SAPA STATEMENT : May 18, 2008

SOLIDARITY FOR ASIAN PEOPLE'S ADVOCACIES (SAPA)
WORKING GROUP ON THE ASEAN

ASEAN ACTIONS MUST REFLECT URGENCY OF SITUATION IN BURMA
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ENSURE CYCLONE NARGIS SURVIVORS GET AID

The members of SAPA demand that ASEAN immediately take a pro-active stand to ensure that the Burmese authorities stop blocking delivery of urgently needed international aid - both supplies and expertise – to the 2.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis who are hanging onto life by a thread. Otherwise, ASEAN risks being seen as callous, irrelevant and hypocritical.

It is time that our regional grouping proves that it is indeed "One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia" in addressing the biggest humanitarian disaster to hit the region since the Aceh tsunami. Failure to do so will undermine the credibility ASEAN worked so hard to build at its 40th anniversary.

8 September 2008

Several events have occurred since the Calatagan farmers launched their "pre-walk" in 1 September 2008.  On that day, the farmers put up streamers that contain their calls along the road of Barangays Baha and Talibayog.  On 4 September, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila and Chair of the NASSA, celebrated a Holy Mass in Calatagan.  A day after, the farmers received the Resolution of the DAR Secretary denying the farmers' Motion for Reconsideration on their petition to cover the contested 507-hectare land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).  On 7 September, Akbayan partylist Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel also visited Calatagan to express solidarity with the farmers.