Past Campaigns
Support of the Mapuche Political Prisoners
Corso has given support to the Mapuche and had several speaking tours. We continue our support.
The critical situation of the Mapuche Political prisoners in Chile, 32 of them, have now been on a hunger strike since July 12, so as you can imagine their situation is getting desperate. All are in prision under terrorisum laws for acts taken in defense of their indigenous lands. The Chilean media has kept a strict silence on the hunger strike so solidarity organisations are trying to raise international awareness and pressure in support of their cause. The demands of the hunger strike are for the right to fair trails, freedom of all Mapuche political prisioners and the repeal of the Anti-Terrorist law.
The Road to Peace in the Philippines...
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 Filipino Progressive Leaders: Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma. |
“Justice and Liberation: The Road to Peace in the Philippines” Toured NZ 24 October/14 November 2010 |
JUSTICE AND LIBERATION: THE ROAD TO PEACE
FILIPINO PROGRESSIVE LEADERS TOURING NZ OCTOBER/NOVEMBERLuis Jalandoni is the International Representative of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF, www.ndfp.net), a post that he has held since 1977, and since 1994 he has been the Chairperson of the NDF’s Negotiating Panel for peace talks with the Government of the Philippines. The NDF is the coalition of several underground groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippines and its New People’s Army, which has been waging a war of liberation throughout the Philippines for more than 40 years, making it one of the longest running armed struggles in the world. The country desperately needs peace with justice and security, so resolving this people’s war is central to that.
Luis (who previously toured New Zealand in 1987) will undertake a national speaking tour between October 24 and November 14. His tour is being collectively organised and hosted by Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa, Auckland Philippines Solidarity and Wellington Kiwi Pinoy. His topic will be: Justice And Liberation: The Road To Peace In The Philippines.
Luis will be accompanied by his wife Coni Ledesma, who will also be speaking. She is a member of the NDF Negotiating Panel for peace talks; and is the International Spokesperson of MAKIBAKA, a revolutionary women’s group which belongs to the NDF. This is the first time we’ve had two speakers together, let alone such high powered ones.
Luis and Coni are both veteran leading figures in the Philippine revolutionary Left. He was a Catholic priest in the 1960s and she was a nun. Both were founders of Christians for National Liberation, a member group of the NDF. When Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972, both went underground. They were both arrested and spent time as political prisoners. They left the clergy, and got married in 1974. They have lived in The Netherlands since 1976; they were the first Filipinos to apply for and receive political asylum there. They hold Dutch passports and travel extensively as NDF representatives.
Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma’s tour presents a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about a four decades long war, and accompanying peace process, in our own backyard that is almost totally unknown to New Zealanders.
HEAR LUIS & CONI SPEAK AT:
For details and tour check out -
http://www.converge.org.nz/psna
October 15th Solidarity
About us
Even though those affected by the October 15th Raids will not be facing charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act, they still face trials that could take years.
October15thSolidarity.info is a new online project organised by a small group of people spread around the world. We hope to provide a platform to help support those affected by the raids and their wider communities. We also hope to strengthen the networks of existing and future support groups.
Find Out More Here