Crispin Beltran, Filipino Union Leader To Tour NZ August 30 - September 13, Speaking On The Asian Crisis, Globalisation and APEC: A Filipino Worker's Perspective

Crispin Beltran is the chairman of the KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno, or May First Movement), the best known Filipino trade union confederation. He has led an extraordinary life - as an 11 year old, he fought the Japanese in WW11; underground union organiser under the Marcos martial law dictatorship; detained without trial, he escaped from military detention and continued organising workers. He has been KMU chairman since 1986 (his predecessor was brutally tortured and murdered) and is a leading figure in the Filipino progressive movement. He is very well known internationally. His NZ tour will finish in Auckland at the Alternatives to the APEC Agenda Forum, organised to oppose the APEC Leaders' Summit.

DUNEDIN - Monday August 30/ Tuesday 31. Contact: Andrea Rushton, ph (03) 4772183 - w.

NELSON - Wednesday September 1. Contact: Jan Noonan; ph (03) 5469656 - w.

CHRISTCHURCH - Thursday 2/ Friday 3. Contact: Murray Horton; ph/fax (03) 3663988 day/night.

WELLINGTON - Monday 6. Contact Maxine Gay; ph (04) 2375062 - w.

PALMERSTON NORTH - Tuesday 7. Contact: Dion Martin; ph (06) 3569658 - w.

ROTORUA - Wednesday 8. Contact: Jim Jones; ph (07) 3489176 - w.

WHANGAREI - Thursday 9. Contact: Don Ross; ph/fax (09) 4382388 - day/night.

AUCKLAND - Friday 10 - Monday 13. Contact: Helen Te Hira; ph (09) 3090789 ex. 260 - w.

The tour is organised by Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa, with the full support of the NZ Trade Union Federation.

Further details are available from PSNA. He is available for media interviews in each of the main centres. Contact the local organisers.

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