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Monday, 08 February 2010 |
The Asia- Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) joins the world in mourning the passing of Viktor Kaisiepo, revered leader of the West Papuan struggle for Self-Determination and one of the world’s renowned indigenous people’s rights activist and leader. He may have joined his Creator and ancestors, but he left a lasting legacy of enduring passion, intelligence and resilience in the face of perhaps one of the most challenging human rights causes of our time---the struggle for the self-determination of West Papua and other voiceless , stateless and marginalized peoples.
While we mourn this great loss to the cause of human rights and social justice, and extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends and the noble peoples whose seemingly forlorn causes he staunchly advanced till the end, we celebrate his life and continue to be inspired by his example. A number of us had the privilege to meet with him under various circumstances and recall only the fondest memories of a dedicated, politically astute and gifted activist hiding behind an amiable, serene and unassuming mien. |
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Tuesday, 26 January 2010 |
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COMMUNITY PROCESSES STRENGTHENED IN MPW AGENDA-BUILDING
COTABATO CITY- “Life without hunger or displacement, where there is equal opportunity for everyone and where the ancestral domain of Moro and indigenous peoples are genuinely respected and upheld, and where the propriety rights of settlers are recognized”, are the emerging consensus points in the ongoing Central Mindanao area consultation on the Mindanao Peoples Peace Agenda (MPPA).
The MPPA, a flagship project of the Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW), is a process of consensus building that intends to help facilitate a common understanding and develop unified action in addressing the peace and conflict issues in Mindanao. |
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Monday, 18 January 2010 |
The ethnically-diverse and multi-faith Malaysian society was jolted on January 8, 2010 with the news that arsonists firebombed at least three (3) Christian churches within and in the outlying areas of the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. The church-burning incidents were unprecedented in Malaysia’s recent history that has occasionally been marred by episodes of ethnic and other tensions stemming from identity politics.
Many Malaysian observers, both Muslims and Christians alike believe that these unfortunate transgressions are linked to the anger and protests generated by the December 31 Kuala Lumpur High Court Ruling, allowing the use of the word “Allah” by a Catholic-run publication, and in effect, by Christians or non-Muslims. |
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Monday, 18 January 2010 |
The Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) joins the whole world in solidarity with the people of Haiti who were hit last January 12, 2010 by the 7 -magnitude earthquake, the deadliest to strike the disaster-prone country in recent memory.
Reports coming from the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince revealed the extent and magnitude of the tragedy and the compounded human sufferings borne by the impoverished and vulnerable people of Haiti.The dead and injured including those still buried under the rubbles of collapsed buildings and houses could run into hundreds of thousands. Water and food shortages were acute, basic services including emergency health and other relief efforts of the Haitian government were paralyzed, communications were knocked down and are starting to be restored. And as images of dazed, hungry and helpless survivors wandering into the streets of Port-Au-Prince, looking for their lost kins and friends, are seen by the stunned people of the world --the horrific and desperate situation in Haiti calls for global solidarity and urgent humanitarian help. |
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DAVAO CITY—A team of peace advocates from various parts of the world will visit war-torn areas in Mindanao, including Maguindanao, next week in a bid to press the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to respond to the plight of civilians displaced by fighting.
Nearly 500,000 people fled their homes in Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao and North Cotabato when fighting broke out between the military and Moro guerrillas in August last year.
Although many of the evacuees had returned home, thousands are still living in squalid conditions in camps in Maguindanao. |
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