Asian-Pacific peoples hit U.S. occupation

The struggle of Indigenous peoples in the Asia-Pacific region against U.S. occupation was the focus of a May 6 meeting at the International Action Center in New York.

Photo: Jonna Bebeh

The meeting was co-hosted by the IAC, the Philippine organization BAYAN USA and Asia Pacific Action.

Dulphing Ogan, an Indigenous leader of the Blaan people from Sarangani Province, Mindanao, Philippines, was in the city to attend the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He spoke on large-scale mining plunder in Mindanao and on human rights and the right to self-determination in the Philippines for Indigenous peoples.

Jesse Lokahi Heiwa of the Hawai’i Solidarity Committee gave an update on the continuing struggle for self-determination there and the long struggle against U.S. occupation.

—Sara Flounders