5. ASIAN YOUTH AND STUDENT MOVEMENTS: AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE

Asian youth and student movements have a long history of being in the forefront of peoples' struggles. Each nation has its record of "saints and martyrs" in the struggle.

Yet, we now face globally integrated forces of domination which permeated both church and society.

Over the next decade we may expect:

1. Harsher reactions to peoples’ struggles by superpowers; growing conservatism of churches for se4f-preservation. These tendencies will not deal with basic injustices but are repressive reactions therefore they will be transitory.

2. The world economy will become more unstable and exploitative. Even the middle-class will have difficulties. Regional conflicts will increase.

3. An equivocal response from a timid ecumenical movement which has lost its vision. The trends to consolidation in the churches the growth of conservative Christian movements, consistent attacks on ecumenical institutions are already well established and can be expected to intensify.

What is our ecumenical agenda for the future? What are the strategies of ecumenical youth and student movements to be? How do we engage in "spiritual combat", how do we deal with ecclesiastical structures, how do we maintain struggle?

Historical Role Of Youth And Students

To identify the commonalities of youth and student movements in a region where there are vast diversities and complexities in terms of cultures, religions, language and social systems is a difficult task. This paper hopes to present a basic overview of youth and student movements in the Asia-Pacific region drawing from the experience of the countries represented in our workshop.

We define a youth or student movement according to the following basis;

- it raises basic issues of the peoples;

- it is a continuous undertaking, meaning it has a long term

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program and perspective;

- it is working as an agent for social transformation;

- it is joining with other secular and religious (Christian or non-Christian) groups or movements for the liberation of society.

In reviewing the history of youth and student movements and identifying their contributions, it is important to be aware of the context of these movements and to know the factors that affected their development.

In the last decade, the following trends in Asia-Pacific societies can be seen;

- the existence of repressive military and dictatorial regimes;

- the presence of imperialist forces in the economic, political, military and sociocultural life of Asia-Pacific people;

- the growing awareness of the people and the emergence of people's movements against oppressive exploitative structures;

- the existence and influence of political movements and/or parties;

- the responsiveness or unresponsiveness of religious institutions.

It is in these conditions that youth and student movements emerged and developed and were able to make major contributions. Youth and student movements are among the most influential political forces in the struggle for liberation.

This sector was one of the first who raised anti-imperialist sentiments and analysed social problems.

It was able to help in consolidating peoples power by awareness-building, organising and mobilising people’s action. This contribution can be seen in its conscientization programmes, the various organisations and groups that it initiated and the massive number of people it was able to mobilize in mass actions.

It also helped in creating and developing a counter culture that reflects the hopes and aspirations of the people. The introduction of new forms of liturgies and programmes in the church is one example.

It was able to produce political and ecumenical leaders and full-time organisers for people's movements.

These facts are proof in themselves that youth and students are indeed a potent force in the radical transformation of society.

Contemporary Perspective

We analysed those progressive Christian youth and student

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movements which fall within our perspective. Our perspective comes from a belief that our faith compels us to identify with the oppressed and move as organisations and as individuals towards transforming society.

Progressive youth and student movements comprise:

a. progressive denominational church youth organisations;

b. progressive youth organisations within the traditional ecumenical hierarchy;

c. independent ecumenical youth and student organisations.

The members of the youth and student movements in Asia mostly come from the middle and upper classes and (with some exceptions) are part of a religious minority.

The orientation of these youth and student movements is towards change of society through identification with social and economic groups in opposition to dominant elites by raising issues of exploitation and oppression (racism, sexism, militarization, nuclearization, colonialism, suppression of democracy, manipulative educational systems, capitalism and imperialism).

The current stages of development of progressive youth and student movements in this region are varied.

1. All youth and student movements are involved in education and conscientization. This has been the major contribution of these movements in building up the ranks of activists.

2. Only some youth and student movements in the region join in mass actions.

3. There are some instances of these movement linking up with movements of oppressed social groups in political confrontation.

4. All youth and student movements are working within established church institutions and attempting to change oppressive church structures. Youth and student movements have been instrumental in reshaping theology.

We recognize that, unfortunately, the present context of youth and student movements in Asia and the Pacific is alongside generally conservative and often fundamentalist church and parachurch groups. In particular, most church youth and other Christian youth organisations are not involved in the struggles of oppressed people against injustice.

Therefore, these progressive youth and student movements are a minority within the Christian minority. 0 Progressive youth and student movements attempt to transform,

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society through the following forms of action:

1. Education and conscientization aimed at raising the consciousness of its constituency and increasing their involvement, and raising public awareness on issues.

2. joining with other organisations for mass agitation on specific issues.

3. Organisational link-up with movements of oppressed social groups in political confrontation against the dominant elite.

4. Working within established church institutions in order to change oppressive church structures.

A New Ecumenical Agenda

We see the role of youth and student movements in three main areas namely, ecumenism, social transformation and women's issues.

Ecumenism

We see the ecumenical movement as involving all groups that have a commitment to building a just and participatory society.

Recommendations

Christian youth should transcend their traditional church boundaries to develop working relationships with secular groups which have similar goals.

1. We must work to create theology that rises out of the struggles of people and acknowledges the other major Asian religious experiences.

2. We should struggle to reform our structures to be free from control and manipulation of church hierarchy at:

a. denominational level;

b. inter-denominational level (e.g. NCC's);

c. regional/international level (e.g. CCA & WCC).

Youth and Students as Agents for Social Transformation

Our faith compels us to identify with all oppressed social and economic groups and move as organisations and as individuals towards transforming unjust social systems.

Recommendations

1. Education and conscientization aimed at:

a. raising consciousness of the youth and student constituency and increasing their involvement; and

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b. raising public awareness on issues.

2. joining with other organizations for mass agitation on specific issues.

3. Organizational link-up with movements of oppressed social groups in political confrontation against dominant elites.

4. Call on youth and student movements to analyze their social context and identify the various oppressed social and economic groups and join in their struggle in all possible ways.

5. International and local networking to build solidarity to. facilitate the:

a. exchange of information and experiences;

b. sharing of resources; and

c. formation of pressure groups, lobbies.

6. To devise strategies to challenge and confront conservative Christian forces which retard liberation efforts.

Women's Issues

We must support the liberation of women from cultural and traditional patriarchy structures. The struggle of women is part of the total liberation of society.

Recommendations

1. All youth and student movements to examine the oppression of women within their structures and continuously to strive to eliminate sexism.

2. Greater priority given to the raising of feminist consciousness and sisterhood.

3. Support be given to establishing international women's networks.