Asia Pacific Currents

President Rodrigo Duterte's 'War on Drugs' has been going on for over two years. His death squads have murdered over 20,000 people. During this time there has been a normalisation of extra judicial killings, impunity for death squads, and the vilification of human rights defenders.These massacres has had a chilling effect on on urban, working class communities in the Philippines, terrorising millions of people. Nevertheless, opposition and organising against this repression is growing by the day.Jennifer Binegas from Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) was recently in Melbourne, Australia. APC managed to catch up to her and explore with Jennifer how labour and human rights activists are fighting back against the government and Duterte's death squads.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

Working class struggle is hard, with many activists not only facing isolation and victimisation from management at their workplaces but also running the risk of being beaten, jailed or killed by a whole range of state or quasi state actors.The workers movement has many examples of activists who over time lose their radical politics and accommodate themselves to the confines and rules of the capitalist system.This week APC takes the example of the Malaysian politician Tian Chua, featured in the previous week's program, to discuss the pressures and reasons of why activists give up on working class struggle.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The elections earlier this year in May saw the Barisan Nasional lose power after 61 years. One of the more surprising facets was the comeback of the 92 year old former Prime Minister, Mohamed Mahathir, who had come out in retirement to lead the opposition.There was much excitment and expectations at what this new government could do.Tian Chua, a long time political activist and now vice-president of People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition came to Melbourne recently to give a public forum and talk about the new government. APC was there to record his views.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The South Korean company Samsung Electronics is one of the giant global corporations in the world of electronics. Samsung since its founding in the late 1930's, the company has been ferociously anti union. Its Electronic arm of the company, Samsung Electronics, has also had a shocking health and safety record. There have been hundreds of recorded cases of assembly line workers contracting diseases and even dying because of the toxic nature of their work. After years of campaigning, actions and sit-ins, SHARPS (Supporters for the Health And Rights of People in the Semiconductor industry) the OHS advocacy group managed to force the company to the negotiating table. APC recently interviewed Jeong Ok Kong, volunteer for SHARPS and the person in charge of compensation negotiations with the Samsung Electronics Corporation on their recent victory.In addition, finally, for the first time ever, an independent union has now been able to be organised and registered for workers in Samsung Electronics in South Korea.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The working class is under attack in Australia from many sides. One of the ways that capitalists and governments try to undermine workers organisations and conditions is by bringing in temporary migrant workers.These workers are especially prone to exploitation due to the temporary status of their working visas as well as their unfamiliarity of the laws and culture in Australia. While some unions have been successful at organising these groups of workers, many migrant workers face terrible working conditions.The Migrant Workers Centre was recently set up in Melbourne, Australia to help these groups of workers. Asia Pacific Currents spoke with Matt Kunkel, the Director of the Migrant Workers Centre, about the work that they have been doing.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

In early August 1945, the USA military dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians.The global arsenal of atomic weapons has only grown since then. The fight to outlaw these weapons of mass destruction continues.The Asia Pacific Currents program spoke to Shomi Yoon, a member of the International Socialist Organisation in Aeteoroa/New Zealand on the international campaign against nuclear weapons.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

In every country, capitalists and their allies use racism as one of the ways to divide and weaken the working class. In Australia, the issue of the colonialism and dispossession of the Indigenous people is central when discussing and resisting racism in Australia.The show will focus on two anti racist forums that were held in Melbourne in the past week and examine how they looked at racism but also the best ways to build working class solidarity in our work as labour and anti racists activists.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

Malaysia has relied heavily on migrant workers over the last decades to power its economic growth.The complicated visa system in that country puts millions of these workers in very insecure conditions, leading to widespread exploitation. In addition, these workers face regular waves of repression from government agencies.We interviewed Adrian Pereira, Director of North South Initiative, a human rights organisation that works on labour rights issues in Malaysia, about the current situation and the stance of the new government.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The island of New Caledonia has been a colony for the 164 years and is one of France's last colonies in the world.The indigenous inhabitants, the Kanaks, have waged a long struggle for independence. This coming November 20 an independence referendum will be held in New Caledonia to decide its status.We caught up recently in Melbourne, Australia with Daniel Goa, spokesperson for the independence movement Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS), at a community function. We asked Daniel about the prospects for the Kanaky people in the upcoming referendum. The voice of the interpreter is that of Ms. Sophie Dutertre.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The Australian Confederation of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak body for unions in Australia. It recently held its national conference in Brisbane, Queensland.Close to 1,000 unionists came together to discuss the situation for workers in Australia and the 'Change the Rules' campaign.Piergiorgio Moro took part in the conference as a delegate for the Australian Services Union A&S VicTas Branch. Pier talks with Jiselle about the main themes of this conference.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia