Thank you to those who have made it to our ARENA/National Association of Professors for Democratic Society (NAPDS) Roundtable Discussion on:
Asian Social Movement under Globalisation: Critical Reflection and Radical Visions
on the 13th December 2005 in Hong Kong, in the event of the WTO-MC6 mobilization, amidst all the tensions and street confrontations that began on the same day in downtown Hong Kong. 
We were very honored to have Ms. Titi Seontoro; Executive Director of Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD) based in Chiangmai, Thailand as our Moderator for the day. Titi did a great job in getting all the speakers and discussants to share with us their unique perspectives on the topic. At various points during the session, there were animated discussions and debates that became the highlights of the day under the the skilful facilitation of Titi.
The session began with Prof. Kim Sek Kyun of NAPDS, who has prepared a substantial paper from the Korean perspective. This was followed by Prof. Cho Hee Yeon, Head of NGO Graduate School from the Sungkonghoe University, South Korea. Prof. Cho has further elaborated on the topic. Both their papers and abstracts are available upon request from the ARENA Centre.
Prof. Leong Hon Chu of the Baptist University, Hong Kong - also our ARENA Fellow responded with his paper entitled: "Asian Social Movements at its crossroads". His abstract is also available from the ARENA Centre upon request. Then Cai Mei Hui, well known for her work in support of the Earthquake Victims in Taiwan, as well as Jing Hui who is involved in the Meinung anti-dam movement and Yang Ru-men Solidarity Movement; both came in with their joint paper; explaining the current situation of Taiwanese social movements today.
An eminent list of discussants; who are also experts in their own field then responded to the speakers. They are:
1. Mr. Ho Wai Chi who is currently setting up a charitable foundation in Hong Kong
2. Alice Raymundo of the Resource Centre for People's Development (RCPD) based in the Philippines
3. Neng Magno - our very own ARENA Fellow and ex- Women Programme Coordinator in ARENA, currently working with the Asia Public Intellectual Programme (API) of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
4. Dorothy Guerrero of Focus on the Global South based in Bangkok, Thailand
5. Mohuiddhin Ahmad - our very own ARENA Fellow, member of Jubilee South and a strong Pillar of the ARENA community
6. Assoc Prof Zhu Jiangang, who has come specially from Zhuhai, Southern China to join us. He is teaching and researching at the Zhuhai University (also known as the Sun Yat Sen University), and affiliated to its NGO Study Centre.
Neng Magno, particularly had received a round of enthusiastic applause with her candid intervention, as well as sharp and critical comments.
The meeting also saw some familiar faces from the Hong Kong regional networks such as Shella Zagada and Lakshan Dias of the Asian Alliance of YMCAs, amongst others. Also friends and partners from overseas such as; the Executive Director of Forum Asia based in Bangkok, Thailand; Mr. Anselmo Lee and Lawrencia Kwak of the Catholic Committee Against Hunger and for Development based in Paris had joined us to our very pleasant surprise.
To my greatest pleasure,
Throughout the Roundtable, we were constantly updated by reports from the streets of downtown Hong Kong where protestors mainly from South Korea, many of them farmers and workers, were struggling with the police, in order to bring their message across to the Ministers of the world who were meeting at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, that would effectively seal their fate if the agricultural and services trade agreements were passed in the WTO 6th Ministerial Meeting. |
Lucia Jayaseelen, the Executive Director of the Committee for Asian Women (CAW) based in Bangkok, Thailand as well as Irene Fernandez, CAW's Chairperson and a long-time workers' rights activist based in Kuala Lumpur also joined us.
Our very own Fellows such as Prof. Lau Kin Chi of Lingnan University, Hong Kong, as well as ARENA Fellows from Japan such as, Toshi Ogura-san and Koshida Kiyokazu-san have also came to give us their support. Last but not least, our very own Chair of the ARENA Council, Vinod Raina was also there to share with us his wisdom and inputs.
The Roundtable scheduled from 4 - 6pm proved to be too short and informal discussions carried on over drinks and dinner afterwards. There was a great deal of camaraderie and sharing among those who have come.
Attached is the last updated list of attendees for your information. In case you would like to have their contact information, pls. kindly let us know.
You may be glad to know that ARENA staff and office have been very crucial in giving back-up service and behind the scene support to numerous activists during the WTO-related event since the 8 December right up to the 25th December and beyond. Particularly, Amy Yeung and Susan Lai, as well as Lee Hyun Ok, our volunteer all the way from Cornell University, USA - deserve a standing ovation for their selfless hard work right through the tension-filled period. The ARENA office was officially closed for the X'mas and New Year break from 25th Dec 2005 to 3rd January 2006.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Agnes Khoo
Executive Director of ARENA
Participants’ Feedback Q.1 How did you know about the event?
¨ From the invitation sent by Arena Executive Director Ms. Agnes Khoo. ¨ Arena e-list ¨ From the email forward by Maggi Leung. ¨ Through a mail from Kin Chi and later on from Agnes. ¨ I was invited as a discussant .
Q.2 What were your expectations before attending it? ¨ Learn more about social movements in Asia and possibly share some developments from the Philippines. ¨ Active exchange by participants. ¨ Learn more about civil society and democratic movements in other Asian countries. ¨ Not much. Main incentive was to get acquainted with new ARENA staff and to listen to the speakers. ¨ That there will be a reflection/discussion on the role/position of intellectuals in Asian movements and how progressive academics could become more involved in enhancing the movements. Q.3 Did the outcome of the event meet your expectations? ¨ Generally, yes. Not so much on the sharing part though. Also the more precise title I think should have been “East Asia” since there were no inputs from other Asian sub-regions. ¨ No ¨ Somehow yes. ¨ Yes ¨ Slightly Q.4 Could you suggest the areas of improvement for our future programmes and activities? ¨ A Focus on one or two countries so you have more time for interaction. Have a briefing with speakers to define which topics would most likely be interesting for the audience or which areas need more emphasis. ¨ Better timing (not at the same time of a major street protest which many planned to attend). ¨ Have fewer speakers and a more focused topic. It was a pity that there was no time for discussion. Q.5 Were you satisfied with the number and variety of speakers and discussants presented in the event? ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Somehow Yes ¨ More or less ¨ The number of speakers were ok, but there were too many discussants. Q.6 Is there any Panelist(s) or Discussant(s) whom you would like to commend particularly? ¨ The lady from Taiwan because she presented a very concrete work in building social movements. The Koreans have very good ideas too but started without introducing their topic (immediately read the paper) and the English is a bit problematic. ¨ None ¨ No. They could have been a bit more concise Q.7 Were you satisfied with the turnout of the event? ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Yes, the attendance was good. Q.8 Will you return to another event such as this organized by ARENA in the future? ¨ Sure. When the situation permits. ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Yes Q.9 Has the ARENA staff been helpful to you during the event? ¨ Yes. They did their best to make us all feel comfortable. ¨ Yes ¨ Very helpful ¨ Very much ¨ Very Q.10 Is there anyone among the ARENA Staff whom you may wish to commend? ¨ Popho - She was so kind to usher in the visitors, provide water to the speakers, etc. Agnes did well in making the forum more relaxed. ¨ None ¨ No ¨ Amy, Jayanthi, Agnes and others ¨ All Q.11 Were you satisfied with the handouts prepared for you? ¨ Yes, but they were a bit late though. So there was no time to read them before the presentation. ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ It was ok. Q.12 Has the event helped stimulate your thoughts and reflections on the issue? ¨ Very much ¨ Yes, but a more stimulating discussion would have been appreciated. Many came late and many left before the discussion started. The abstracts could have been sent earlier. ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ It was good to learn about the Koreans of course. Q.13 Would you like us to keep you in our mailing list for similar events? ¨ Please ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Yes ¨ Yes Q.14 What are the activities or programmes that you wish ARENA could organize in the near future, so as to bring you and your work closer to us? ¨ On sectoral concerns, for example: labour, peasant, women. Also on broader issues like trade, war and militarism. Research, exchanges, exchange programmes. ¨ More speakers from other ¨ Asian countries. ¨ Consultation on "practices." ¨ A workshop that will discuss inter/sub-regional research / projects on a specific topic. Q.15 Is there any particular area which you would specifically like to cooperate with ARENA in the near future? ¨ On labour. ¨ Can’t think of any now. ¨ Linking creative literature with social action. ¨ A project on China (i.e: Impact of ¨ China’s rise to the Asian economies or environment), ¨ Social Movements in Asia or Transnational networks etc. Q.16 Did you enjoy the Dinner and Drinks Party afterwards? ¨ Could not have asked for more! It was a feast! ¨ YES! Thank you. ¨ Oh Yes! Probably the best part! ¨ Dinner, yes; drink, only one bottle of wine was inadequate. ¨ Very much, the food was superb! Q.17 Other Comments? ¨ Thanks once again for inviting me in your forum and for agreeing on very short notice to host the APNFS meeting.
I was moved when the Taiwanese and Koreans showed their respect to each other by giving speeches, teaching each other songs and shouting slogans. I thought this was touching.
Also, it was very nice of you to introduce all the staff members to the guests before the Roundtable began. It showed that we were working as a team and you gave credit to all of us.
Susan Lai
ARENA Administrator
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