CPA ATTENDS 3rd INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF PEOPLES STRUGGLE, HEADS COMMISSION ON IP's and NATIONAL MINORITIES

NEW TERRITORY, Hong Kong (June 21)- Anti-imperialist calls reverberated in the successful staging of the International League of Peoples Struggle-Third International Assembly (ILPS-TIA) with 350 delegates from across the globe which the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) attended from June 18 to 20, 2008.The CPA headed the Study Commission on Indigenous Peoples, National Minorities and Nationalities. The 3-day assembly revolved in the theme: 'Strengthen the people's struggle, unite to build a new world against imperialist aggression, state terrorism, plunder and social destruction!'

Nine delegates from the CPA participated in the ILPS-TIA and attended various workshops for the said 18 concerns. Windel Bolinget, Jill Carino, Joanna Carino, Donna Villamor, Maty Camfili, Vernie Diano, Flora Belinan, Carol Galvez and Chie Galvez participated in the workshops on self-determination, women's rights, rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trasgendered, national liberation, arts and culture, environment, and freedom for political prisoners.

CPA served as the lead organization of Study Commission No. 10 on the Rights of indigenous peoples, national minorities and nationalities for self-determination, and decolonization against discrimination, racism, and national oppression by imperialism and local reaction. The ILPS workshop on Commission No. 10 was attended by representatives from the Philippines, Taiwan, Burma, Sri Lanka, India, Canada, United States, Colombia and Australia. Senator Jamby Madrigal and Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan also participated and shared their legislative agenda and achievements for the indigenous peoples in the Philippines.

"Prior to ILPS, CPA organized a caucus in Baguio for the same study commission, which was also attended by indigenous peoples in the Philippines, the Moro people represented by Suara Bangsamoro and Moro Islamic Liberation Front, representatives from Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nagaland, Taiwan, Burma and Bangladesh", said Bolinget, who is the secretary general of the CPA.

Bolinget presented Study Commission No. 10 resolution which was approved by the TIA Plenary which contain the following points for ILPS to pursue:

a. To wage a campaign against the imperialist-led "war on terror" and the national security laws it spawned, with their particular impacts on indigenous peoples, national minorities, oppressed nationalities and nations;

b. To militantly resist displacement of indigenous peoples, national minorities, oppressed nationalities and nations from their ancestral lands and territories and the destruction and plunder of their resources by reactionary States and multinational corporations;

c. To expose and oppose the use of USAID, Official Development Assistance and other so-called development packages as a deceptive and divisive tool against indigenous peoples, national minorities, nationalities/nations;

d. To combat racism, chauvinism and discrimination against indigenous peoples, national minorities, nationalities and nations in all its forms and to recognize their distinct identities and dignity;

e. To reach out to other oppressed indigenous peoples, national minorities, oppressed nationalities and nations around the world and build stronger solidarity with them against imperialism and local reaction towards the realization of their right to self-determination.

f.To continue to deepen our study and understanding of the diverse situations of indigenous peoples, national minorities, oppressed nationalities/nations; present-day forms of national oppression, and the theory and practice of self-determination; and to consciously link their struggles with the class struggle against the common enemy, which is imperialism.

CPA also presented a particular resolution on imperialist mining and plunder of resources and was also approved by the Plenary.

CPA delegates also presented the play 'Kaigorotan' in the Solidarity Night where all delegates gathered for songs, poems, plays, dances and chants with a common theme; Down with US imperialism! Long Live the Fighting People of the World! Long Live ILPS!

After the ILPS, CPA delegates proceeded to the Cordillera Migrants Forum on Mining and Human Rights that was organized by ATIS (Abra-Tinggian-Ilokano Society) and Cordillera Alliance (CORALL).

The ILPS is an anti-imperialist united front at the international, global region and national levels. In recent years, it called for people's action against the imperialist policies of globalization, war of terror, environmental plunder, the US war on Iraq, exploitation and oppression of people, including indigenous peoples and discrimination among others.

It is the most outstanding anti-imperialist and democratic formation that provides political guidance on 18 concerns. These are the following: the cause of national liberation, socio-economic development, human rights, just peace, trade union, agrarian reform, women's liberation, rights of the youth, children's rights, right to self-determination of indigenous peoples, national minorities and nationalities, rights of teachers, right to health, science and technology, arts and culture, justice and indemnification of victims of human rights violations, rights of homeless persons, rights of the elderly and rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered. # Chie Galvez/ Tongtongan ti Umili - Cordillera Peoples Alliance