2007 November – PinoyPress — Philippines news, opinion, blogs.

Archive for November, 2007

Congo: IFJ Calls on DRC Prime Minister to Investigate Minister after Beating of Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today urged the new government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to order an immediate investigation into a minister after he reportedly ordered police officers to beat two journalists in his office in retaliation for a critical news report.
“It is outrageous that Minister Sylvain Ngabu remains in the [...]

11/30/07 12:26 PM Full Story

Philippines: FDC to Senate: Take bold steps to address illegitimate debts

The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) today expressed its serious disappointment over the decision of Senate Committee on Finance Chair Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to restore P12.1-billion worth of repayments for questionable loans and slash P4.2 billion from the House approved budget for health services in the Senate version of the 2008 national government budget.
Outgoing [...]

11/30/07 12:25 PM Full Story

IFJ Condemns Censorship, Detention of Journalists in Somalia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the recent waves of attacks on media in Somalia which have included arrests and censorship.
On Monday two journalists were arrested by forces in the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland for their work in a disputed town. The same day, the mayor of Mogadishu restricted media coverage of the [...]

11/30/07 11:57 AM Full Story

Philippines: HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS CONDEMN CURFEW AND ARREST OF MEDIA AS VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND AN ARBITRARY OVERKILL

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) condemns the imposition of the curfew by Pres. Gloria Arroyo as oppressive, unconstitutional and an arbitrary overkill intended only to instill fear on the people. Article III, Section 6 of the Constitution states that “Neither shall the right to travel be impaired except in the interest of [...]

11/30/07 11:55 AM Full Story

Philippines: Makati Party Over Before It Even Began

By Inday Espina-Varona
MANILA, Philippines — A detained coup plotter and new senator of the republic took over a luxury hotel in the country’s financial district Thursday in yet another armed attempt to oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. But the moment Antonio Trillanes opened his mouth marked the beginning of the end of his bizarre quest for [...]

11/30/07 09:14 AM Full Story

Arrest of Journalists Covering Peninsula Standoff: An Unprecedented Outrage

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines issued separate statements today on the arrest of journalist covering the Peninsula Hotel incident.

Below is the CMFR’s statement:
An Unprecedented Outrage

Never in the turbulent recent history of the Philippines has any government, including that of Ferdinand Marcos, ever taken into [...]

11/29/07 08:54 PM Full Story

Arroyo Under Siege: Makati Standoff Ends, Regime Declares Curfew

By Carlos H. Conde

MANILA — Shortly after a police armored personnel carrier rammed through a hotel lobby in the Philippine capital, a group of soldiers and military officers announced they were ending the standoff with police that had begun this morning.

11/29/07 08:36 PM Full Story

Fr. Shay Cullen » Why Children Die

By Fr. Shay Cullen

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines — Most of the young teenagers that have died violent deaths in recent years have been from the hands and guns of death squads that roam the City of Davao executing people with impunity. This is especially after the suspects were warned by the Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. As a [...]

11/29/07 11:38 AM Full Story

PHILIPPINES: BEST SAFETY NET IS COMPLETE REJECTION OF THE JPEPA

In contrast to their earlier hyperbolic claims, government negotiators are now at least finally acknowledging that the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) will have adverse effects, hence the need for “safety nets”. But no amount of safety nets will be enough precisely because Japan’s intention is to create conditions for the maximum exploitation of the [...]

11/28/07 02:08 PM Full Story

In Survey, Most Filipinos Doubt Hype on Economy

MANILA — As the Arroyo administration continues to trumpet the country’s economic gains, most respondents to the IBON nationwide continued to doubt government’s hype on the economy.

11/28/07 02:07 PM Full Story

EFJ Welcomes Victory in Tillack Case — Now Full Story Must Be Told

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today welcomed the stunning victory in the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Hans-Martin Tillack, a reporter whose house and offices were raided by Belgian police on the urging of fraud investigators within the European Unions three years ago.

11/28/07 02:06 PM Full Story

IFJ Condemns Sacking of Media Strike Leaders in Cameroon, Calls for Government Action

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on Cameroon’s Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni to intervene after media group TV + dismissed 8 journalists and media workers accused of being the organisers of a recent strike protesting their working conditions.

11/28/07 02:06 PM Full Story

Sri Lanka: Air strike on radio station condemned

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the bombing of the Voice of Tigers (VOT), the official radio station of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), near Ki’linochchi, in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province of Vinni, on November 27.

11/28/07 02:05 PM Full Story

In Wake of Alston Final Report, Heads Should Roll, Militarist Policies Scrapped — Solons

JOINT STATEMENT
November 28, 2007
The report of United Nations Human Rights Commission Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Philip Alston is an affirmation of our long standing position that the intensified extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the country, since 2001 emanates from the highest level of state policy on counter-insurgency.

11/28/07 02:01 PM Full Story

Philippines: Guingona, opposition groups to lead protest on November 30

MANILA — Various groups led by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr. are expected to converge at the Liwasang Bonifacio and march to Mendiola on November 30, Friday, the birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary Andres Bonifacio. Organizers say that the rally will come out with the call for the “rejection of a morally bankrupt government.”
Among [...]

11/28/07 01:56 PM Full Story

As Millions Are Denied Medicines, Big Pharma Buries Its Head in the Sand

Pharmaceutical industry undermines its own future as millions of poor
people denied access to medicines
MANILA, Philippines — The pharmaceutical industry is denying medicines to millions of poor
people and undermining its own future because companies refuse to
shift to responsible business practice in developing country such as
the Philippines, according to a report by international agency Oxfam.
Oxfam publishes its [...]

11/28/07 01:56 PM Full Story

Renato M. Reyes Jr. » Alston Report Clearly Shows Killings Are Arroyo’s Policy

By Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
MANILA — There are no if’s and but’s about it.
The final report of United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston on the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines clearly points to a national policy of the Arroyo administration through its Armed Forces of the Philippines and other agencies such as the Inter-agency Legal [...]

11/28/07 01:53 PM Full Story

PHILIPPINES: FARMERS SLAM LANDOWNERS, ‘IGGY’ ARROYO FOR MOVES TO STOP CARP

Some 2,000 farmers who gathered yesterday at the House of Representatives to push for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) slammed Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo and the big landowners of Negros Occidental for alleged efforts to derail the implementation of the program.

11/28/07 01:51 PM Full Story

THE NEWS IN PICTURES

Where Are They? Relatives, friends and colleagues of victims of enforced disappearances commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared with lighted lanterns and photographs at the Plaza Miranda and in Mendiola on Aug. 30. (Photo: arkibongbayan.org)

Free at Last. The so-called Tagaytay 5 -- Aris Sarmiento, Axel Pinpin, Riel Custodio, Michael Masayes and Rico Ybañez -- shown here inside their prison cell during their incarceration, were freed yesterday. “The dismissal of trumped-up charges and release of Tagaytay 5 is a victory for human rights,” said Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan's public information officer. (Photo: freetagaytay5.net)

Displaced. Residents of North Cotabato have been the ones badly affected by the military offensives launched against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "As the government continues to indiscriminately drop bombs on Moro and Christian villages in Aleosan and Pikit, more and more civilians are displaced," said Kawagib, a Moro human-rights group.(Photo: Suara Bangsamoro/arkibongbayan.org)

In One Roof. Villagers who fled their homes after the clashes last week between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south brought every human life with them, including their farm animals. They now live under one roof at an evacuation center in Pikit, North Cotabato. (Photo: Bong Sarmiento / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project)

Emergency. A scene from "Ambulancia," a short film that tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets. The award-winning film will be screened at the so-called "Woodstock of short films" in Germany. Richard Legaspi directed the film and it stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo. (Contributed photo)

Sendoff. The Philippine Army dispatched today, Aug. 10, the 68th Infantry Battalion to Maguindanao. This battalion, together with the 46th Infantry Battalion from Samar, will augment the troops in Central Mindanao for the security operations that will be conducted to ensure peaceful elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao tomorrow. (Photo: Philippine Army)

Killings Denounced. Mindanao journalists gathered in General Santos City on Friday to denounce the recent attacks on their colleagues. On Monday, Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network commentator in General Santos, was shot and is fighting for his life. On Thursday, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas of Capiz City, was shot dead. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

If This Wall Could Talk. With the pleasant scenery as a backdrop (and a constant reminder, perhaps, of a life they could have had), this poor family try to survive by actually living by the sidewalk outside the Chinese school in Davao City. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Undaunted. Activists from Anakbayan scuffle with the police as the Chevrolet Suburban carrying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo passes by the junction before the newly built Bankerohan bridge in Davao City last week. The president was in the city for the declaration of the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi parties. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Freedom Denied. Lex Adonis, a former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo in Davao City, inside the Davao Penal Colony, where he was jailed after House Speaker Prospero Nograles sued him for libel over a story involving the Davao congressman's alleged sexual relations with a woman other than his wife. Despite a court order, Adonis remains in jail. (File photo by davaotoday.com)

Tribute to Ka Bel. Activists, artists, friends and supporters troop to the Philippine Independent Church on Taft Avenue Monday night to honor AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week. Beltran will be buried in Bulacan today, after a ceremony honoring him at the House of Representatives, where he served for several terms as party-list congressman. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/pinoypress.net)

Rare Sight. Moro women students of a madrasah play volleyball during a break in barangay Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, last week. While Filipina Moros are considered relatively open in their lifestyle compared to Muslim women in other countries, scenes like this are not very common in Moro areas in Mindanao. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)

Ka Bel's Fight. An activist mourns the death of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, who died Tuesday. Ka Bel's remains lie in state at the IFI Cathedral in Manila. His colleagues, family and friends have lined up a series of tributes. Click here for the schedules, as well as statements and poems honoring Ka Bel. (Photo by courtesy of arkibongbayan)

Displaced. Lumad families from Compostela and Monkayo towns, in Compostela Valley Province, seek refuge in Davao City after being displaced by intense counter-insurgency operations by the military in their communities this month. The 210 evacuees, of which 83 are children, are now staying inside a gym. The number of evacuees is expected to rise, according to NGOs. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan)