• Live
    • Audio Only
  • google plus
  • facebook
  • twitter
You're the Reporter
0
Comments
  • Rights groups, activists to hold Anti-APEC people's summit in Manila
Published 21 October 2015

International Festival for Peoples Rights and Struggles (IFPRS 2015) set on 17 November in Manila, Philippines

MANILA -- A day ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial meetings in Manila, rights groups and NGOs will hold a peoples rights festival as a counterpoint event to the trade talks.

The International Festival for Peoples Rights and Struggles (IFPRS 2015) will take place in Manila on 17 November, bringing together 500 activists, rights defenders, women and indigenous peoples from different sectors and regions around the world. Co-organized by IBON International and the Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN) together with grassroots organisations, the festival aims to strengthen international solidarity and peoples resistance against new forms of anti-people policies that impede peoples rights across the globe.

This year’s focus – Amidst the new world disorder and renewed imperialist offensive: Strengthening people’s solidarity for genuine system change – is reflected in the main themes of the Manila forum.

IFPRS 2015 comes at a critical juncture for the future of the people and planet as the 12-member party of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) recently signed a trade deal feared to bring devastating consequences to developing economies. With the combined strength of member countries, the TPP covers more than 60 percent of the global economy.

"With the recent signing of a TPP deal last October 5, the APEC Ministerial in Manila becomes an opportune moment for the US and its cohorts to cement a regional trade pact that serves the interest of US and its corporations at the expense of peoples rights and welfare," said Antonio Tujan Jr., IBON International Executive Director, a Manila-based International NGO working on democracy and peoples rights.

The TPP talks have provoked strong opposition from countries involved in the negotiations as well as from peoples organisations around the world. Much criticism derives from the TPP being negotiated behind closed doors – only corporate advisors and lobbyists are given exclusive access to the text.

“The only way they could have completed the deal was to keep it hidden from the people who would have to live with its consequences. The TPP is a US-conceived treaty that is part of the US’ rebalance in Asia strategy to regain economic influence in the region and counter the rise of China,” Tujan added.

The International Festival on Peoples Rights and Struggles (IFPRS 2015) is part of a series of events and protest actions parallel to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) happening in Manila from 17-20 November. Following IFPRS 2015 is the Peoples Campaign Against Imperialist Globalisation (PCAIG) that is set to kick off from 18-19 November.###

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mark Moreno Pascual

Email: mpascual@iboninternational.org

Contact No.: +632 927 6981

Mobile: +639 06 463 9073

Visit the IFPRS 2015 website for more information:

bit.ly/ifprs2015

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @ifprs2015

Facebook: http://www.fb.me/ifprs2015

Reporter Profile
Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.