Indonesian officials said Indonesia’s main exports, such as agricultural products and timber, will continue to face high non-tariff barriers in the form of quality standards, while Japanese high-tech imports will be able to enter the Indonesian market with lower import taxes.

MANILA — International and national non-government organizations press for measures to arrest high prices of medicines and strict implementation of penalty provisions as they present to Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla today their proposal of the IRR of the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
The proposed IRR that also seeks transparency and clearer accountabilities of public officials and government [...]

“Instead of generating jobs and protecting bank employees’ right to job security, BSP Circular No. 268 would lead to the dislocation of bank employees,” Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said.

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 [...]

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.

“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 [...]

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.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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.
[...]

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 [...]

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.

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.

Reporters Without Borders called today for more police to investigate the killings of five journalists in the Philippines this year, including the latest victim, former radio presenter Rolando Anjo Julia, in the central province of Camarines Sur.
“Until the motives for these crimes have been discovered and their authors punished, people will continue to doubt the [...]

August 7, 2008

Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison Maglaya
Department of Trade and Industry
Inter-Agency Committee-Tobacco
Makati City
Dear Madame,
Re: An Urgent Call for the IAC-T to Take Appropriate Legal and Enforcement Action regarding Philip Morris’ Sponsorship of the Eraserheads Reunion Concert Set on August 30, 2008, in violation of Sec. 26, RA [...]