Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa
http://www.converge.org.nz/psna

HIDDEN VOICES

A Filipino Muslim Woman
On The US “War On Terror”
And Its Impact On Her People.

TOURING NZ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2007 AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA INTERVIEWS

Amirah Ali Lidasan is the National Vice-Chairperson of the Suara Bangsamoro Party List Organisation, which aims to get representation in Congress for the Philippines’ several million Muslims (known as Moros and heavily concentrated in the southernmost islands). Amirah is a young (early 30s) progressive Muslim woman, with a history of senior leadership in the student movement in Manila, and is a leader in groups such as the Moro Christian People’s Alliance. She has an international profile. In March 2007 she was part of a Philippine human rights delegation which toured North America and Europe, drawing international attention to the human rights crisis at home.

The Philippine military has been waging a full blown conventional war in the southern Philippines since the 1970s (simultaneous to the better known and equally long war against the Communist guerrillas throughout the whole country). Right now that war is seeing some of its heaviest fighting in decades, with direct involvement from the US Special Forces who have been stationed in the southern Philippines since 2002. It has had hugely negative consequences for the whole Muslim population in the South (including Amirah and her family) and it has now become part and parcel of Bush’s global “War on Terror” against “Islamic terrorists”. Indeed, he has proclaimed the Philippines to be “The Second Front” in that war.

Amirah Ali Lidasan’s tour presents a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about a war in our own backyard that is almost totally unknown to New Zealanders. She is the first Muslim, let alone Muslim woman, that Philippines Solidarity Network has brought to NZ. To clarify a couple of points – Amirah is not involved with, nor does she speak on behalf of, those Muslim groups waging the separatist war in the southern Philippines. And she is not coming to NZ as a “spokesperson for Islam”. She speaks excellent English (which is an official language in the Philippines).

ITINERARY

Tuesday October 23 – Dunedin.
 
Public Meeting 7.30 p.m, Gazebo Lounge, top floor University Union Building, access off Cumberland St opposite Otago Museum
 
Wednesday 24 – Christchurch.

Public Meeting – 7.30 p.m. Knox Presbyterian Church, 28 Bealey Avenue

Thursday 25 – Blenheim.

Public Meeting: 7.30 p.m. Nativity Centre Lounge, corner Henry & Alfred Streets

Friday 26 – Wellington. 

Public Meeting, 5 p.m. St Johns in the City, Willis Street

Monday 29 – Palmerston North. 

Public Meeting, 7 p.m. 1st Floor, PSA House, 43 King Street (opposite rear entrance of Farmers).

Tuesday 30 & Wednesday 31   – Auckland.

Public Meeting: Wednesday 31st, 7.30 p.m. Trades Hall, 137 Great North Road, Grey Lynn

Thursday November 1 – Whangarei.

Public Meeting: 7 p.m., Manaia PHO rooms, 17 Norfolk St, Whangarei (corner Grey & Norfolk Sts, behind KFC on Kamo Road).

PSNA

Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa
Box 2450, Christchurch, New Zealand
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
http://www.converge.org.nz/psna

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