2008 August – PinoyPress — Philippines news, opinion, blogs.

Archive for August, 2008

Reuters reported this afternoon that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has threatened to altogether abandon the peace process if the Arroyo regime does not sign the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.
“We’re not only disappointed and frustrated over government’s decision to turn its back on the ancestral domain deal, we’ve completely lost trust and [...]

8/31/08 05:31 PM Full Story

Imelda Marcos’s Presence Too Much for F. Sionil Jose

“In honoring the plunderers of this nation and letting them off easy without any punishment (like Erap) we not only condone their infamy; other rapists of this nation will also feel redeemed, convinced that they did no wrong. Then, they pave the way for future criminals to do the same, sure that, like Imelda and her gang, they will not be punished and that after their foul deeds, they can even preen in the limelight before a people without memory.”

8/31/08 08:41 AM Full Story

US Anti-Tobacco Group Hails Philip Morris’s Withdrawal from Eraserheads Concert

Statement by Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
WASHINGTON, Aug 29, 2008 — For the second time in a month, Philip Morris International has had to withdraw sponsorship and promotion of a concert in a developing country after coming under international criticism for engaging in cigarette marketing that appeals to children.
This time, Philip [...]

8/30/08 11:24 AM Full Story

Major US Gov’t Report Concludes Tobacco’s Media Promotion Leads to Smoking

The report provides powerful scientific evidence and guidance to governments around the world on how the tobacco industry uses and manipulates the media to encourage tobacco use and effective steps governments can take to protect the health of their citizens.

8/30/08 11:16 AM Full Story

‘Shorts’ to Compete in Thailand

“Shorts,” a short film about a young copywriter/production designer who seems to have gone crazy, will compete in the 12th Thai Short Film and Video Festival, which will run from August 29 to September 14 at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, Pathumwan Junction.
Seymour Barros Sanchez’s “mockumentary” will vie for the award in the festival’s [...]

8/29/08 10:16 AM Full Story

‘Tagaytay 5′ Freed, ‘Trumped-Up’ Charges Dropped

Karapatan said it welcomed Tagaytay 5 to their newfound freedom and urged them to file criminal charges against state security forces that abducted them, kept them incommunicado and detained them despite their innocence.

8/29/08 09:38 AM Full Story

‘Disarm, Dismantle Ilaga Vigilantes Now,’ Solon Dares Arroyo

Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano today dared President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately disarm and dismantle the armed vigilante group Reform Ilaga Movement in the province of North Cotobato saying “the resurrection of the dreaded armed group will only escalate the armed conflict in the region and lead to massive human rights abuses.”
“We demand Ms Arroyo [...]

8/28/08 06:54 PM Full Story

Pro-coal Atienza wasting time and energy

Greenpeace calls for immediate passage of Renewable Energy Bill
Manila, 28 August 2008–Greenpeace today slammed Secretary Lito
Atienza’s implicit support for a dirty coal plant in Iloilo despite
local opposition, and criticized the government’s two-faced energy
policy which continues to invest in coal even as the passage of
Renewable Energy bill remains in a limbo in the Senate.
“Secretary Atienza could [...]

8/28/08 06:53 PM Full Story

Bayan joins Metro-wide protest action calling for a substantial rollback in oil prices

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan joined labor and transport groups today in demanding a substantial rollback in oil prices after world crude prices significantly went down over the past few weeks.
Various groups staged simultaneous noise barrage actions in different protest centers to air their call for a rollback and for the removal of [...]

8/28/08 06:53 PM Full Story

North Korea Policy – If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It…

by Hazel Smith
Dr. Hazel Smith (Hazel.Smith@warwick.ac.uk) is Professor of International Relations at the University of Warwick, UK. She spent nearly two years living in North Korea while working for the UN’s World Food Programme and UNICEF. Currently a Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center in Hawaii, her recent books on North Korea include Hungry [...]

8/28/08 06:52 PM Full Story

Thailand: Political Turmoil and the Southern Insurgency

Bangkok/Brussels, 28 August 2008: Despite its political woes, Thailand’s embattled government needs to give more attention to tackling the bloody insurgency in the Muslim-dominated Deep South.
Thailand: Political Turmoil and the Southern Insurgency,* the latest policy briefing from the International Crisis Group, examines recent political developments in Bangkok and their implications for the conflict in the [...]

8/28/08 06:50 PM Full Story

Health Advocates Hail Pullout of Philip Morris from Eraserheads Concert

Health advocates led by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Alliance Philippines (FCAP) hailed as victory for the health sector
the pull-out of a tobacco company from the much-awaited Eraserheads
reunion concert this weekend.
Amidst this, FCAP lauded the Department of Health for standing firm in
its position against the involvement of Philip Morris Phils.
Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) in the concert.
[...]

8/28/08 04:23 PM Full Story

CHR’s De Lima: ‘Civilians Are Suffering Immensely’

By Leila M. de Lima
At the heart of this conflict really isn’t the failure of the BJE to materialize, or the breakdown of the negotiations of the MOA-AD. It is not the rogue armies that the AFP must hunt. These are causes. The heart, the heart — bled profusely — of this conflict is the civilian.

8/28/08 08:26 AM Full Story

MILF Counts the Cost of War

In a post at the MILF’s official website, the front lists the damage caused by the military offensive, both in terms of actual cost and lives lost/affected.

8/28/08 08:22 AM Full Story

Moro Youth Leaders Push for Peace and Justice

Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Forum
Press Statement
August 19, 2008
MORO YOUTH LEADERS PUSH FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
The Philippine government is once more trying to dupe the Bangsamoro people in its persistent desire to suppress the Moro’s inherent and legitimate right to govern themselves in accordance with the prescriptions of the Holy Qur’an. Still not contented with giving us [...]

8/28/08 08:15 AM Full Story

Six Steps Toward Increased Energy Security in Asia Pacific

By Kang Wu, Fereidun Fesharaki, Sidney B. Westley and Widhyawan Prawiraatmadja

HONOLULU (Aug. 25) — Concerns about energy security affect economic performance and political stability all over the world, but nowhere are these issues more critical than in Asia and the Pacific - and oil is at the heart of the region’s energy challenge.
Countries in Asia [...]

8/28/08 08:13 AM Full Story

Arroyo Negotiated with MILF in Bad Faith: Bayan

Responsibility for the escalating armed conflict in Mindanao should be laid squarely on the US-backed Arroyo regime. Through its self-serving and deceitful maneuvers, the Arroyo regime has severely damaged the peace process, provoked armed confrontation, and allowed escalating foreign intervention in the country’s internal affairs including armed conflicts.

8/28/08 08:11 AM Full Story

‘Miss, Extra (GMO-Free) Rice, Please’

The “GMO-free rice restaurants” campaign, launched Wednesday at Fish and Co. restaurant in Ortigas Center, aims to gather the commitment of restaurants around the country to serve only GMO-free rice.

8/28/08 08:07 AM 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)