Thursday, December 05, 2002
- International Symposium Against Globalization and Imperialism
reported by Jen
(Anti-Iraq war in Fukuoka, Kyushu December 1, 2002) Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka
During the last weeks of November, activists from the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, and the USA came to express their disgust for Bush’s campaign against terrorism showing solidarity with Japanese activists who are fighting against American and Japanese imperialism in Asia. I was asked to speak at the Fukuoka rally as an American delegate against the proposed Iraq war. I was honored to do so, but also completely humbled and inspired by the Filipino and South Korean long time activists.
The discussion I took part in was on imperialism and globalization. All activists agreed that it was the youth who were really leading the movements. Alvin, from the Philippines, mentioned that the ousting of Estrada was achieved through the power of the youth, 70-80% youth. About 60 people attended the discussion and while the audience was mixed with Japanese men, women, and youth. The panel was all elder male, except for me. I was quite happy when one youth stood up and asked us about the youth movements in our own countries while also commenting on the lack of empowered youth in Japan. While the Japanese movement is not huge, it exists and they are struggling for a way to reach youth and create a more powerful youth movement in Japan. Commenting on the Japanese Farm movement, farmer activist Keisuke Uchida spoke about making Japan more like Korea where the farmers are well connected with all labor, youth, and environment, while Japan is segregated by issue groups? He spoke of Japan as, “more like a bar-code system”, never reaching solidarity.
The anti-imperialist, anti-Iraq war rally held over 300 people. It was quite good as we took a couple of rows of streets and even had the police bother us for it. We finished in front of the US embassy with speechs, chants, and readings of our own declaration US bases out now and no to the pending war in Iraq. It was a really wonderful show of solidarity which I hope to see again here in Japan as the movement here grows.
Below is a summary of speeches during the two week international solidarity mission
-From the Joint statement in Tokyo- International Symposium to oppose war, human rights violations, and the destruction of life
Both the US and Japanese governments consolidate the war drive against the DPRK (North Korea), based on their hostile stance to the people’s campaign for peaceful, independent reunification of the Korean peninsula. Furthermore, they push through the policy to maintain division and intervene in the affairs of China and Taiwan.
We, people from Asia and the US are resolved to struggle arm in arm against the war and globalization. Let us share mutual support across the borders among the people’s anti-war campaigns in close coordination with protest against human rights violations, and destruction of livelihood. We urgently call for actions to stop the impending aggressive war on Iraq. We believe only the people’s movement and power can stop it. Based on the discussions and resolutions of the symposium, we will strengthen our joint actions to create a world free from militarism, imperialism, and exploitation. People of the world, unite and fight imperialism. November 24, 2002, Tokyo, Japan
Philippines activist- Alvin Luque from Bayan Muna and New Patriotic Alliance report
The national situation of the Philippines is now more then ever shaped by the aggressive pursuit of US imperialism to complete its domination of the world (hegemony) as a superpower, in the middle of an ever intensifying crisis of overproduction. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the most loyal puppet to US war designs after 9-11, especially when she waged unconditional support to Bush’s war of aggression. When she visited the US in November 2001, she made a pact with Bush to allow the re-entry of US military forces in the Philippines through joint-exercises, the so-called Balikatan-02-1. (It was the people’s movement who originally kicked out the US, now in the name of fighting terrorism, the US troops have been allowed back.)
-On August 9, Colin Powell declared the CPP (Communist party of the Philippines), NPA (New Peoples Party), and NDF (New Democratic Front), as terrorists and placed them on the Foreign terrorist organization list. Jose Ma. Sison has also been victim of this list for being the founder of the CPP and the General Consultant of the International League for People’s Struggle. He is currently in the Netherlands as a political refuge with social benefits and housing terminated due to his name on the terrorist list, signed this past August.
The US looks at the CPP-NPA as the biggest threat to its security in the Philippines, especially against the plan of re-establishing the Philippine islands as a major base for its military operations and attacks in Asia and the Pacific. Other NGOs and groups have been targeted as terrorists, like Bayan, Bayan Muna, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Moro National Liberation front. People have been killed, maimed and thrown in jail with absolutely no due process- all this with US tax-payers money and the help of American weapons and motivation.
From International ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)-USA
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard and Carl Messineo
We in the US are also fighting against the Bush Administrations efforts to suppress the growing movement in the US and its racist attacks on the population there. Since 9/11, 2002, the administration has used the tragic attacks against civilians to pursue a pre-existing program of military intervention and economic domination internationally, and restrictions on civil rights and civil liberties domestically. In the immediate days after 9/11, as this became clear to many organizations fighting for solidarity and justice, we formed the ANSWER coalition together. The coalition includes the International Action Center, Partnership for Civil Justice-LDEF, BAYAN-USA, Nicaragua Network, Korea Truth Comission, Mexico Solidarity Network, Free Palestine Network, Middle East Children’s Committee and others. We launched the first major protest against the war on September 29, 2001 that brought 25,000 people to Washington DC and another 15,000 to San Francisco, at a time when many were saying that we could not dissent from government policies in the aftermath of September 11. In the past year the anti-war movement has grown and is becoming a more powerful force in the US. This new anti-war movement recognizes that is cannot be just merely for peace, but must stand against the US government’s drive for a new empire and must fight the Bush program for domination and repression. This new movement is also a new anti-globalization movement in the US making connections between corporate globalization and the US military force to impose an economic agenda.
October 26th, 2002- Mass anti-war demonstration in Washington against the Iraq war- 200,000 marched. This is the biggest demo since 1969. San Francisco- 100,000.
The People’s Anti-war referendum- vote no to war atwww.votenowar.org
Also, another big international rally and people’s referendum will be held on January 18-19 coinciding with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. There will also be mass actions in Japan; AWC (Asian Wide Campaign) is one of the groups planning an action.
South Korea- Kim Young-Je and Shin-Seung-Chul from KCTU (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
The South Korean movement is going strong, with again many youth leading the movement. Surprisingly enough, the delegates said the internet has done a lot to organize, especially among the youth. Recently an anti-draft movement has begun with most of the information coming from the internet and run by youth. It is mandatory in South Korea that young men serve in the SK military for two years, something that many do not want to do. After Japanese and American imperialism, South Korea is attempting reunification. But, as the delegates strongly pointed out, this is being impeded by Bush’s terrorist campaign Since North Korea has openly announced it is harboring a bomb, Bush has made it even more clear that he can and will use war, (with much more bombs then any country in the world), if North Korea doesn’t comply to a forced US investigation. Korea has agreed to it, only if Bush agrees to non-aggression. While all this occurs, the Korean people sincerely want reunification and do not necessarily think of North Korea as a threat or killer. Rather, their families, friends, of one country. As Bush threatens North Korea and pressures South Korea out of peace negotiations, the difficult issue of two young Korean girls accidentally run over by a US military tank remains at hand. As of recent, the judge found the military innocent and with no need for military apology to the victims family and friends. This has spurred a greater anti-US base movement in South Korea. Just last week, some youth broke into the American base to protest American imperialism in Korea. Korean people demand an amendment to SOFA, to make Americans accountable for their crimes. The 700,000 strong KCTU umbrella union is also very concerned over globalization as massive lay-offs, lowering of wages, and SEZ’s (Special Economic Zones) are threatening workers right to live. As for SEZ’s, still not passed in the government, Shin-Seung-Chul commented that it was like inviting thieves into our homes, as proposed SEZ’s will allow corporations to pay workers less, have longer hours, receive tax breaks and more.
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