Minutes of Enlarged Zoom Meeting of the APRCPRK
Minutes of Enlarged Zoom Meeting,
Asia Pacific Regional Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (APRCPRK)
Monday 31st May 2021
Co-Chair and convenor of the APRCPRK enlarged Zoom meeting, Peter Woods, officially opened the meeting at 6.15pm Sydney Australia time and warmly welcomed all participants.
When doing so he explained that the purpose of the meeting was to give attention to a number of important proposals to restructure APRCPRK including the need to elect an Executive Bureau, with a Public Information Bureau, consideration of a new Constitution, election of APRC Preparatory Committee and other related matters.
The convenor then drew attention to how the meeting would proceed and then proceeded to introduce the participants to the meeting with the following confirming their attendance (with new APRCPRK Executive Bureau position included):
Co-Chairperson: Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal,
Former Prime Minister of Nepal, Chairman, Nepal Committee for Promotion of Korea's Reunification
Co-Chairperson: Mdm. Rachmawati Soekarnoputri,
Founder, Soekarno Foundation for Education, Indonesia
Co-Chairperson: Dr. Doğu Perinçek,
Chairman, Vatan Party, Turkey
Co-Chairperson: Mr Atul Kumar Anjan,
Secretary, National Council of the Communist Party of India; Chairman, All India-Korea Friendship Association
Co-Chairperson: Mr. Himori Fumihiro,
Chairman, Japanese Committee for Supporting the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea
Co-Chairperson: Mr. Rafael V. Mariano,
President, Philippine-Korea Solidarity and Friendship Society (PKSFS)
Co-Chairperson & Director of Executive Bureau: Mr. Peter Woods,
Ambassador, United Cities and Local Governments (Asia-Pacific); Co-chair OCIFPGPP. National Patron, Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Joint Secretary: Mr. Raymond Ferguson (Oceania),
National Secretary, Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Joint Secretary: Ms. Norma G. Binas (South East Asia),
Secretary General, Philippine-Korea Solidarity and Friendship Society (PKSFS)
Joint Secretary: Mr. Javed Ansari (South West Asia),
Chairman, Pakistan-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee
Joint Secretary: Mr. Hakki Ergincan (West Asia),
Representative of Turkish-Korea Friendship Association
Executive Member: Mr. Phanidra Raj Pant,
Secretary General, Nepal -Korea Friendship Association
Executive Member: Mr. Peter Wilson,
Secretary, New Zealand – DPRK Society
Public Information Bureau Director: Mr. Teguh Santosa,
Secretary General, Indonesia-Korea Friendship and Cultural Exchange
Member: Mr. Rajan Karki,
Editor in Chief, "Gorka Express", Nepal
Member: Mr. Christian Popovic,
Special Representative (Melbourne), Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Mr Ristyanto, Chairman Indonesia-Korea Friendship and Cultural Exchange
Mr Shah Amrooz Advocate President National Lawyers Forum Sindh and Executive member of Sindhi Bar Council
Reverend Neil Fitzgerald National President, Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Mr. Suneet Chopra Secretary General, All India-Korea Friendship Association
Mr. Roger Shepherd Director, "HIKE Korea", Mountain Photographer
Mr C.P.Mainali Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, General Secretary Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist)
Anne Conlon Secretary/Treasurer (Sydney Branch) Australia –DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Wayne Sonter President (Sydney Branch)Australia–DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Akiban Alikhan Pakistan Additional Secretary General All Pakistan Workers Confederation
Bill Ford Melbourne Representative Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Observer Representative Vietnam–Korea Friendship Society
Mr Zakir Hanif Member of Central Executive Committee of Awami National Party
Mr Ian McLeod Member Brisbane Branch Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
Mr W.A.Duminduwardane Secretary General Sri Lanka Peoples Korea Friendship Association
Mrs Shabnam Nagi Advocate Chairperson Pakistan Peace Council
GUESTS OF HONOUR and Co-chairs of the Organizing Committee of the International Festival in Praise of the Great Persons of Mt Paektu (OCIFPGPP):
Mr Damian Ogbonna National Chairman, People's Progressive Party of Nigeria; Chairman, African Committee for Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People
Dr Yahia Zakaria Khiralla, Vice Chairman ,Freedom Socialists Party of Egypt; Co-Chairman, Arab Committee for Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People
Chairman Egypt-DPRK Friendship Association
Mr Anders Kristensen Chairman Denmark-DPRK Friendship Association
Following the confirmation of those in attendance the Convenor Mr Peter Woods then asked Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal and Madam Rachmawati Soekarnoputri,the Indonesian Host, to address the meeting. Following their contributions to the meeting both were warmly applauded.
Report on the work of the APRCPRK
The report of the work of APRCPRK was presented by convenor Mr Peter Woods and was able to be downloaded by participants. In presenting the report Mr Peter Woods expressed appreciation to all for supporting the convention of the enlarged Zoom meeting and their solidarity support of the Korean people in their struggle for the peaceful and independent reunification of their country.
The report provided detailed information about the activities of APRCPRK over the last five years including its history of formation back in April 2012. While outlaying its history of struggle in support of the Korean people the report also drew attention to the continuous hostile policies of US imperialism and its continued threats to peace on the Korean peninsula and its total failure in allowing the Armistice Agreement to be converted into a genuine peace Treaty as promised by the US in 1953.
Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal fully supported the Report.
It was moved by Mdm. Rachmawati Soekarnoputri and seconded by Peter Wilson of New Zealand that the report be received and adopted Carried.
Discussion and experience activities of APRCPRK regions.
Following the presentation of the report a number of participants spoke about their own and their organisation's activities in support of the principles of APRCPRK.
Roger Shepherd from New Zealand (living in Seoul) spoke about his experiences of exploring and researching the mountain ranges of Korea particularly Mt Paektu and the mountain ranges stretching from the north to the south. All are sacred to all Koreans and represent geographic and geological symbols of reunification of the Korean nation.
Norma G. Binas provided the meeting with an overview of the activities of the Philippine–Korea Solidarity Friendship Society and the difficulties that members experience as a result of their activities.
Peter Wilson from the New Zealand Society informed the meeting of the recent encounter that their society endured as a result of being harassed by the New Zealand security police with their homes being raided, equipment being seized and their bank account being forced to close as a result of humanitarian aid being provided to their Friendship Farm and the DPRK Red Cross. Subsequently it was reported that the security police could not find sufficient evidence to charge the Society and the case was dropped.
Raymond Ferguson Australian–DPRK Friendship Society advised the meeting of their friendship activities and more recent positive developments with the re- formation of the Wollongong Branch, special representatives being established in Melbourne and Adelaide and the utilisation of social media through the branches' Facebook pages and the updating of the National website.
New Constitution
The draft of the constitution had been previously circulated and agreed to and suggestions for modifications had been suggested and enacted. Copies could be downloaded during the meeting. It was agreed that the document provided a sound outline of procedures and rules to guide the Committee.
Approval was moved by Madhav Kumar Nepal and Seconded by Rev. Neil Fitzgerald and carried unanimously.
Election Of Executive Bureau
When presenting the draft list of candidates for all positions the Convenor Peter Woods conveyed to the meeting that the proposed changes were designed to revitalize APRCPRK activities and that the Secretariat and Public Information Bureau would function under its direction.
As outlined in the Constitution the position of Life Member (Honorary or Active) should also be endorsed at this time. (A digital Certificate will be prepared and given until face-to-face meetings will allow the presentation of a hard-copy Certificate.)
A period of questions and comment ensued. The list of candidates were considered for adoption.
Moved: Ms. Norma Binas Seconded: Phanidra Raj Pant and carried with acclamation.
Discussion for future orientation and activities of APRCPRK.
1. Review of Logo Design.
Teguh Santosa Director of Public Information Bureau informed the meeting that there had been 3 logo designs submitted and provided images of each of the logo. The meeting then voted on which logo was to be selected as the official logo of APRCPRK. Following the votes it was decided that N0 3 image would be the official logo.
2. Establishing and launching Facebook page of APRCPRK.
Teguh Santosa Director of Public Information Bureau advised the meeting that the Facebook page had now been created and that the Website was still being developed. The meeting expressed and recorded appreciation to Teguh and others for the establishment of the Facebook page and the development of the Website.
The Public Information Bureau was requested to provide the Executive Bureau with advice on the Website for their approval once finalized Moved: Hakki Ergincan, Joint Secretary (West Asia) and Seconded :Teguh Santosa and carried unanimously.
Solidarity Month With The Korean People
Following a discussion regarding the proposal for a month of solidarity with the Korean people and the significance of the dates June 25th-July 27th as the victory of the Korean people in the Fatherland Liberation War. It was decided that the proposal for a month of solidarity be endorsed. Carried unanimously by acclamation.
Adoption of Official Report of the Enlarged Zoom meeting of APRCPRK and the Official Letter to Marshal Kim Jong Un.
It was decided that the official report of the outcome of the enlarged Zoom meeting of APRCPRK presented by Teguh Santosa, Director Public Information Bureau (copy attached) and the letter to Marshal Kim Jong Un presented to the meeting by Javed Ansari, Joint Secretary (South West Asia) be adopted.
Moved: Co-chairperson Rafael V. Mariano, Seconded: Christian Popovic Melbourne (Australia-DPRK F&CS) and carried by acclamation.
Year 2022 110th Anniversary of birth President Kim IL Sung and 80th Anniversary of birth of General Kim Jong Il.
Secretariat member Raymond Ferguson (Australia) drew attention that next year would represent the 110th anniversary of the birth of President Kim IL Sung and the 80th anniversary of the birth of General Kim Jong IL He further commented that both of these dates are symbolic to the history of the Korean revolution and its struggle for independence and are celebrated as national holidays and that an Asia Pacific Regional Preparatory Committee should be formed to encourage and support the formation of local preparatory committees in the region.
It was moved by Raymond Ferguson seconded by Peter Woods that the Asia Pacific Regional Preparatory Committee be formed and the composition of the committee be the Entire Executive Bureau of APRCPRK.( Executive Members, Joint Secretaries and Public Information Bureau). Carried unanimously.
In support of the formation of the APRPC Raymond Ferguson submitted an APPEAL (copy attached) to encourage regional organisations to form local preparatory committees and to organize appropriate events and celebrations for the anniversary dates.
Moved Raymond Ferguson (Joint Secretary, Oceania) seconded Norma G. Binas (Joint Secretary, South East Asia) that the appeal be adopted. Carried unanimously.
Conclusion and Closure of Meeting
When closing the meeting the convenor Peter Woods expressed appreciation and warmly thanked everyone for their participation and positive contributions. He expressed the view that despite the difficulties that the organising of the meeting faced it proved to be very successful and the decisions adopted will further strengthen APRKPRK and its activities in the future.
He thanked the host Jakarta, Teguh Santosa and his team for their organisation and preparation and wished the Public Information Bureau success in its ongoing support. He hoped that the meeting had reinforced our collective commitment to continue to demand the peaceful reunification of Korea.
Meeting closed at 8.45pm Sydney Australia time. 
