NEWS AT A GLANCE

Imprisonment of Malaysian NGO leader denounced

Dr. Irene Fernandez, a Malaysian NGO migrant leader, continues to draw sympathies from the Philippines after being slapped with a one-year prison sentence by Malaysian authorities.

On Oct. 22, members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance), staged a picket outside the Malaysian embassy in Makati City, and decried Fernandez’s prison sentence.

Teddy Casiño, Bayan secretary-general, said during the picket-rally, “We are shocked that a one-year sentence will be imposed on Dr. Irene Fernandez for writing about the truth.

In 1996, Fernandez was accused by Malaysian authorities of violating the “Printing Presses and Publication Act” for writing a memo citing facts and figures on the abuse, torture, and dehumanized treatment of migrant workers in detention camps in Malaysia.

Casiño called the sentence a “travesty of justice.”

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Workers welcome dialog with Action King

Workers from Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU – May First Movement) said Oct. 23 they are open to a dialog with movie action king and probable opposition presidential aspirant Fernando Poe, Jr. to know his platform of governance and tackle labor issues and demands.

KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod said that the 64-year-old Poe, instead of using his movie star popularity to run for the presidency, must reveal his principles and political platform.

“Given the current difficult economic situation, workers will judge him based on his sincerity to uplift workers’ livelihood and condition, not on his popularity and charisma.”

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Arroyo-Cojuangco 2004 political tandem hit

Kilusang Mayo Uno leaders denounced Oct. 25 the reported connivance between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and business tycoon and National People’s Coalition (NPC) leader Eduardo Cojuangco in the House impeachment raps against Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide.

Administration Sen. Joker Arroyo exposed Oct. 24 that Macapagal-Arroyo was involved in the NPC-initiated impeachment complaint against Davide concerning alleged corruption in the administration of the Judiciary Development Fund involving millions of pesos. He said that Macapagal-Arroyo is out to preserve the administration’s coalition with NPC to support her May 2004 presidential bid.

KMU Deputy Secretary General William Merene said that Cojuangco is supporting Macapagal-Arroyo’s candidacy “to strengthen his control over San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and all other ill-gotten wealth.’

Merene is also president of the SMC labor union. 

  Bulatlat.com

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