC development policies should lead to the
realisation of human rights as its primary goal, and not economic
statistics, the Human Rights Forum statement revealed.
	The forum believes that models such as APEC place maximisation of profits
as the essential goal rather than the realisation of economic and other
human rights. Further, transnational corporations and multilateral
institutions (eg. IMF and WTO), with undemocratic national governments,
have weakened the capacity of the State to mobilise resources to implement
basic rights.
	Some participants stressed that certain countries with unique human rights
situations (eg. Burma, East Timor and Tibet) should also be mentioned in
the statement, so too the obstacle posed by the current patriarchal
structures in society to real development.
	Other needs identified were:
1) Awareness of rape and the threat of rape, violations of health and
reproduction rights, gay and lesbian rights, rights for refugees and asylum
seekers, rights for migrant workers, rights of indigenous peoples and
greater respect for cultural diversity.
2) Linkages and dialogue with political parties and transnational
companies.
3) Corporate accountability and civil society within multinationals.
4) Transnational corporations to be bound by international law.
5) Youth networking and education in schools, with the help of ministries.
6) Abolition of draconian laws and police brutality.
	In the plenary session, it was decided that initiatives since the previous
alternative APEC conferences should be assessed and efforts made to
establish a regional mechanism for human rights, like an NGO committee or a
training centre. Also, the present human rights forum should highlight the
current economic crisis and the significance of the 50th Anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
	Participants were also briefed on the situation in Tibet by Tseten Norbu
from the Tibetan Youth Congress. A suggestion that the Tibetans be
realistic and take up arms for their cause was vehemently opposed by
others, with one opining that it was more realistic to view that suggestion
as futile, since Tibet would not have the resources to challenge China
through violent means. Furthermore, trying to gain independence through
peaceful means is no more idealistic than working towards the full
realisation of human rights. 
	Using Kuwait as a comparison, Tseten said Tibet had two things that were
more valuable than oil - "peace and principles". Whilst noting that several
countries had achieved independence through violent means since Tibet's
occupation, he argued that if there was no support from the world for
Tibet's peaceful struggle, then history would prove that freedom can only
be gained through violent means. 
	Tibetan society, he added, reflects the universal principles espoused by
governments and human rights workers (as found in human rights
instruments), and if we do not support their struggle for independence,
then the principles would be meaningless and all of us would be responsible
for the sufferings of Tibetans.


THE INAUGURAL APPA AWARDS 

This is for the benefit of those stuck in freezing conference halls, taken
while I whizzed around the city on my motorbike. Of all the hundreds of
forums organised by APPA which I had to cover (video tape), here are my
choices ...

The Most Lively Sessions (I mean, people moving-off from their chairs and
doing some action) ... Youth & Student Forum

The Most Crowded Forum ... Women (just too many participants) and
Privatisation (just too small a hall)

The Most Serious Forum (I mean, people look serious, maybe it's just the
military look needed to discuss their issues) ... US-Japan Militarist
Agenda

The Most Lavish Food Spread (I liked their desserts especially) ... Labour
Forum

The "Most People-Centred Issue With The Least People-Centred Hall Setting
and The Squarest of Them All" Forum .... Human Rights and Democracy

The Most "Lepak" (feeling-at-home) Forum ... Urban Poor

The "Most Beautiful Background For Photography and Video" Forum (the forum
was in an "urban settler" area) ... Urban Poor

The Most (and only) Un-hotel and Fully-fanned Forum ... Urban Poor

The "Most Colourful Display of Products and Materials For Sale Outside The
Hall" Forum ... Women (they were there first) and Food Security (they were
there next, so...)

The Most Dingy Lights For a Conference (I wonder if they saw any light at
all on their issues?) ... Community Livelihood

The Most Hungry Group of Environmentalists Forum (lunch was not provided at
the venue) ... Environment & Forestry

The Most Rushed Forum (a quickie ... I was lucky I was there in time to
salvage some shots for my video) ... Indigenous People

The "Most Beautiful Background" Forum (of course they just put-up all their
mats together on the wall) ... Indigenous People

The "Most Technical and Longest Terms Used In a Forum" Forum ...
Privatisation and something ...

The Most Advanced Technology User Group in a Forum (their translator was
using some wireless set to communicate with four or five persons at a go -
maybe it was borrowed from the military!) ... US-Japan Militarist Agenda

The Group That I Can't Think of Anything To Say About (maybe that's good!)
.. Migrant Workers

I only had about 30-45 minutes per group. I wish I could  have stayed, but
then I was in search of the best forum. I am not so sure which one will
come out on top, but one thing I am sure: the most stringent and strict
security force I have ever experienced is the APPA Volunteers Security
Team. Some probably still think I work for the Special Branch.


UDHR CONCERT
All APPA delegates are encouraged to join in the cultural evening organised
by The Peoples Festival '98 Kultcha.Com in conjunction with the 50th
Anniversary of  the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Nov 14, from
8pm at Federal Hotel. See you there!


CULTURAL SOLIDARITY EVENING
Tenaganita cordially invites all APPA delegates for a fun evening of dance,
song, poetry and more on Nov 15, from 2pm-6pm at Loyola Hall, Church of St
Francis Xavier, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya. For more information, tel:
(03) 291 3681.