“Enforced disappearances continue, the government does not own up to its accountability, no perpetrator has been prosecuted or jailed and, human rights violators are being promoted.” – Desaparecidos
Category: Human Rights
Court orders release of security guard tagged as rebel leader
In its decision, the Court of Appeals noted inconsistencies and lies in the statements of the police and the military.
Groups bewail killing of another anti-SMI Xstrata mining leader, son
BAYAN Socsksargen spokesperson Ryan Lariba slammed SMI which was “downsizing other components of its operation, but not the military component.”
‘Nothing justifies torture, illegal arrest,’ military told on Morong 43
“Whether De la Cruz joined the NPA after his release or not is his personal choice. That does not in any way change the facts of the case. The military illegally arrested, detained and tortured the 43 health workers, period.” — Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general
Anti-mining activist from N. Vizcaya missing
A known anti-mining activist has been missing since August 21. The victim was last seen being forced into a police patrol car but authorities denied having custody of him.
Anti-mining folk in N. Vizcaya decry violations of int’l humanitarian law by state forces
“Why do the military insist that the reasons we are so determined to stop the foreign mining companies are the NPAs, who are supposedly pushing us to do so? Don’t we, lowly people, also have the right to unite to protect our lands?”
Dario Creek resident vows to fight for home and livelihood
Nida and Solomon Naños were farmworkers in Bicol who were forced to migrate to the city after falling victims to a defective agrarian reform program. They now live along Dario Creek in Quezon City where they face constant threat of demolition.
Bishops, church people call for moratorium on demolitions
The “current practice and implementation of demolition of urban poor communities is gravely inhuman, unjust and oppressive in the eyes of God and civil society.” – Church People – Urban Poor Solidarity
Rights group cites abuses of newly deployed military units
“The army’s redeployment of troops is just a change of guards but the orientation of troops does not change.” — Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
Rights groups condemn deportation, blacklisting of Dutch activist
“His[Van Beersum] blacklisting is more a resounding indictment of the government and its claims to democracy than it is of his zealous yet moral outrage over issues that should make us and our society more fair and human.” — National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
Dutch activist detained by immigration officials
“While notorious human rights violators and corrupt officials can freely go in and out of the Philippines, Dutch activist Thomas van Beersum was detained by the Bureau of Immigration today. Clearly, he is being persecuted by the Aquino government for exercising his freedom of expression…” – Karapatan