2000 REVISITED
The Year That was for the
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
As expected, the first year if the new millennium had
served as an epoch of fulfillment and renewal for a long sought for dream
called the called the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances
(AFAD).
Two years after the first meeting of its core group
members, the Federation had its Founding Congress on May 23-30 at the
Titus Bransma Center in Quezon City, Philippines. Attended not by
member-organizations from the Indonesia, Kashmir (India), the Philippines,
Sri Lanka and Thailand, but also by friends and colleagues from FEDEFAM (Latin
American Federation of Associations of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees),
Linking Solidarity, Human Rights in China and the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission of Pakistan. The said gathering has resulted in the
ratification of AFAD's basic documents, particularly its orientation,
constitution and by-laws and the Three-Year Plan of Action.
AFAD was also instrumental in giving a forensics
anthropology training under the auspices of the Argentine Forensic
Anthropology Team (EAAF), based on the invitation given by the Families of
Victims of Involuntary Disappearances (FIND). Done after the Congress, the
participants featured representatives from the different
member-organizations and some workers of FIND.
The previous year was also a year of international
lobby-work for the Federation. AFAD took in the 56th session of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights held during the first week of April and
the 62nd session of UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary
Disappearances (UNWGEID) last November in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mary Aileen Bacalso, in her capacity as AFAD Secretary
General, also gave a speech during the Asia-Europe People's Forum (ASEM
2000) in Seoul, South Korea last October. In the said speech, Bacalso
emphasized the extent of disappearances in Asia and the possible
alternatives to battle this scourge.
Through its efforts, AFAD was able to sponsor the
first-ever Asian and Latin American Lawyers' Meeting in Jakarta,
Indonesia from November 27 until December 2 as part of its efforts in
getting the assistance of lawyers in the struggle for justice and human
rights. Apart from lawyers from AFAD countries, the gathering was also
legal luminaries from Australia, Pakistan, East Timor, Chile, Argentina
and El Salvador. As its major and concrete set of results, nine (9)
resolutions were adopted, plus a 35-minute audience with Indonesian
President Abdurrahman Wahid and a meeting with officials from the
Indonesian National Human Rights Commission.
For the first time, AFAD commemorated the International
Day of the Disappeared, based on the date set by FEDEFAM in Latin America.
On this day, simultaneous activities were accomplished, featuring various
and creative forms of commemoration.
The Federation also took part in the most burning
political and issues by issuing press releases and statements that were
distributed to the media, member-organizations and international human
rights community.
We at AFAD are optimistic that given its degree of
energy, commitment and zeal, the Federation will further strengthen and
continue in breaking new grounds in the days ahead. Come what may, AFAD
will continue to serve the interests of our beloved desaparecidos
and their families in every front, field or venue, not only in Asia, but
throughout the world.
