The Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) grieves and condoles with the families and friends of the people, many of them very young, who lost their lives in the horrific and senseless massacre in Norway last July 22. The anguish and sadness this atrocity has caused the people of Norway, Europe, and the world is difficult to put in words. Nevertheless, we need to analyse and look within ourselves and our societies if we do not want such barbarism repeated.

The Norway massacre by Anders Behring Breivik was no spontaneous act of a mentally deranged man. This bombing in the city of Oslo and shootings in the island of Utøya were, in Breivik’s own words, politically motivated planned attacks carried out by a right wing xenophobic ideologue on a people who are mostly known to value liberal secularism and multiculturalism.

Unfortunately the ideology that fed Breivik’s act of terror tried to use the Norway tragedy to justify hatred for a people associated with the Islamic faith. The knee-jerk reaction of some governments and global media was to blame Al-Queda and to link the act of terror to Islam. Breivik’s fundamentalist and chauvinist nationalism was spawned by right wing ideas.

These false -- and dangerous -- nationalist and right wing currents have been increasingly evident in the West and in many other parts of the world. The only way to counter these trends that lead to such senseless violence is by combating xenophobia and racist ideologies. A truly liberal secular multicultural tradition and political system and environment based on tolerance are the only counter-strategy.

In the face of the massacre, the people and government of Norway have vowed to continue to be an open, democratic, and inclusive society. We in the AEPF welcome this response even as we also challenge ourselves to continue to struggle against all forms of racism.

29 July 2011

Re: Arrest and detention of PSM and other activists participating in Bersih-related activities

Dear Prime Minister Najib,

We, of the Asia-Europe Peoples' Forum (AEPF), are alarmed by the recent arrest of leaders and members of Bersih -- the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections.

As a network of people's organisations, coalitions, NGOs, academics, trade unions, and parliamentarians who uphold the principles of democracy, rule of law, justice, and human rights, we at the AEPF denounce this blatant disregard by the Malaysian government of the civil and political rights of its citizens. We particularly condemn the crackdown against Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) and the continued detention without any charges or open trial of 30 PSM members including a Member of Parliament for simply campaigning for clean and fair elections.

Background

From 4-5^th October 2010, heads of state and governments from across Asia and Europe met in Brussels for the eighth Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM8) to discuss their future priorities and plans. From 2-5^th October around 600 civil society, NGO and people’s organisations representatives, activists and parliamentarians from across Asia and Europe, met in Brussels for the 8th Asia Europe People’s Forum (AEPF).

AEPF is a strategic civil society gathering of Asian and European social movements fighting poverty and inequality and working for social justice. AEPF began in 1996 in Bangkok, in parallel, and in response to the first ASEM summit which pushed for stronger regional blocs and the promotion of corporate power. AEPF is grounded in the common desire of people’s organisations and social justice networks across Asia and Europe to open up new venues for dialogue, solidarity and action.

The following call to action is based on the recommendations from the many events that were held throughout these four days, focussing on the relation of corporate power to trade and investment, food sovereignty, climate change, decent work, and peace and security.