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Court acquits soldier charged in murder of local labor leader

ICHRP Secretariat
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Court acquits soldier charged in murder of local labor leader

President BS Aquino kin continues rights violation rampage in Hacienda Luisita

“Ruthless impunity and agrarian unrest hang over Hacienda Luisita. It’s like President Aquino is setting the stage for more bloodshed,” said Florida “Pong” Sibayan, acting chairperson of the Hacienda Luisita farmworkers alliance AMBALA.

The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA, Agricultural Workers Union) said that the acquittal of Pfc. Roderick U. Dela Cruz, main suspect in the killing of Ricardo Ramos, leaves a chilling effect amid continued and grave rights violations in Hacienda Luisita.

Ricardo Ramos was the chairman of Barangay (village) Mapalacsiao and president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU). He was killed in the night of 25 October 2005 after distributing back wages and benefits of sugar mill workers retrieved through the union’s efforts. Ramos was also a vocal critic of the unwarranted presence and operations of the military elements in the hacienda during the Luisita strike. After the strike, the Armed Forces of the Philippines established detachments in all Luisita barangays, except for Mapalacsiao and Balete where residents led by their village chairmen actively opposed the army’s proposals.

In two separate occasions, Ramos also led his constituents in barricades to stop the construction of the SCTEx (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway), a pet project of then Congressman Noynoy Aquino. Aquino’s bodyguards were involved in a shooting incident which resulted in the wounding of Ramos’ uncle. Contractors allegedly tried but failed to bribe Ramos the amount of P1.2 million (US$27.2 million) just so he would allow the project to continue.

Police investigators and eyewitnesses named two Army men as prime suspects in the killing of Ramos — Roderick “Joshua” dela Cruz and Romeo Castillo, Jr. The acquittal of Private de la Cruz comes at a time when the Cojuangco firm Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) has ordered the ruthless clearing of farmers’ crops and homes in around 400 hectares of agricultural lands in Barangays Balete and Cutcut.

Tadeco’s hirelings bulldozed about 10 hectares of farm lands in barangay Balete, cultivated by farmers since 2005, amidst heavy deployment of military forces belonging to the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (3rd Mech), the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), and provincial police personnel. These state forces virtually act as Cojuangco private armies and have set up permanent camp and detachments within the barangay and around the contested areas to support renewed land grabbing efforts by President Aquino’s family.

Furthermore, TADECO has filed charges of unlawful detainer against more than 100 farmers in barangays Balete and Cutcut to intimidate them to leave their farm lots. Since the anomalous land distribution activities of the Department of Agrarian Reform in July, the Cojuangcos have cordoned off farm lands and violently dispersed farmers who tried to repair farm huts destroyed by typhoon Santi. TADECO security guards are also suspect in the mysterious death of AMBALA member Dennis de la Cruz last 1 November.

“The acquittal of  ‘Kap’ Ric Ramos’ killer comes as no surprise, when one of the main perpetrators of the 2004 Hacienda Luisita Massacre now sits as the most powerful person in the country,” said Sibayan.

Reference:
Florida “Pong” Sibayan
Acting- Chairperson, AMBALA
Cell Phone # +639293201477

Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
(Agricultural Workers Union)
Follow UMA Pilipinas on Twitter

Philippine lawyers group receives “Human Rights Defender of the Year” Award

ICHRP Secretariat
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Philippine lawyers group receives “Human Rights Defender of the Year” Award

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers is deeply humbled by the honor of being the first “Human Rights Defender of the Year” given by the Belgian campaign alliance Stop the Killings.

How timely is it to receive this award on 10 December 2013, the 65th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights, a day we marked in the Philippines with crucial protests across the country.

The sorry state of human rights and the continuing impunity in the country was a focal point at the recently-concluded NUPL Third National Congress, where human rights lawyers were nonetheless reinvigorated by the theme to “Consolidate our Ranks to Defend, Protect and Advance the People’s Rights: Resist the State’s Various Schemes to Violate Human Rights.”

We honestly did not imagine that doing what we think was a matter of course – serving the people through the use of our legal skills, training, education and experience – in the defense, protection and promotion of human rights in all aspects – would warrant such touching honor internationally.

We express our sincerest gratitude not only to those who voted for us and the jury of trade unionists, journalists and representatives of non-government organizations but also to all those individuals and organizations that have consistently believed and supported us in our common goal to stop the killings and the impunity.

This award is a challenge for us to carry on and persevere more to stand by the rights of the Filipino people and all struggling peoples of the world.

On behalf of each of the 536 members made up of 325 lawyers, 128 law students and 63 paralegals in 21 chapters, 4 regional consultative bodies and 6 ad hoc bodies all over the Philippines – and most especially for and in the name of our clients – the poor, oppressed and persecuted in Philippine society – we wholeheartedly accept this humbling recognition from the Stop the Killings Human Rights Awards.

Reference:

Atty. Edre U. Olalia
NUPL Secretary-General
+639175113373

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stop-the-killingsStop the Killings is a campaign alliance based in Belgium composed of workers’ groups, cause-oriented groups, and other non-government organizations (NGOs). Their website is www.stopthekillings.be.

The awarding ceremony was held at De Markten, Brussels, Belgium on December 10, 2013, 7pm GMT+1. Dr. Angie Gonzales of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, and Joke Dereymaeker of the Progress Lawyers Network of Belgium, a guest speaker at the NUPL Third National Congress in Bacolod City, received the award in behalf of NUPL.

Other nominees for the award were Yolanda Oquelí (a human rights activist in Guatemala), the mass movement for peace in Colombia, and Ello Mobile from Belgium. There were two rounds of voting: 450 people registered their choice in a public vote, then a jury of trade unionists, journalists and representatives of NGOs made the final decision.

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National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)
3F Erythrina Building
Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax no.920-6660
Email addresses: nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
Follow us on twitter @nuplphilippines
and facebook @https://www.facebook.com/nuplphilippines
Visit the NUPL website at http://www.nupl.net/

Marking Human Rights Day: Night of Solidarity for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda

ICHRP Secretariat
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Marking Human Rights Day: Night of Solidarity for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda

Vancouver, BC — Braving the cold December weather, at least 40 Filipinos and Canadians held lighted candles at the vigil as a demonstration of solidarity with the people of the Philippines last December 7. It was also an occasion to remember the Filipinos who died, were displaced and are homeless and hungry. Lighted candles on the pavement pointed to the cardboard signs that declared :”Relief Operation, Not Militarization! and “No to Corruption, All Aid Must Go Directly to Affected Communities!” and “No to Militarization.”

Above the traffic noise, the Solidarity Notes Labour Choir with choir conductor Earle Peach offered their gift of solidarity through their presence and their songs — the Tagalog version of “El pueblo unido” and a couple of justice songs.

Tom MacKenzie of the Alliance for People’s Health read the statement that denounced state of relief and rehabilitation efforts in the Philippines . Unfortunately, the relief efforts are hampered by endemic corruption in the Philippine government; the insistence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in continuing its ‘counter-insurgency’ which targets peasant communities and progressive organizations even in areas severely affected by the Typhoon; and the U.S. agenda to re-establish a military presence in the Philippines under cover of the relief efforts.

Beth Dollaga of the Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights read the urgent call for mobilization by Bayan of all its chapters and groups in the Philippines and overseas for the relief efforts.

Aiyanas Ormond of the Canadian chapter of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS) and the Alliance for People’s Health (APH) announced that donations were welcome for a medical mission to the Philippines by the APH and also called for the release of one of the many political prisoners in the Philippines , Zara Velasco. Philippine political prisoners were on their second week of fasting to call for the release of political prisoners.

Among the crowd were friends from the Sunnyside United Church , Filipino temporary foreign workers and caregivers, Migrante members, PANCIT art collective, and the members of the organizing groups of the ILPS-Canada, the Alliance for People’s Health, the Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, Migrante BC and supporters from the Solidarity Notes Labour Choir of the Vancouver and Labour District Council.

The vigil was an early reminder of International Human Rights Day on December 10th. The vigil ended with strong chanting of “Ang tao, ang bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!” in Tagalog, Spanish and English.

Reference:
Beth Dollaga
cps_hr@yahoo.ca

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Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR)
http://www.canadaphilippinessolidarity.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canada-Philippines-Solidarity-for-Human-Rights/

Member: Stop the Killings Network (STKN-Canada)/ International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS-Canada)/ International Women’s Alliance (IWA)/ Coalition for Migrant Workers Justice (C4MWJ)/ Mining Justice Alliance (MJA), International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)

Associate Member: International Migrants’ Alliance (IMA)

Proud Supporter of Bayan-Canada and Migrante-Canada

Condemn ‘shoot them in the head’ attitude of state agents in handling bloody Lugait demolition

ICHRP Secretariat
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Condemn ‘shoot them in the head’ attitude of state agents in handling bloody Lugait demolition

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal and absolutely unjustifiable use of force by state agents to quell the people’s legitimate resistance in defense of their homes on December 4, 2013 at Calangahan, Lugait town in Misamis Oriental. This use of excessive force resulted in the death of an individual, the wounding of two others and the violation of the rights of many.

Nexon Togao, the victim slain in the indiscriminate firing, was confirmed dead on arrival after two bullets shot by a plain-clothed police officer tore through his kidney and genital area.  Nexon was merely trying to rescue his son who fainted from the  the tear gas thrown by authorities.  It must be noted that Tongao was not immediately carried towards safety due to the onslaught of bullets. Some residents overheard some police officers saying “shoot them in the head.”

We abhor the absolute disrespect of the police officers of the rights of the residents especially of the women and children. The police officers even hog-tied several women protesters in the heat of the scuffle. One police officer had the gall to tell the resident he pinned down – “we just want you to be resting in the sidelines” while his knee was pinning her to the ground.

We condemn the pronouncements coming from the responding police saying that they only acted in retaliation after residents started throwing rocks at them when in fact it was the other way around. ALBIDEC’s (Alyansa sa mga Biktima sa Demolisyon sa Calangahan or Alliance of Demolition Victims in Calangahan) leaders were intending to confront the local police force and the court sheriff as to why the demolition was so sudden. Residents say that they were only informed about the demolition at 6AM that day. The residents protested, the talks failed, and that instead of answers, the demolition team and the police forces responded by throwing canisters of tear gas at the protesting residents. This blatant twisting of facts and spewing of half-truths only aims at controlling the public opinion to deflect the public’s attention from their accountability in the Hacienda Luisita-like blood bath.

This use of force to slaughter, maim and harass to subdue a civilian populace has no place in a nation that proclaims to be democratic.

We fully understand that the bureaucratic mechanisms prevalent under the current make-up of society prevents the residents from restoring their homes destroyed by individuals whose values have lead them to believe that an individual or corporation’s right to property heavily outweighs an entire community’s right to life.

We cry foul over the persistence of cruelty committed by the corporation claiming the property. As of the moment, tensions in the community are high because the fifteen meters guaranteed by the provincial government to the residents as a temporary area for their shanties is being fenced by the members of the demolition team hired by Achondoa Agro-industrial Corporation. This is deplorable and must be stopped considering that the residents have already been displaced and that no relocation area is readily available.

We recognize that the path to elevate the residents from their bitter plight requires a steadfast, sustained and willful effort. We assert that the target area for relocation must be near the residents’ source of income – the sea, since a majority of them are fisherfolk.

We appeal to the local government to continue providing for the immediate humanitarian concerns of the demolished residents – food and medicines. We challenge them to fully commit to the demands of the people for land, livelihood and decent living.

More importantly, those accountable for the blood shed must face justice. Their blatant abuse of force and severe disregard for human dignity must be halted. The residents will not be cowed.  The residents have lost their homes for a second time. Now, more than ever, they are determined to assert their rights. The victims are more than ready to face the perpetrators in the formal halls, street, parliaments and everywhere needed to put these masquerading butchers behind bars.

For reference:

Wildon C. Barros
Spokesperson
Task Force Lugait

Gary Ben Villocino
Public Information Officer
Task Force Lugait

* Task Force Lugait is an alliance formed after the violent demolition of around 250 shanties in Calangahan, Lugait, Misamis Oriental on 04 December 2013. It will work for the assertion of the right of the demolition victims to land, livelihood and decent living, and will convene an international fact finding mission to probe the violent demolition and file necessary charges against the perpetrators. Task Force Lugait is composed of ALBIDEC, the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPL), and the Northern Mindanao formations of Karapatan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), AMIHAN, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya sa Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), League of Filipino Students (LFS) and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP).

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RURAL MISSIONARIES OF THE PHILIPPINES-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR)
Room 01, Kalinaw Lanao Center for Interfaith Resources
0016 Bougainvilla Puti, Villaverde
9200 Iligan City, Philippines
T/F: +63 (63) 223 5179

S: rural.missionaries

Rights lawyers indict Aquino administration for impunity, callousness, hypocrisy

ICHRP Secretariat
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Rights lawyers indict Aquino administration for impunity, callousness, hypocrisy

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, rights lawyers from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) indict the B. S. Aquino administration not only for the continuing impunity for various human rights violations but also for his nonchalant attitude and disinterested callousness amidst injustice for the victims.

The figures speak for themselves. Extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture, illegal arrests, violent demolitions and dispersals, labelling, political persecution continue. With outstanding hypocrisy, it kisses up to the example of Myanmar and joins the multitude of deserved praises for the paragon of freedom fighters Nelson Mandela yet keeps in jail hundreds of political prisoners, many on trumped-up charges and a number of them more seriously ailing than his former mentor Gloria Arroyo.

And what does this administration have to show for its human rights record? A Marcos compensation law that is awaiting all its beneficiaries to die first, a notorious fugitive general that is swaggering around for years, promotions of generals facing credible and serious charges of rights violations, legal fictions & tricks to bring trumped-up charges against activists, lucrative bounty lists that prey on the clueless, a plethora of task-force-this and task-force -that which have yet to deliver, a rights commission that is deafeningly silent if not conspicuously absent when needed most, a sprinkling of pro-human rights legislation that remain useless on the ground, legal remedies that are corrupted by those who should be liable, repressive laws and jurisprudence some dating back to the dictatorship, lack of priority to concretely expedite human rights complaints and give justice to the victims -exacerbated by institutional weaknesses of a tedious, cumbersome & widely-perceived corrupt and double-standard anti-poor justice system that not only grinds slow but grinds those who persist to seek redress-subservient arrangements for dubiously benevolent US troops mocking our sovereignty, a deceptive counterinsurgency program that wreaks havoc to civilians, the criminally inept and grossly negligent if not shameless partisan handling of killer disasters, ad nauseum.

On top of these, it has stuck to its guns in justifying the corrupt and patronage politics of the pork barrel system and looked the other way when legal machinations are employed in so-called land reform programs and in institutionalized labor contractualization. The basic social needs of education, housing and health continue to be compromised for greedy privatization and unbridled liberalization.

Despite its inimitable claim of being a signatory to most of the major international human rights instruments and even a drafter of the UDHR, this government has nothing to be proud of today when it comes to human rights. Nothing at all.

But in the end, for as long as the social, economic and political conditions that breed human rights violations exist, the long arduous struggle for justice will be taken up by the victims, the persecuted and by the human rights defenders who will never tire striving to make a difference in the people’s lives. For ultimately, as history has time and again proven, victory will be theirs. If not today, then in the international human rights day of their own time. #

Reference:

Edre U. Olalia
NUPL Secretary General
+639175113373

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National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)
3F Erythrina Building
Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax no.920-6660
Email addresses: nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
Follow us on twitter @nuplphilippines and facebook @https://www.facebook.com/nuplphilippines
Visit the NUPL website at http://www.nupl.net/

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