13.9.16

Duterte and the People’s Agenda


DUTERTE AND THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA

EXPOSING THE ROOTS OF THE ARMED CONFLICT
SEEKING SOLUTIONS TOGETHER

Saturday, September 24, 2016
2 pm – 5 pm
7th Floor, Student’s Lounge, Hall Building, Concordia University
1455 De Maisonneuve W, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8
Metro Guy-Concordia
Free admission, donations welcome

Organized by the Centre for Philippine Concerns and #JustPeacePH
- Platform for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (Montreal)


Featuring five Montrealers just back from the Philippines:
Zharmaine Ante (AnakBayan Montreal)
Evelyn Calugay (PINAY)
Renz Grospe (AB Montreal)
Sherilyn Recinto (AB Montreal)


BACKGROUND

Peace talks are underway between the Government of Rodrigo Duterte (GRP) and the revolutionary forces of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). A six-point agreement was signed in Oslo, Norway this past August and the next crucial series of discussions are planned for October, also in Oslo.

On the table will be a Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, or CASER, elements at the heart of a just and lasting peace. Meanwhile a ceasefire is holding between the government forces, composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on one side, and the New Peoples Army (NPA) on the other.

Why are there peace talks? It’s because a civil war has been raging in the Philippines since 1969. The daily, systematic and systemic injustice experienced by the majority of the people of the Philippines has driven them to seek fundamental changes in society through various means. Meanwhile, the tiny minority benefitting from the status quo uses all means at their disposal, including the instruments and violence of the state to defend it and prevent fundamental social change. As a result, many Filipinos have embraced armed struggle to overthrow the ruling system. That war continues throughout the country today.

The Canadian media have been full of stories about the controversial statements of the new Philippine President, about his war on drugs and his insults against the President of the US, among other things. But these headlines tell only a small part of what is going on in the Philippines, and have distorted reality to a large extent.

PEACE TALKS

Virtually no international media attention has been given to the peace talks which the Duterte government has agreed to restart, much less the comprehensive 15-point People’s Agenda for Change that was presented to President Duterte the day he was sworn in. This Program for Nationalist and Progressive Change and a more detailed Agenda for the First 100 Days covers five major areas: Economy, Social Policy, Governance, Peace and Human Rights, and National Sovereignty and Foreign Policy.

Five Montrealers who spent up to three months immersed in the people’s movements in the Philippines this past summer will be present September 24 at Concordia to give us the real story of what is going on. They spent time in Negros, Nueva Ecija, Cebu and Mindanao, including Davao, the home city of the new President. Their testimonials will be up close, uncensored and first hand. They will expose some of the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines and how the 15-point agenda starts to address the underlying causes of rebellion.

Join us with your stories and your questions. It will be a fulfilling and exciting afternoon of exchanges, punctuated by cultural presentations.

11.9.16

Philippines: Duterte et le Programme Populaire - un forum

Exposer les racines du conflit armé aux Philippines :
A la recherche de solutions ensemble

Avec cinq Montréalais tout juste de retour des Philippines:
Zharmaine Ante (AnakBayan Montréal)
Evelyn Calugay (PINAY)
Renz Grospe (AB Montréal)
Sherilyn Recinto (AB Montréal)
Olga Ulanov (Femmes de diverses origines)

Organisé par le Centre d'appui aux Philippines et #JustPeacePH - Plate-forme pour une paix juste et durable aux Philippines (Montréal)

CONTEXTE

Les pourparlers de paix sont en cours entre le Gouvernement de Rodrigo Duterte (GRP) et les forces révolutionnaires du Front national démocratique des Philippines (FNDP). Un accord en six points a été signé à Oslo, Norvège en août dernier et la prochaine série importante de discussions sont prévues pour octobre, également à Oslo.

Au programme des négociations sera un accord global sur les réformes économiques et sociales, ou CASER, des éléments qui seraient au cœur d'une paix juste et durable. Pendant ce temps, un cessez-le feu tient toujours entre les forces gouvernementales, composées des Forces armées des Philippines (AFP) et de la Police nationale des Philippines (PNP) d'un côté, et la Nouvelle Armée populaire (NPA) de l'autre.

Pourquoi y at-il des pourparlers de paix? Parce qu’une guerre civile fait rage aux Philippines depuis 1969. L'injustice quotidienne, systématique et systémique vécue par la majorité de la population des Philippines les a conduit à rechercher des changements fondamentaux dans la société par divers moyens. Pendant ce temps, la petite minorité bénéficiant du statu quo utilise tous les moyens à sa disposition, y compris les instruments et la violence de l'État pour empêcher tout changement social fondamental. En conséquence, de nombreux Philippins et Philippines ont opté pour la lutte armée pour renverser le système en place. Cette guerre se poursuit dans toutes les régions du pays actuellement.

Les médias canadiens et internationaux sont remplis d'histoires au sujet des déclarations controversées du nouveau président des Philippines, au sujet de sa guerre contre les narco-traffiquants et ses insultes contre le président des États-Unis, entre autres choses. Mais ces manchettes ne racontent qu'une petite partie de ce qui se passe aux Philippines, et ont déformé la réalité dans une large mesure.

POURPARLERS DE PAIX

Pratiquement aucune attention des médias internationaux a été donnée aux négociations de paix que le gouvernement Duterte a accepté de redémarrer, et encore moins au Programme populaire en 15 points qui a été présenté au président Duterte le jour où il a prêté serment. Ce Programme pour un changement nationaliste et progressiste et un programme plus détaillé pour les 100 premiers jours de sa présidence couvre cinq grands domaines: économie, politique sociale, la gouvernance, la paix et les droits de la personne, la souveraineté nationale et la politique étrangère.

Cinq Montréalais qui ont passé jusqu'à trois mois immergés dans les mouvements populaires aux Philippines cet été seront présent le 24 septembre à Concordia pour nous donner un son de cloche de ce qui se passe sur le terrain. Ils ont fait des séjours à Negros, Nueva Ecija, Cebu et Mindanao, y compris Davao, la ville d'origine du nouveau président. Leurs témoignages seront proche du terrain, non censurée et de première main. Ils exposeront quelques-unes des racines du conflit armé aux Philippines et expliqueront comment le programme en 15 points est un début pour s’attaquer aux causes sous-jacentes de la rébellion.

Rejoignez-nous avec vos histoires et vos questions. Ce sera un après-midi enrichissante et passionnante d’échanges, ponctuée de présentations culturelles.

15.6.16

Philippines - Release all political prisoners! : SELDA


STATEMENT
15 June 2016

Victims of human rights violations and kin:
RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
RESUME PEACE TALKS!
RESOLVE THE ROOTS OF ARMED CONFLICT!

WE ARE citizens who have experienced human rights violations since the Marcos dictatorship until the departing Noynoy Aquino administration.  We know what persecution, torture, deprivation of liberty, forced separation from family, and isolation from society mean. We are former political prisoners who have survived to tell our stories.
   
Today, we are joined by kith and kin, other victims of rights violations, and justice advocates, to urge the release of all political prisoners who have been enduring injustice and suffering state brutality because they fought a war against slavery and poverty, elitism and greed, subservience to foreign interests, and unfreedom.
 
They must all be freed.
 
Today, as we press for the release of 509 political prisoners languishing in jails all over the country, we are encouraged by the declaration and intention of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to do so. We are completely behind him to right what all the past presidents did wrong.

Releasing all political prisoners, especially the 18 consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, will absolutely create a positive climate for the resumption of the peace talks.  There is no way that granting freedom to citizens who have been wrongfully arrested, jailed, and slapped with trumped-up charges will not encourage peace. This much-awaited milestone act of statesmanship by the President-elect, once realized, will what shall initiate closure to many instances of injustice.
 
Together with the freed political prisoners and all our families and organizations, we stand foursquare behind the peace process in search of solutions to the root causes of the war that has long raged in our country.

We warn the diehards of the withering Noynoy Aquino regime and all saboteurs not to sow intrigues, not to redtag, and not to disrupt and derail the release of political prisoners and the success of the peace negotiations.

We, the people, shall overcome!


--
The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) is an organization of former political prisoners in the Philippines. Founded on December 4, 1984, SELDA was initiated by newly-released political prisoners of the martial law period.  SELDA’s primary task is to work for the release of all political prisoners and to see to it that humane treatment of those who are still in detention are complied with by the Philippine authorities.  SELDA advocates justice for current and former political prisoners.  It calls for the mobilisation of resources in support of political prisoners, former detainees and their families.  It carries out legislative advocacy for the indemnification and rehabilitation of political prisoners. SELDA goes into partnership and builds solidarity with concerned individuals and groups for the freedom and welfare of political prisoners and all victims of tyranny. 

SELDA National Office: 2/F, Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets, 
Brgy. Central District, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Tel: 632-9906595 Fax: 632-4354146 

28.3.16

De retour des Philippines! Rapport sur le mouvement anti-impérialiste

Leila Khaled du Palestine avec les manifestant-e-s anti-APEC aux Philippines
Vendredi, 1er avril, 2016: 18h00 à 20h30
Centre des travailleuses et travailleurs immigrant-e-s (CTI-IWC)
4755 rue Van Horne, Bureau 110, Montréal, Québec H3W 1H8 (Métro Plamondon)

Entrée libre: léger goûter et traduction vers l'anglais et le français
Amenez vos ami-e-s (et une chandelle!)

Témoignages de deux déléguées à la conférence de la plus grande organisation anti-impérialiste et démocratique du genre au monde: la Ligue internationale de lutte des peuples, LILP-ILPS.

Louisa Worrell du Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrant-e-s (CTI-IWC), et Inti Barrios des Femmes de diverses origines (FDO-WDO) et du Bloc d'artiste présenteront leurs expériences.

La conférence, qui a eu lieu en novembre 2015 à Manille aux Philippines, a fait parti d'une plus grande mobilisation internationale visant à exposer et bloquer la réunion impérialiste de la Coopération économique en Asie pacifique (APEC). Le chef de l'impérialisme canadienne, Justin Trudeau, était présent a la rencontre de Manille, parmi une vingtaine de chefs d'état.

SUR FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/1697915117134495/

Louisa et Inti parleront aussi de leur expérience au sein des organisations populaires sur l'île de Negros suivant la conférence.

Tout anti-impérialiste est bienvenu-e-s! LILP au Québec invite particulierement ses organisations-membres et les allié-e-s pour partager leur luttes dans la perspective de collaboration et de l'élargissement du réseau anti-impérialiste au Québec et au-delà.

Amenez une chandelle pour une activité à la fin de la soirée!

Un léger goûter sera offert. L'entrée est gratuit, mais nous ne refuseront aucun don. Traduction chuchotée vers l'anglais et le français.

Malcolm Guy
-- coordinateur par interim au Centre d'appui aux Philippines (CAP-CPC), organisation membre de l'ILPS

Back from the Philippines! Report on the global anti-imperialist movement


Leila Khaled from Palestine joins anti-APEC demontrators in Manila, Philippines.
Leila Khaled was a keynote speaker at the 5th International Assembly
of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS)

Friday, April 1, 2016, 6pm - 8:30pm
Immigrant Workers Centre (CTI-IWC)
4755 Van Horne, Suite 110, Montreal, Quebec H3W 1H8

Free event, snacks and translation provided
Bring your friends (and candles)!

Join us for first-hand reports from Montreal delegates who took part in an international conference in the Philippines of the world's largest anti-imperialist and democratic formation of it's kind.

The evening will feature Louisa Worrell, organiser from the Immigrant Workers Centre* (CTI-IWC), and Inti Barrios from Women of Diverse Origins* (FDO-WDO) and the Bloc d'Artiste.

They will speak about their experience at the 5th International Assembly of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) held in November in Manila, Philippines. The conference took place in the context of an international mobilization to expose and oppose the meeting in Manila of the imperialist-led Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Justin Trudeau attended APEC as the representative of Canadian imperialism.

Let us know you're going -- Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/1697915117134495/

Louisa and Inti will also talk about their post-Assembly exposure trip with sugar worker communities on the island of Negros.

All progressives and anti-imperialists are welcome! ILPS in Quebec extends a special invitation to member organizations and friends to share about their struggles. We can thus work together to advance and widen the anti-imperialist circle in Quebec and beyond.

Please bring candles for an anti-imperialist solidarity action at the end of the event!

French-English translation and snacks will be provided. Free event, donations welcome.

-- Malcolm Guy (interim coordinator of the Centre for Philippine Concerns (CAP-CPC), a member organization of the ILPS)

* member organizations of the ILPS