ANNUAL REPORT Revisiting Deglobalisation:2018 a Vision for Progressive Social Transformation 2 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

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ANNUAL REPORT Revisiting Deglobalisation:2018 A vision for progressive social transformation 2 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

marks the first year of Focus on the 2018Global South’s (Focus) new three-year work plan for 2018 to 2020 under the overall theme, “Revisiting Deglobalisation: a vision for progressive social transformation”. This work plan has three interrelated thematic areas: Political Economy of Development, Power and Democracy, and People’s Alternatives, which frame key issue areas and projects. The following is a narrative of the activities grouped along the key highlights and achievements of our work in the year 2018. The details of key activities and outputs, including dates, and places can be found in the annex, which has been separated to give a better sense of how Focus conducted its activities.

Focus on the Global South staff in February 2019. Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 3

Highlights and 12Achievements of 2018

1. Drawing strength from integrated strategies that are grounded and networked Focus on the Global South engages high gional and international organisations, net- level national and international policy works and coalitions on trade- investment, platforms on trade, investment and human finance, regionalism, peoples’ rights to land, rights, but also works with communities commons, food sovereignty, gender equal- and people’s organizations at the grass- ity, systemic alternatives, environment and roots and national levels. Our advocacies climate, to expand our work across different are based on our knowledge of impacts sectors and groups, as well as to develop the and actions at multiple levels by different content of our analyses and advocacies. Our groups/actors, providing platforms and India and Philippines offices have organized opportunities for representatives from and maintained long-term networks such different constituencies and communities as the Forum Against FTAs, Trade Justice to directly articulate their struggles, for ex- Pilipinas and the Save Agrarian Reform ample on investor-state dispute settlement Alliance, that link international campaigning (ISDS), free trade agreements (FTAs), with local contexts, and enable us to share investment projects, democratization, our analyses, actions and updates on relevant peasant rights, rights to land, water and topics and issues. territory, and accountability of transnational corporations (TNC). The work with and support for community-based action researchers in Cambodia, Focus partners with local, national, re- who are at the forefront of land and natural 4 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

resource struggles, reflect the concrete Internationally and regionally, Focus is realities of the impacts of extractive in- an active member of networks such as the vestments and policies on communities. Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF), Land These and their communities continued to Research Action Network (LRAN), NGO be strengthened through practical train- Forum on ADB, Save the Mekong, Asia ings, exposure visits inside and outside Pacific Movement on Debt and Develop- the country, overseas exchange visits, local ment (APMDD), and the ASEAN Peoples’ and national issue-based workshop, and Forum (APF), as well as in campaigns on semi-annual reflection meetings. the Binding Treaty for corporate accountability, International Financial Institutions In the Philippines, Focus works with fish- (IFIs), the World Trade Organisation erfolk, indigenous peoples, peasant, labour (WTO) and new generation Free Trade and human rights groups to contribute to Agreements (FTAs). These networks and their resistance against urgent issues (resist campaigns provide spaces for us to share Manila Bay Reclamation, assert indige- and build collective analyses, and for our nous rights in the Bangsamoro Basic Law, grassroots partners to participate and am- land grabbing, mobilise against misogyny plify their voices. and extra -judicial kilings, oppose rice tariffication, etc.).

Asia-Europe People’s Forum 2018 in Ghent, Belgium. [ September 2018]

Thai farmers sell their products at a commemoration fair for the Thai Farmer’s Federation anniversary. [October 2018] Various groups press the Philippines military for accountabilty on a massacre of indigenous peoples. [8 December 2018] Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 5

2. Strengthened integration of gender issues

In our new workplan, gender is a cross raise awareness on women’s rights, and to cutting issue, not only because of gender encourage greater participation of people differentiated impacts of trends, poli- with communities involved in land/natural cies, programmes and agreements, on resource struggles. the struggles of various sectors, but also because we work with women’s groups in In the Philippines, Focus has long term co- different sectors. More importantly, there operation with national women’s networks is a need to highlight the gender dimen- of peasants (PKKK, the National Coalition sion of issues that cut across sectors and of Rural Women) and indigenous peo- often place particular and heavier burdens ples (Lilak: Purple Action for Indigenous on women. Women’s Rights) through campaign platforms for the commons, the Save Agrar- In Cambodia, the community-based ian Reform Alliance, and the Loyukan action research teams (ARTs) among campaign. This year, both women’s groups farming, fishing, forest and urban workers’ have joined the Focus-initiated platform communities count on strong and deter- on food sovereignty among small-scale mined women leaders in their respective producers. struggles against destructive resource development and investment projects. They On March 8, Focus launched online photo also lead livelihood projects that make exhibition titled The Hands that Feed communities more viable and resilient. Us to explain and draw attention to the To link the importance of gender in land crucial role of women in food provision, and natural resource conflicts, the ARTs as well as the issues and structures that and their communities organized local surround their often unrecognized work. events in three provinces on national tree The exhibit features photographs by Focus planting day, International Women’s Day staff and partners. and International Human Rights Day to

Indigenous women join the State-of-the-Nation protest on 24 July 2018. 6 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPMENT 3. Consolidating and broadening resistance to RCEP and new generation FTAs This year continued to reflect the shift in civil society groups issued a statement to trade justice advocacy from a focus on the denounce this backwards move by the WTO toward mega-FTAs. Particularly for Singaporean government. Asia, the Regional Comprehensive Eco- nomic Partnership (RCEP)—involving 16 Prior to the next round of negotiations in countries in the region—has become the Bangkok in late July, Focus held national most urgent trade issue involving trans- meetings on RCEP in Cambodia and Thai- parency of the negotiations, lack of public land, participated in by grassroots com- scrutiny and participation, and potential munities, labor organizations and trade impact on communities, food sovereign- unions, women organizations, academics ty, self-determination and public health. and NGO partners, to discuss the impact Focus participated in civil society events of the agreement on health, access to med- during the official RCEP negotiation icines, agriculture, labour rights and the round in Singapore from May 2-5, includ- commons. A press conference was held on ing speaking at a workshop on trade with the same day as the meeting in Bangkok to public sector unions organized by Public brief the Thai press on the issues at stake Services International. Unlike previous during the RCEP negotiations. In India, negotiation rounds which included stake- Focus regularly includes RCEP in its advo- holder engagements with civil society, the cacy and workshops on agrarian and de- Singapore government instead held con- velopment issues. A highlight of such in- sultations with business. Focus and other vitations is conducting a session on RCEP

Anti-RCEP protests in Manila (above), New Delhi (opposite page, top), and Bali (bottom) Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 7

and agriculture at the Kisan Swaraj Sammelan farmers’ assembly meeting in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (see discussion paper here) on 2-3 November. Discuss- ing these topics helped participants formulate and articulate their positions toward the emerging free trading bloc in relation to protecting their land, water and natural resources, traditional knowledge and plant varieties, as well as how the agreement will affect democracy and corporate and government and an overview of the possible impact accountability to the people. Local and na- RCEP will have on different constituen- tional discussions on RCEP helped mobi- cies. The meeting was also an opportunity lize and bring together local organizations, to share information on their campaigns grassroots communities, and academia to and initiatives, assess the current regional create initiatives to further discuss and to coordination of the campaign, and plan create monitoring networks on RCEP and the work ahead. Focus contributed to pub- other trade and investment agreements’ lications and outreach in regard the RCEP, impact on the local people and economy. including co-publishing the book RCEP: A Secret Deal, and taking part in a News- During the RCEP negotiations in Bang- Click interview and feature. kok, civil society organisations (CSOs) from across the region convened to con- Focus continued to coordinate efforts at tinue putting pressure on governments, the regional level as well as in the Philip- and to further strategize on the joint cam- pines to advance the campaign on FTAs paign. A two-day regional strategy meet- with the European Union (EU). In the ing was attended by over 80 civil society Philippines the work is coordinated under representatives from the various countries the broad umbrella of Trade Justice Pilipi- party to the RCEP agreement. The meet- nas where members have taken the lead on ing gave participants an overview of the contentious issues such as investments and context in which the FTA is being nego- investor protection (i.e. ISDS) and intellec- tiated; an analysis of the negotiations and tual property rights (IPR). contradictions between country positions; 8 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

4. Expanding work on analysis on investments in the Mekong region

In 2017-2018, Focus-published five studies Focus is a member of the Save the Mekong on the trends and impacts of investment network that campaigns on dams and in the Mekong sub-region on rural com- related infrastructure projects affecting munities and garment workers. Two case Southeast Asia’s longest river. A particu- studies present and analyse the general lar highlight this year was working with situation on investments in the region, other network members to respond to the particularly in Cambodia and Myanmar. collapse of the saddle dam D in Paksong, The other three facilitate the ARTs in pro- Attapeou province. The disaster drew at- ducing documentation of their struggles tention to the risks faced by communities to support local advocacy and organizing. living in the river basin, where more than The case studies were translated to local a hundred dam projects are being built languages (Khmer and Burmese) to facil- or planned, particularly in Laos. Focus itate discussions with ART members and joined International Rivers in supporting other communities. Lao researchers to visit the dam affected area and write a first-person account of Our work on investment in the Mekong the situation. This was published as an region has also given rise to new partner- op-ed in Asia Times on August 8. Later in ships for further studies on SEZs in Myan- the year, Focus completed a paper which mar (currently being finalized, due in examines how different investors, financial June) and in Vietnam (a project beginning institutions and governments consider and in 2019). It has also opened opportunities process risks of such infrastructure invest- to discuss and engage with other actors, ments. The paper was released as an online such as those working on China invest- publication in February 2019 and will be ment and finance, and with researchers translated into Lao language. on overseas direct investment who invited Focus to participate and give inputs based on our work.

Focus continues to ask, “who does infrastructure serve?” Photo of the Achang irrigation project in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia. Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 9

5. Advancing analysis on trade and investment policies and practice

In addition to campaigning on RCEP and forums on infrastructure, on extractivism, investments in the Mekong region, Focus and on the impunity of corporations and participated in the public forum, World financial institutions. Beyond Banks in Bali, Indonesia where the World Bank and International Monetary An emerging concern in trade and invest- Fund (IMF) held their annual meetings in ment in Asia is the rise of e-commerce October. The meeting was an opportunity and digital/online trade, which has quickly for people’s movements in various coun- made inroads into national markets to tries to share their analyses of World Bank the detriment of small and medium scale and IMF legacies, and concurrent trade, producers and traders, and can enable investment, finance and governance poli- transnational corporations (TNCs) to cies and projects. The participation was a consolidate power over different segments response to the invitation by Indonesian of supply chains. This issue was highlight- partner Gerak Lawan to organize and ed in India in May with the take-over of co-sponsor plenary events and workshops. online retailer Flipkart by U.S. food retail Focus supported and facilitated the partic- giant Walmart. The deal resulted in the ipation of representatives from grassroots domination by two TNCs (the other being partners in Southeast Asia and India so Amazon) of India’s booming online retail that activists across the region can share trade. A series of meetings and strategy analyses, learn about similar struggles in sessions outlined a local campaign against different countries, and foster solidarity the takeover, which created a platform for and commitment by being able to see be- some 108 organizations to join in. A high- yond their immediate concerns. light of the campaign was the June 4 press conference opposing the merger. The three key activities led by Focus at World Beyond Banks were the public Digitalization is also an important issue in 10 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

relation to food sovereignty with the threat of concentration from the increasing power of not only of e-commerce but also of global agricultural giants in chemical and farm technologies. (See activity on corporate concentration and food sovereignty in highlight 10.)

The Focus Executive Director contributed an article, “The Changing Face of Food Retail in India” (original link) to the Right to Food and Nutrition Watch 2018 publication, When Food Becomes Imma- terial: Confronting the Digital Age. This article served as an impetus for a collab- orative exploratory research project in India between Focus, the Alternative Law Forum and IT for Change, on the potential impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) in digital food retail. Focus prepared an initial draft of a policy paper that provides an overview of India’s FDI policy. The project will be completed in 2019 and the global trade policy through new free trade full research report will be released at that agreements. We participate in the annual time. United Nations Commission on Interna- tional Trade Law working group meetings. Finally, Focus participated in the global Opposition to the ISDS has been promot- process of reforming the onerous in- ed by Focus at most trade justice related vestor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) meetings, as a key input toward under- mechanism that is imposed as part of standing the global free trade regime.

6. Promoting new human rights frameworks to support the struggles against corporate impunity

Focus actively participated in the global economies that renders TNCs untouchable campaign to promote a binding treaty under national laws. on TNCs and human rights by sending representatives to the treaty negotiations On the ground, Focus undertook public and people’s mobilizations in Geneva. As awareness and education work on the part of the global network for the binding issues of corporate concentration and con- treaty, Focus pushes this agenda in vari- trol in agriculture/food, as well as expos- ous national and regional platforms, as a ing the effects of transnational investments counterpoint to the destructive neoliberal at the regional level, for example during Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 11

the World Beyond Banks protests in Bali Ghent on GSP+ where we criticized the in October, and at the Asia Europe People’s non-action of the EU in the wake of the Forum (AEPF) meetings. worsening human rights crisis in the Phil- ippines. Focus also assisted human rights The nexus of trade and human rights has network Philippine Alliance of Human been tackled as well in the engagement Rights Advocates (PAHRA) in discussing on the Generalized System of Preferences GSP+, and the nexus of trade and human (GSP+) between the EU and the Phil- rights in a series of provincial discussions ippines. Focus co-organized and was a with civil society that it organized in 2018. speaker in a side event at the AEPF in

POWER AND DEMOCRACY

7. Analysis and engagement of regional and national political trends

Focus’s 2018 work on this thematic area coming book State and Counterrevolution: is anchored and reflected on two publica- Explorations into the Global Rise of the tions, on The Rise of Populist Authoritar- Right. Walden’s paper has been translated ianisms in Asia (January), and the 2018 into Hindi to reach a broader audience in issue of its Newsletter on the “Shifting India. Ground of Democracy” in Asia (August). Focus also published a chapter (The Hindu Focus co-organised events and discussions Counterrevolution: The Violent Recreation on the rising trends of authoritarianism of an Imagined Past) of Walden Bello’s up- with like-minded organisations and peo- 12 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

ple’s movements in the Philippines, Thai- the current regimes. This discussion series land and Cambodia. Focus Philippines is resulted in a draft discussion note (in part of the iDefend campaign on rising Khmer language) of Cambodia’s history, impunity and violations of the President governance and leadership, including the Rodrigo Duterte government. The country role of the United Nations Transitional office also conducts discussions related Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), and to the economic, and social policy of the peoples’ struggles. government, taking forward the analysis and framing of the issues under “Dutertis- National level campaigns and analyses are mo”, which was put forward in the Focus also brought to regional and international Policy Review in 2017. Focus Philippines platforms, as Focus is invited to speak on also conducted political education sessions regional political trends at various confer- with various sectoral groups, particularly ences and seminars. to tackle the issue of Charter Change as a ploy to consolidate Duterte’s political Focus has been involved in the AEPF since control. it started and serves on the AEPF’s Inter- national Organising Committee (IOC). In Cambodia, Focus provided support to We are a leading member of the clusters the Cross-Sector and other grassroots net- on participatory democracy and trade works to organize a citizen’s forum prior justice. Participation in AEPF provides to the general election to build a common a long-term inter-regional platform for political position, as well as to discuss how building common campaigns, planning community members respond to intimi- collective actions and seeking responses dation and suppression at the level of their from governments in Asia and Europe. local struggles. Our support was appreci- In 2018, the AEPF 12 was held in Ghent, ated because there were almost no such Belgium, where Focus staff from Cambo- activities allowed, and it took a lot of risk dia and the Philippines, along with some to organize the event. Focus also co-orga- partners from the grassroots movements nized a series of exchanges on “cross-gen- shared their perspectives and analyses. eration learning” where participants of Also, prior to the AEPF in Belgium, Focus different backgrounds and life experiences staff co-organised and made presentations were brought together from different at AEPF organized events on Trade Justice points in history: post-colonization, the and Corporate Accountability in Indonesia Khmer Rouge, the transitional period and and on Social Commons in Spain.

Leading the rightward shift to authoritarianism in Asia: Cambodia’s Hun Sen, India’s NArendra Modi, Philip- ines’ Rodrigo Duterte and Thailands Prayuth Chan-ocha Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 13

8. Prioritizing people’s rights and democracy amid rising authoritarianism

Under repressive political situations, ‘blood sugar’ plantations and China-fund- grassroots movements have been bearing ed hydropower dams. Additionally, fishery the brunt of state suppression in the form committees and fisherfolk in Pursat prov- of violent attacks and the closure of redress ince have heightened their actions against systems for local struggles for rights to encroachments backed by powerful and land, forests and water resources. wealthy elites. These changes were realized as a result of three years of action includ- The meetings among the ART and other ing fact finding and collecting evidence in network partners in Cambodia highlight- their own communities. ed the need for consolidation and creativ- ity in the context of new political realities. Focus continues to support the commem- During 2018, several ART communities oration and quest for justice on emblem- consolidated their victories in local strug- atic cases of impunity, particularly those gles for greater control of protected fish- involved in grassroots development work eries, obtaining social land concessions and struggles. These include the 2016 kill- and fair compensation against so-called ing of anti-coal plant community leader

The protest streamer says “Life and livelihood, not Martial Law!” [Manila, 24 July 2018]. 14 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

Gloria Capitan, and the massacre of eight indigenous peoples in South Cotabato in 2017 who were resisting investment encroachment in their homeland. More broadly, Focus works with the iDefend human rights coalition in looking into these killings, while also coordinating the coalition’s social justice campaign on social and economic rights. The Focus Philippines team also issued a number of statements in regard to growing impunity under the Duterte regime, including on the disappearance was held in Bangkok withdrawal from the ICC, human rights in on December 12 in cooperation with the EU-Philippines relations, the ouster of the International Federation of Human Rights Supreme Court Chief Justice and two years (FIDH). Focus deepened support and of the Duterte Regime. On the positive collaboration with grassroots movements side of advocacy, the Loyukan campaign, in Thailand, on their rights to resources, which includes Focus Philippines, was able justice and demands for democracy. We to push for the inclusion of key IP provi- supported some activities of the People’s sions in the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Focus Movement for a Just Society (P-Move), in- contribution was in the area of social cluding activities of its members, the Isarn media promotion through the Loyukan Land Reform Network, the Southern Peas- Facebook page, and videos of the voices of ants Federation of Thailand (SPFT), and indigenous leaders who articulated claims the Democracy Restoration Group, linking to their rights within the Bangsamoro them with regional and international ad- autonomous region. vocacy and media groups, and supporting their participation in regional events in The Focus Bangkok office helps sustain Thailand as well as other countries. international support for the case of Sombath Somphone by working with Focus and eight other organisations sub- regional and international organizations, mitted a joint letter to the EU ahead of the and supports the Sombath.org website. A EU-Lao Human Rights Dialogue in March forum marking the sixth anniversary of to outline the continuing abuse of civil Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 15

liberties in Laos, and to ask that the EU exhibitions about grassroots issues and the use its development aid to support basic political situation in Cambodia, performed human rights. No response was received. by progressive artists and representatives of communities, including several ART Focus also continued to expand its work members. The event featured modern art on more cultural forms of campaigns and forms and adaptations of traditional art alliance building. Focus co-organized a forms to convey messages of hope for sec- planning workshop and facilitated num- toral struggles in the context of the current ber of cultural events with the Asian difficult political environment. Movement for Peoples Peace and Progress (amP3) in 2018 including peoples’ music Focus supported and participated in an as- concerts in Bangkok, Manila and Bali. sembly of people’s movements, organized The collective also initiated an effort to in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 12-13 January. put together a compilation album of songs We organised a delegation of 12 partici- tackling different issues like human rights, pants from Southeast Asia (Philippines, environment, land issues from around the Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand) to region. participate in this Assembly to encourage sharing of struggles and strategies in the In Cambodia, Focus co-organised and region. The meeting is the regional leg of a supported an event called the “Art of Col- global effort expected to culminate later in lective Power”, featuring performances and 2019.

9. Promoting new human rights frameworks to uphold collective rights and the commons

Focus has joined La Via Campesina (LVC) community education programs and local and other international organizations in advocacies. the campaign for the adoption of the Dec- laration on Peasant Rights. The historic Focus India organised public meetings and document would eventually be adopted by worked with La Via Campesina members the United Nations Human Rights Council in India to reach out to other groups and in October and the General Assembly in mass movements and to the government December. The Declaration breaks ground bodies to support the draft declaration. on new and specific human rights stan- Focus also wrote articles on this Declara- dard on land, seeds, protection of tradi- tion to reach out to larger audiences and tional knowledge, determining food and explain its importance. agricultural systems, among others. It is also a new reference material for peasant At the regional level, Focus produced a advocacy and education. Partner peasant special publication marking the Interna- groups and communities in Cambodia, tional Day of Peasant Struggles as a plat- India and the Philippines are enthusias- form to promote the draft declaration. We tic to use the document for developing also released the publication from the 2017 16 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

event on Human Rights-based Tenure and Governance in the Asia Pacific later in the month.

Advocacy for the Peasant Rights Declara- tion and the Binding Treaty on the Human Rights Accountability of Transnational Corporations (see Highlight 6) are efforts by Focus to contribute to the development of protection mechanisms and standards to improve access to justice of communities affected by neoliberalism and extractive development.

Finally, Focus organized the second Sombath Symposium on Human Rights and Development which examined the complementarities between human rights and development frameworks/concepts and policy, and the contradictions in approaches and applications, including reflections from practitioners from trade justice and food sovereignty advocates, workers, fishers, farmers, and indigenous peoples.

PEOPLE’S ALTERNATIVES

10. Stronger Food Sovereignty and Agroecology advocacy and practice with partners ten available in Hindi and English, which In India, Focus organised several train- are distributed in print and downloadable ing and education activities with farmers’ electronic copies. At least 10-15 percent of groups and civil society organisations on those trained made a commitment to start agro-ecological farming concepts and this practice from this year in small areas, techniques. More than 700 farmers were which is a good reflection of the success trained in these activities on different of this programme. The important aspect aspects of water-efficient, toxics-free, and of these trainings is that the requests were bio-diverse farming. Content is derived made by either the civil society groups from education materials published in who work with local communities or by 2016-18 by the Focus India Office, and of- the peasant movements themselves. This Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 17

indicates that Focus is now being recognized as a dependable ally by progressive social movements on agroecology.

Focus supported exchange, sharing and learning on agroecology and local markets in Cambodia through training workshops, and exchange visits to Thailand and other communities in Cambo- dia. ART members have been receptive to the concepts behind agroecology as a concrete ap- proach to improve the viability of their communities, and to strengthen local residents through beneficial projects, including poultry raising, home gardening and livelihood grants. The livelihood support received by ART communities have been adapted to include agroecological farming methods. The strong belief by the partner communities in argoecol- ogy and sustainability is such that they are resisting offers to engage in contract farming being promoted by some NGOs. The ART technical need to re-prioritize small-holder food team (Focus Staff) has also reached out to production and challenge dominant food other peasant and indigenous communi- systems. ties to conduct consultations on advocacy strategy and community projects. Focus co-organized in July a regional forum on corporate control and food The National Conference on Food Sov- sovereignty that brought together analyses ereignty held on World Food Day in the of different aspects of this global trend, Philippines strengthened cooperation and develop possible responses. The public among fishers, indigenous peoples and forum examined how technology (digitiza- peasants people’s movements to push for tion and e-commerce), corporate mergers, food sovereignty as the alternative to mar- FTAs, food conglomerates, ISDS, and mul- ket-oriented and neoliberal models of food tilateral mechanisms affected food produc- production. Among other objectives, the tion and consumption, and promoted land platform seeks to bridge the gap between grabbing. policy and practice by highlighting the 18 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

11. Supporting struggles for the commons

Focus in the Philippines and the Save Three case studies developed in Cambo- Agrarian Reform Alliance co-published a dia are about community struggles for book documenting the outcome of over 40 defense and control of land and resources. years of agrarian reform policy in the Phil- The case studies on Illegal Fishing and the ippines. The book put together case studies Pheapimex and Lor Peang land conflicts of farmers, who despite being beneficia- are led by ART efforts to document their ries also faced political and commercial experiences, which helped gain clarity of pressures that reverted them back to being their experiences in struggle. These three de facto tenants. While being primarily a are victorious cases of communities who national study, the book is helpful to peas- are partly or fully able to resist encroach- ant organizations in other countries with ment into their territories. The case stud- similar land redistribution programs. ies, which also includes policy and context analysis from Focus, serve as the legacy of Focus worked LRAN to prepare its Brief- the community activists who seek to share ing Paper No. 4: New Challenges and their experiences with the younger genera- Strategies in Defense of Land and Territo- tion of community residents and activists, ry. The publication, released in February as well as to other communities facing 2019, puts together narratives and analyses similar resource conflicts. of land struggles across Latin America, Africa and Asia. In Thailand, Focus has prepared a case study on alternative land management

Focus participated in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of its partnrs, the Southern Peasant Federation of Thailand in December 2018. Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 19

systems being put forward by the Southern Agrarian Crisis and the Politics of Seeds Peasants Federation of Thailand (SPFT) address issues important for farmers to to counter the state centric and commer- understand to fight monopolization and cialized system of the governance. SPFT control of their basic resources. More than farmers have occupied land owned by the 3,500 printed copies of our agroecology government which were previously part of series booklets were requested by phone, agribusiness land concessions. Control of or online messaging, or post; while 10,000 the land has enabled SPFT to practice al- pamphlets on GMOs and FTAs were dis- ternative governance of their community, tributed among farmers at rallies in India. and to apply agroecological and sustain- The 15,000 downloads of agroecology able farming systems. series booklets recorded in the website are also a testament to their popularity. Focus in India has concentrated on edu- cating farmers and other groups on the Regionally, Focus staff frequently made impact of free trade agreements, digitali- presentations at seminars and workshops zation and government policy on agricul- on the impacts of extractive investments ture and food sovereignty, by utilizing and and free trade on land, water, forests distributing material produced in years and peoples’ rights to resources, and the previous years. The new booklets on Con- importance of the commons in upholding tract Farming, Climate-Smart Agriculture, and realizing food sovereignty.

12. Strengthening contributions to people’s alternatives

Focus is part of an international partner- A significant focused activity on this ship with ATTAC France and Fundacion theme is the new partnership with Univer- Solon in Bolivia to study, elaborate and sity of the Philippines Center for Integra- put forward Systemic Alternatives to the tive and Development Studies (UP CIDS) current corporate-centred and neoliberal Program on Alternative Development (Al- paradigm that fosters inequality, depletes tDev) to document case studies on prac- planetary resources, and threatens human- tices of communities coming from at least ity’s survival. Generally, Focus’s contri- nine (9) countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, bution to the work of this partnership is Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, in its work to defend the Commons as a Timor Leste, Thailand, and Vietnam, key framework within systemic alterna- which were presented in a conference in tives, and particularly through continuing Manila in November. The land manage- critique of the system, and promotion of ment system of the Southern Peasants grassroots-based struggles for food sover- Federation of Thailand was among the eignty, and the practice of agroecology. case studies presented in the conference on November 27-28. 20 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

OVERVIEW

List of Focus-led/partnered Activities in 2018 Date Location Title/Activity POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPMENT February 16 New Delhi Planning and strategy meeting on Dismantling Corporate Power March Manila Public Forum on Dengvaxia (on the controversial anti-den- gue fever vaccination program of the government) April 23- 27 Ne w York Trade Justice Pilipinas represented by lawyer Tony Salvador participated in the United Nations Commission on Interna- tional Trade Law meeting on ISDS reform. April 25 New Delhi “Who Wants to Fix our Climate and Eat Our Lunch?” a National Consultation on Role and Responsibility of Big Technology in Sustainable and Inclusive Development RCEP Campaign May 2-5 Singapore • Stakeholder Consultation July 20 Bangkok • National consultation July 12-13 Phnom Penh • National Consultation July 21-22 Bangkok • Regional Strategy Meeting July 23 • Stakeholder Consultation June 4 New Delhi Press conference on Walmart-Flipkart deal October 10-13 Bali, Indonesia World Beyond Banks (People’s protest against the WB-IMF meeting) • Public Forum on Infrastructure • Forum on Extractivism • Cooptation of Judiciary System, Corporate and Impunity of International Financial Institutions

September Bali Asia-Pacific Gathering on Human Rights and Extractives October 13-20 Geneva Week of People’s Mobilizations on Binding Treaty on Trans- nationals and Human Rights November 2-3 Gujarat Session on RCEP and Agriculture during the Kisan Swaraj Sammelan farmers’ assembly meeting November 6 Phnom Penh Forum on Trade and Investment Trends and its implication on Labour Rights and Working Conditions in Cambodia November 24-25 Bangkok Sombath Symposium: Development and Human Rights December 3-4 New Delhi Conference on Global Financial Crisis: A Decade after Lehman Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 21

Date Location Title/Activity POWER AND DEMOCRACY January 12-13 Dhaka South Asia Assembly of Peoples Movements February 18-21 Jakarta AEPF Thematic Circle on Trade Justice and Corporate Ac- countability meeting. March 8 Pursat, Kampong ART Community activities for International Women’s Day Chhnang April 30, May 10 Manila Discussion series on Charter Change and Federalism and 25 May 31 Manila Beyond Brexit: sharing on Britain in the age of far-right populism and global inequality June 14-15 Phnom Penh Strategy meeting on Cambodia Politics (closed-door); and follow-up after elections Asian Movement for Peoples Peace and Progress (aMP3) June Bangkok • Planning Workshop October Bali • Meeting and Performances at World Beyond Banks August Phnom Penh Strategy meeting on Cambodia Politics (closed-door); and follow-up after elections June 8 to 10 Barcelona, Spain AEPF seminar on Social Commons in Barcelona. Shalmali Guttal made a presentation on Using the Commons Frame- work to Resist Capitalism July Manila One-act Play on the Killing of Gloria Capitan September 29 to Ghent, Belgium Asia Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) October 1 • Cluster on Trade Justice and Corporate Accountability: Workshop on the nexus of trade and corporate power; Strategy Session on Way Forward • Democratization and Human Rights: Participatory De- mocracy, Resisting Oppressions, Reclaiming People’s Rights and Fundamental Freedoms • Open Space Workshops on Food and digitalization; ISDS; Systemic Alternatives in Action November 24-25 Bangkok Sombath Symposium on Human Rights and Development December Manila Commemoration of first year anniversary of the Tamasco 8 Massacre December 18 Sihanoukville, Community-led commemorations of International Human Kampong Rights Day Chhnang December 12 Bangkok Commemoration of the sixth year of the disappearance of Sombath Somphone December 16 Phnom Penh Art of Collective Power – performances and arts festival 22 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

Date Location Title/Activity PEOPLE’S ALTERNATIVES March and No- Phnom Penh Action Research Teams semi-annual consultation vember April 9-12 Gujarat Training on organic farming for small farmers April Phnom Penh Action research team workshop on Understanding the Use and Kampong of Seeds and Its impacts on Food Sovereignty, Food Securi- Chhnang ty and Food Safety of Small-Scale Farmers May 26 to 28 Odisha Training on Organic Farming and Agroecology June Battambang, ART livelihood exposure visit on sustainable and nature Pailin and friendly agriculture and poultry raising. Banteay Srey July 11-12 Uttrakhand Training on Water-efficient and toxic free Sugarcane July 26 Bangkok Forum on Corporate Concentration of Food September 11 Manila Public Forum and book launching of the CARPER audit Repormang Agraryo at Pagbabago: Narratives on Agrarian Conflicts, Transitions, and Transformation October Surin, Exchange and sharing on sustainable agriculture involving Sisaket, Ubon ART members within Cambodia and with Thailand Ratchathani October Chaiyaphum, Documenting people’s alternatives to neoliberal and cap- and Surat Thani italist development with specific peasant movements in Thailand November 16-17 Yawatmal, Farmers training workshop on Water Efficient, Toxic Free Maharashtra and Multi Crop Farming Technique November 23 Manila Farmers’ protest against Rice Tariffication Bill.

Outreach: Social Media

Website Social Media • Publication downloads/views in 2018: • Facebook Page Followers, as of 31 De- 55,169 (from 24,416 in 2017) cember 2018: 6,849 (up by 181)

• Visits to our website in 2018: 154,761 • Twitter Page Followers as of 31Decem- (from 109,942 in 2017) ber 2018: 2,794 (up by 392)

• Unique website visitors 2018: 134,169 (from 91,874 in 2017) Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 23

Outreach: Publications

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPMENT

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) & India: Dangers of RCEP for agriculture & farmers- printed as a pamphlet in Hindi (Mukt Vyapar Samjhauta aur Bharat: Krishi Aur Kisano ko RCEP se Khatra )for the Farmers Rally in New Delhi on 29th and 30th November 2018

RCEP: A Secret Deal - An analysis of the drafting process of the Regional Compre- hensive Economic Partnership free trade agreement; co-published

We completed Khmer and Burmese translations of our 2017 publications on investments (An Overview of Large-Scale Investment in the Mekong) and special economic zones (SEZs and Value Extraction from the Mekong) 24 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

On investment in the Mekong: Case studies community defence against illegal fishing and on two cases of land encroachment.

Case studies on the situation of garment/textile industry, the workers and their struggles. Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 25

POWER AND DEMOCRACY

The Hindu Counterrevolution: The Violent Recreation of an Imagined The Rise of Populist Authoritari- Past - reprint of a chapter of a anisms in Asia - a paper examining Walden Bello’s book on the rise of the economic underpinnings of the global Right the current political trends across the region, and summarizing Fcous’ 2017 conference.

“The Shifting Ground of Democracy” Focus on the Global South NewsletterVolume 4 Number 4, August 2018 - our 2018 newsletter issue on dem- ocratic spaces in Cambodia, India, Philippines, and Thailand 26 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

PEOPLE’S ALTERNATIVES

Towards Human Rights-Based International Day of Peasants’ Tenure Governance in Asia: Per- Struggles - a special publication spectives, Challenges, and Strat- compiling articles, songs and egies - a report from our Septem- other materials for the April 17 ber 2017 Conference commemoration

Repormang Agraryo at Pagbabago: Narratives on Agrarian Conflicts, Tran- sitions, and Transformation - a book assessing the impact of various agrarian reform programs in the Philippines Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 27

Politics of Seeds: Common Resource or a Private Property - a booklet on the role of international financial institutions in the market for hybrid seeds

The Agrarian Crisis and Forced Migration: Its Roots, Implications and Consequences - a booklet on the role of the Indian government policies in the current agrarian crisis 28 | Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019

Outreach: Multimedia

The Hands that Feed Us - an online photo exhibition on the role of women in food provision

Two infographics included in the International Day of Peasant Struggles publication Focus on the Global South Annual Report 2019 | 29

Voices of Hope and Struggle - video messages from workers in Cambo- dia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand to commemorate Interna- tional Worker’s Day

Lumad in the Bangsamoro, a video series featuring ndigenous peoples’ leaders claiming their rights within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Sulagad: Our Life, Our Future - a video on the Téduray and the Lambangian people’s indigenous concept and practice on food sovereignty and agroecology

Testimonies on Farmer Suicides in India - a video from our Forum on the Agrarian Crisis in India in 2017