Asia Pacific women link up
By Pip Hinman
The currency crisis in Asia and the International Monetary Fund's "rescue packages" are having, and will continue to have, a devastating effect on the peoples of the Asia Pacific region. Already at the mercy of international capital, these countries' economies are destined to become even more dependent on the rich countries, for which the IMF acts as broker. As prices for basic goods rise and jobs are slashed, women's lives are becoming more difficult.
This is the context in which the Asia Pacific Women's Solidarity Network (APWSN) was launched. The Asia Pacific Solidarity Conference provided a unique opportunity for women activists from the region to share experiences and link up in solidarity with each other's struggles.
Women attending the conference agreed that international solidarity is key to strengthening campaigns for women's liberation. For more than a century, women across the globe have been gathering to discuss and plan their campaigns in the knowledge that international support gives them enormous advantages. International Women's Day was initiated with this in mind.
Today too, the struggles of our sisters in neighbouring countries (and beyond) are important and often have a bearing on campaigns we in Australia take up.
A case in point: the struggle being waged by the People's Democratic Party (PRD) in Indonesia, which is being led by young women and men in the face of the full weight of dictator Suharto's military apparatus, is an inspiring and important struggle for activists here.
Dita Sari, a central leader of the PRD and president of the Indonesian Centre for Labour Struggles, was arrested in 1996 and since then has been kept in prison (despite her declining health). In recognition of her outstanding role, Dita was chosen as honorary chairperson of the network.
The APWSN includes Ana Maria Nemenzo from Akbayan! (Citizen's Action Party) in the Philippines; Maria Menezes from Fretilin; Tamara Bobb du Pont from Tavini Huiraatira (Polynesian Liberation Front) in Tahiti; Emily Citkowski from IndonesiaAlert in the US; Jill Hickson and Janet Parker from Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor in Australia; Zohl de Ishtar from Women for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific; Helen Jarvis from the Asia Pacific Institute for Democratisation and Development; Pip Hinman from the Democratic Socialist Party; Marina Carman from Resistance; and other women activists from reproductive rights, anti-nuclear and international solidarity campaigns.
Other progressive women's organisations from the south Asian region are expected to join.
The network aims to build links between women's movements and campaigns for women's liberation in the region, exchange information and experiences and cooperate around important dates such as International Women's Day.
If you support these aims and want to become a sponsor, please send your name and postal or electronic address to APWSN, c/- PO Box 515, Broadway 2008, e-mail <links@peg.org.apc> or telephone (02) 9690 1230.