Human Rights ( Yours and Mine)

[markerverse]

There has been a serious deterioration of the human rights situation in the Philippines following President Macapalgal-Arroyo's election in 2001, as reflected by the systematic political assassinations of more than 850 human rights workers, lawyers, journalists, church workers, labour organizers, peasant leaders, and leaders of political organizations.

I know we are faceless writers to these forums. When I read the above excerpt I remembered those in this membership who are often denigrated for no reason.

(news & views ? )

[Karen]

Re: Human Rights ( Yours and Mine)

There has been a serious deterioration of the human rights situation in the Philippines following President Macapalgal-Arroyo's election in 2001, as reflected by the systematic political assassinations of more than 850 human rights workers, lawyers, journalists, church workers, labour organizers, peasant leaders, and leaders of political organizations.

I know we are faceless writers to these forums. When I read the above excerpt I remembered those in this membership who are often denigrated for no reason.

(news & views ? )

I wonder if this is the right forum for this topic but since you bring this up, Markerverse, what I can say is that this is a very sad phenomenon that's happening in my country of origin, the country that I love so much and where I intend to go back to. I am following up very closely on these cases not only as a Canadian of Filipino descent but as a former human rights worker in the Philippines who survived the extra-judicial killings in spite of the many attempts to my life during the Marcos and the Aquino regimes when I was still there.

Several human rights institutions including the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the European Commission sent teams to investigate the cases and recommending what the Philippine government could do and still the killings and disappearances continue unabated. The results of these local and international fact-finding missions point to the Philippine military and police forces as the one suspected of committing such heinous crimes. The U.S. Congress with a strong lobby from American Churches and the Filipino commnunities all over the United States condemned such attrocities and even successfully urged the US government to cut the US military aid to the Philippines but still the Arroyo regime has not put these human rights violations to a stop. The Philippine Supreme Court over a week ago convened all the affected and concerned sectors to make recommendations so the court could have inputs as to what to do since this is giving the Philippines a black mark in the international community.

The Philippine military as always has denied committing such crimes. The Arroyo administration has maintained that it is not the policy of her administration to kill activists and members of the media but survivors and eye witnesses in some of these crimes have pointed to the military and the police as the ones committing them. One of the most celebrated cases going on right now is the Jonas Burgos disappearance wherein the witnesses were able to take down the plate numbers of the vehicles used to abduct him in broad day light right in Manila. He was beaten while dining in a mall restaurant and dragged to the vehicles outside, one of which was a vehicle impounded in a military camp owned by someone caught transporting illegal logs. A military investigation followed but still the military washed it's hands inspite the recent expose by three high level military officers pointing and mentioning the names of the individuals in the intelligence and military forces as the ones behind his abduction. The Philippine government especially the military instead point to the New People's Army, an underground organization waging a war against the government since the late 60's due to the government's inutility and institutionalized corruption that has caused widespread poverty in the country as the ones abducting and killing these activists. Mr. Burgos is a son of an internationally known editor and newsman who was also known for his human rights activism during the Marcos regime and whose work to expose the Marcos' fake war hero medals during the second world war gained him international prominence.

What we, members of the Filipino community have been doing is to work in solidarity with othe concerned organizations and individuals in Canada to lobby the Canadian government and put pressure on the Philippine government to stop these killings and disappearances ones and for all. We have been doing these since Mrs. Arroyo grabbed the presidency from Mr. Estrada who got ousted in a people's revolt again due to corruption. Mr. Estrada, a very popular actor who still commands a good following from the masses is in jail. His case of plunder and corruption will be decided by the courts very soon.

Since Mrs. Arroyo was catapulted into office way back in January 2001, she adopted a counter-insurgency policy and from that time on the killings of these activists and press people started again. At present, over a thousand activist farmers, students, workers, priests and pastors and members of the media have either been killed or have disappeared. These activists are the ones exposing the Philippine government and questioning the legitimacy of the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a daughter of a former president. She was caught talking to an elections official right after the elections to give her a million vote margin against her very popular opponent in the opposition and that is why several attempts to impeach her have been filed in the Philippine Congress but they were all thrown out. The Philippine House of Representatives is controlled by Arroyo allies and who's existence would be jeopardized if the President would not give them their pork barrel which is one of the primary causes of corruption. It is embarassing and a sad fact but to succeed politically in the Philippines, you have to have the guns, the goons and the gold to put you in power and this is how the Philippine government is composed of - the millionaires, the big landowners and the big businessmen who have a strong clout in government and most especially have the support of a powerful foreign government.

The Filipino people have suffered so much but these politicians are just making themselves richer from commissions and ghost projects that fatten their pockets. This is also why millions of Filipinos, regardless of what they do will cling to whatever they could grab to leave the country and work abroad no matter how lowly they are being treated. There is so much hopelessness and fear all over the country apart from hunger and extreme poverty while the politicians led by Arroyo and the military generals and Congressmen are pocketing millions of dollars and deposit these money abroad. One of the multi-million dollar corruption case was the so-called "fertilizer scam". The moneys involved in this scam was the ones recovered from the Marcos family and was used during Mrs. Arroyo's election to buy votes. This happened inspite of the US court ruling to indemnify the human rights victims during the Marcos regime wherein I am supposed to be one of the recipients being one of those who filed a symbolic multi-million dollar lawsuit against Marcos and his heirs. It is estimated that Marcos stole over 10 billion dollars from the Philippine economy during his reign, just second to what Mr. Suharto of Indonesia pocketed.

The killings and the disappearances continue. What makes things worse is the passage and enactment of the anti-terrorism law in congress that will legitimize the arrests and toture of anyone who is against the government. Just yesterday, another member of the media got killed in central Philippines. The Arroyo regime defends and fattens her generals because they are the ones who are supporting her to make sure that she can finish her term in 2010. Several retired military generals loyal to her are appointed in her cabinet and in government corporations and institutions just to make sure that the military will back her up no matter how strong is the movement to oust her.

Very sad, indeed. And while the world continues to watch the war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, the dirty war being waged by the Phillipine government against its own people continues uncontrollably while those few who got lucky are able to get out of the country to work in foreign lands just to support their families back in the Philippines. Last year, the total remittances from these foreign-based workers estimated to be over 15 billion dollars and this help put the Philippine economy afloat and of course making the politicians richer. Those who stay behind in order not to be killed or made to disappear have to just keep quiet.

While those who refuse to get cowed in fear and march in the streets, in the cities and in the countrysides to protest the widespread corruption and the illegitimacy of the Philippine president are being killed everyday. But history taught us as a people that we will never rest until the guilty are made to pay for their sins and Mrs. Arroyo and her generals better realize that it is just a matter of time before they are made to pay for their crimes against the terrorized and oppressed Filipino people.


Karen

[markerverse]

Re: Human Rights ( Yours and Mine)

Your first impression was correct Karen. My original introduction of the subject should have excluded the Tgirl forums.

After reading your very inclusive and passionately written article, I am very moved by the sorrow expressed within your message and, equally impressed with the fierce pride you hold for your land of birth. I do hope the democratic system is restored to your people soon.
Thank you for giving me and others the benefit of your input.

[Iugula]

Re: Human Rights ( Yours and Mine)

Here is a link that gives a little more information on corrupt leaders who have managed to loot their countries treasuries:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...178342,00.html

[Rantsalot]

Re: Human Rights ( Yours and Mine)

Here is a link that gives a little more information on corrupt leaders who have managed to loot their countries treasuries:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...178342,00.html

In the political spectrum some refer to these types of nations as a kleptocracy. The issue on human rights and looting and such could go on and on ad infinitum. My question. What can we do in this industrialized nation to stop this rampant flow? Sadly, in my opinion with our current legislation I fear not much , that is, those in power don't feel as if they wish to do much. Strictly my opinion of course.