480 foreign activists join drive vs Aurora free port

MANILA, Philippines - A group of foreign activists representing 43 organizations in North and South America, East and West Africa, Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania has joined the opposition against the creation of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (Apeco) and free port project in Casiguran, Aurora province.

Fernando Hicap, national chairperson of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamama­lakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamala­kaya) said around 480 foreign activists from the United States, Canada, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Greece, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Belgium, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Senegal and South Korea among others endorsed and approved a resolution supporting the campaign against Apeco.

The resolution, which was sponsored by Elmer Dayson, vice chairperson of the Panlalawigang Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid ng Aurora (Pamana) was approved during the plenary of the 4th International Assembly of the League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS) held from July 7-9 in Manila. 

“The Apeco is a total threat to the rights to land of the farmers, even fisherfolk and other sectors residing on the affected barangays of Casiguran,” according to the resolution passed by the league.