What is APC?
The Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) emerged from the Asian Peasant Conference that took place on March 29-30, 2003 in the Philippines that took a very strong anti-imperialist stand and symbolized the strengthening and further consolidation of peasant movements throughout Asia.
APC is an Asia-wide peasant coalition of farmers, landless peasants, fisherfolks, agricultural workers, dalit, indigenous peoples, herders, pastoralists, peasant women and rural youth. It held its 1st general assembly (GA) in November 2004 in Bangladesh, and the 2nd GA in December 2006 in Indonesia.. It has more than 15 million members representing 33 organizations coming from 9 countries in Asia such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
The APC held its 3rd GA last January 23-24. 2011, in Sri Lanka with the theme ‘Consolidate Our Gains and Strengthen Asian Peasants Unity! Persevere in the Struggle for Land and National Sovereignty! Intensify Resistance against Imperialist Globalization.” APC fosters close relationship with all democratic and progressive people’s movements towards gathering their support for the plight of the peasants of the region. It also support the struggles of all the toiling masses in the world.
What are the core strategies of APC?
1. Movement building and resistance
a. Focus on realizing genuine agrarian reform and food sovereignty;
b. Resisting corporate and state aggression, including all forms of landgrabbing;
c. Strengthening the resistance of people’s movement thru the realization of access and ownership to land and ecological agriculture;
d. Strengthening and developing ecological agriculture and regeneration of ecosystems; and
e. Building community resilience to realize climate justice.
2. Strengthening and expansion of the movement
a. Strengthen people’s movement and resistance thru realization of peasants rights
b. People to people exchanges; and
c. Alliance building and consolidation of struggle thru partnership with other people’s movement and organization,.
3. Strengthening governance and accountability within APC.
Organizational Structure
The General Assembly is the highest policy-making body of APC that held once in every three years. It elects the Coordinating Council (CC) and the Executive Committee (EC) that implements and evaluates its three-year program.
APC has a Secretariat headed by the Secretary General that implements the decisions of the CC and EC.
APC Coordinating Council (CC)
Fathima Burnad Chairperson (India)
Badrul Alam Vice-chairperson for External Affairs (Bangladesh)
Irene Fernandez Vice-chairperson for Internal Affairs (Malaysia)
Danilo Ramos Secretary General (Philippines)
Rahmat Ajiguna Deputy Secretary General (Indonesia)
Balaram Banskota Treasurer (Nepal)
Saiful Huq Internal Auditor (Bangladesh)
Zenaida Soriano (Philippines) South East Asia
Chandra Hewagallage (Sri Lanka) South Aisa
P. Chennaiah (India) South Asia
How to JOIN:
Send a letter requesting for membership to APC and attach your organization profile and brochure. The APC secretariat will submit this to the APC Coordinating Council, after which they will decide on your request.