Women challenge globalisation and the erosion of food security

Statement of the 3rd Women's Conference against APEC

Special Branch Goes on Gate Crashing Spree

Film Festival Kicks Off

Squatter Visit Disrupted by Police Intimidation

Is Globalization Compatible With Human Rights?: Delegates differ in opinion...

Forest Activists Plan Global Action

Genetic Engineering Erodes Food Security, Enslaves Farmers

Workers of the World

Workers on the Move: The 4th International Migrant Workers Forum on APEC

APPA Says "No" to US Military Presence

Getting to Know Malaysian Workers: Delegates visit automobile plant in Klang Valley

Kuala Lumpur, Monday: The labour forum for the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Assembly (APPA) began with an exposure trip to a Swedish Motor Assembly plant in Shah Alam from 9.30am to 1.30pm today. Nine participants from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong who joined the trip were received by the Union Committee in the factory. After a tour around the assembly plant, the visitors and workers exchanged working experiences and discussed issues such as job security, retrenchment and health and safety at worksites.

Later at night, a sharing on the unionising experience with the Harris Workers Union was held at Century Hotel. Workers in Harris Advanced Technology waged one of the longest struggles to fight for their rights to unionise. More than 20 workers were expelled after attempting to organise a union. After almost 10 years of struggle, they finally won their case in the High Court which ruled that all sacked workers be reinstated. The unionists returned to work early this year. However, the company has continued to refuse to recognise the union

Special Branch Goes on Gate Crashing Spree

Kuala Lumpur, Monday: Several plaincloths Special Branch officers - Malaysia's undercover police - attempted to register for a series of forums. A late 40-something fellow attempted to pass off as an interested "senior student" to gate crash the Student & Youth Forum on Saturday. Failing which, the same fellow tried his luck with the labour exposure trip on Monday. Failing again, he made another foiled attempt to crash the Human Rights Forum today. However, he was not alone... He had two other buddies who also tried valiantly to enter without being spotted. All were denied entry because "late registrations were not accepted".

Film Festival Kicks Off

Kuala Lumpur, Monday: Subtitles, Subplots and Sub-vers-ives - a "sub-festival of film, performances and poetry" in conjunction with APPA kicked off yesterday at Filmnet Cafe. The opening night on Sunday started off quietly with There is Only One Word: Resist, a documentary on the pro-democracy struggles in Indonesian until delegates from the Students & Youth Caucus came down en masse to Cafe Filmnet, the venue of the Festival.

The highlight of the evening was a warm and endearing performance by Sukania Venugopal which had everyone in rapt attention. The monologue dealt with the theme of a woman, a classical Indian dancer, who ultimately finds her independence through dance. The performance was preceded by a brilliant Cuban short, Oracion.

The first night's feature film was Moving The Mountain by rising Chinese director Zhang Yuan. Recounting the student protests in Tiananmen, Zhang engrossing account of the build up to the massacre as told through flashbacks and raw footage and a riveting soundtrack, forcefully captured the mood in Tiananmen. The Festival continued today with its focus on women with the theme Breaking Silences. Screenings and performances included a Cambodian documentary, a short from Malaysia, Love Me Tender, a dance performance by Aida Redza and the feature, Scent of Green Papaya.