International Student Movement

Notes during the
"1st Asian Activist Video Conferences"
(April 15-17th)

This page will share the summaries of each Session of the "1st Asian Activist Video Conferences" and will enable people who couldn't take part to still know what was discussed.

For many years groups across Asia have been struggling against the increasing privatisation of education. These sessions were the first step towards a stronger network between groups within the Asian region to learn from each other and fight back together.

It was agreed to keep the Skype chatroom open, everyone who wants to use it to network within Asia is welcome to make use of it. All you need to to is add the following contact to your Skype contact list: ism.asia ()

Notes:

★ Session 1 ★

► The Privatisation of Education across Asia - Present the Situation in your Region!

Attended by activists in Davao City (Philippines), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kathmandu (Nepal), London (UK/Taiwan) and Marburg (Germany).

Technical difficulties to get the video call started. Therefore activists only introduced themselves and decided to split Session 2 into two parts: The Privatisation of Education across Asia - Present the Situation in your Region + Exchanging Experiences with different Actions.

★ Session 2 ★

► Exchanging Experiences with different Actions (guide questions)

Attended by activists in Davao City (Philippines), Jakarta (Indonesia), Hyderabad (India) and Marburg (Germany).

As agreed during Session 1 participants began with the focus on the privatisation of education in different countries.
Within the 2 hours the situation in India and Indonesia was presented. Activists in the Philippines agreed to send in a summary of their local situation as well.

India (by an activist involved with the All India Student Federation):

1st issue that is being confronted in India is the issue on scholarships which means higher state spending for education.
2nd, groups are also calling for the regulation of school fees.
3rd, they call for the democratization of the universities through the education committees for example the student elections and student consultation.
4th, they experience police harassment.
And lastly, they call for more govt hostels and schools in the villages to cater the needs of the people.

Summaries of the presentation on Indonesia and the situation on the Philippines are in the making and will be published here as soon as possible.

★ Session 3 ★

► Exploring Perspectives of the Struggle for Free Education in Asia

Since only activists in Jakarta and Marburg attended this session, it didn't really take place.

★  Session 4 ★

► Communication Infrastructure for the Asian Region in the Future

Notes to be published soon.

★  Session 5 ★

► Coordinating Protest Actions Together (e.g. May 2nd, Oct./Nov. 2011)

Activists in Jakarta (Indonesia), London (UK/Taiwan), Lyallpur (Pakistan) and Manila (Philippines) participated in this session.

Subtitles in English for a video on recent cases of repression by university authorities in Taiwan to be created soon.

• Suggestion by an activist affiliated to the League of Filipino Students for common actions in the future:

• Focus on November 17th as a massive day of action: "Global Day of Outrage" - with small scale actions together in the weeks before. Details on that will be send soon together with a chat invitation on April 30th to discuss this idea together.

The whole thing was initiated by activists on the ISM-Asia platform. Sign up to the ISM-Asia mailing list to receive the latest information and/or get involved in the coordinations.

Contact: