Sunday, February 22, 2004
Twenty Years of Solidarity: Philippine International Forum 20th Annual Conference Statement
On the occasion of its 20th Annual Conference, the Philippine International Forum, a network of internationals of various nationalities and vocations, gathered to reflect on its continuing journey in solidarity with the Filipino people.
We, the Philippine International Forum, as citizens of the world are acutely aware that economic globalization and the “global war on terror” have caused increased suffering, destruction and violence, especially for the poor and marginalized. The US-led “war on terror” has wreaked havoc on international peace and violated the authority of the United Nations and the sovereignty of nation states.
We are living and working in solidarity with the Filipino people and are deeply pained to witness how these global trends are manifest in the Philippines through the policies of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. A program of increased militarization and all-out war is resulting in the brutal torture and killing of many civilians, especially grassroots leaders, human rights workers and activists. The targeting of party-list workers campaigning for genuine representation of people’s issues in Congress is deplorable.
We believe that the criminalizing and labeling of the CPP, NPA and NDF as terrorist organizations is contrary to genuine efforts for peace. It is impossible for a government to enter peace negotiations with those they label as terrorist. Furthermore, these tactics are being used as excuses for increased militarization and blatant human rights violations, including torture, forced-disappearances and summary executions.
We recognize the long-standing injustices, wars and repression suffered by the Moro Peoples. We denounce deliberate attempts to misrepresent the conflict as an Islamic-Christian war instead of a legitimate struggle for basic rights and self-determination.
We applaud the people’s movements in the Philippines that are growing in strength and unity, and we see increasing opportunities to build and establish stronger solidarity links with them. We are challenged to heighten our understanding and commitment in ways that will further empower the people to succeed in reaching their just aspirations.
Therefore, we call on all peace-seeking people to increase international solidarity and oppose the US-led “War on Terror” and to resist fear tactics that are devised to create paralysis. We pledge to support the issues of the peasants, national minorities and workers and to promote the recognition and leadership of the organized sectoral groups. We also call for the end of U.S. military intervention, including joint US-Philippine military exercises. These blatantly violate the sovereignty of the Filipino nation.
We support genuine efforts to proceed with peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and both the National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. We recognize that peace cannot be attained without addressing the complex political, socio-economic and cultural problems with sincere and comprehensive solutions.
We are determined to deepen our understanding of the concerns and issues of sectoral groups by integrating with them and involving ourselves directly with their struggle for peace, freedom and genuine democracy.
Done on this 22nd day of February, 2004 in Quezon City, the Philippines.
We, the Philippine International Forum, as citizens of the world are acutely aware that economic globalization and the “global war on terror” have caused increased suffering, destruction and violence, especially for the poor and marginalized. The US-led “war on terror” has wreaked havoc on international peace and violated the authority of the United Nations and the sovereignty of nation states.
We are living and working in solidarity with the Filipino people and are deeply pained to witness how these global trends are manifest in the Philippines through the policies of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. A program of increased militarization and all-out war is resulting in the brutal torture and killing of many civilians, especially grassroots leaders, human rights workers and activists. The targeting of party-list workers campaigning for genuine representation of people’s issues in Congress is deplorable.
We believe that the criminalizing and labeling of the CPP, NPA and NDF as terrorist organizations is contrary to genuine efforts for peace. It is impossible for a government to enter peace negotiations with those they label as terrorist. Furthermore, these tactics are being used as excuses for increased militarization and blatant human rights violations, including torture, forced-disappearances and summary executions.
We recognize the long-standing injustices, wars and repression suffered by the Moro Peoples. We denounce deliberate attempts to misrepresent the conflict as an Islamic-Christian war instead of a legitimate struggle for basic rights and self-determination.
We applaud the people’s movements in the Philippines that are growing in strength and unity, and we see increasing opportunities to build and establish stronger solidarity links with them. We are challenged to heighten our understanding and commitment in ways that will further empower the people to succeed in reaching their just aspirations.
Therefore, we call on all peace-seeking people to increase international solidarity and oppose the US-led “War on Terror” and to resist fear tactics that are devised to create paralysis. We pledge to support the issues of the peasants, national minorities and workers and to promote the recognition and leadership of the organized sectoral groups. We also call for the end of U.S. military intervention, including joint US-Philippine military exercises. These blatantly violate the sovereignty of the Filipino nation.
We support genuine efforts to proceed with peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and both the National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. We recognize that peace cannot be attained without addressing the complex political, socio-economic and cultural problems with sincere and comprehensive solutions.
We are determined to deepen our understanding of the concerns and issues of sectoral groups by integrating with them and involving ourselves directly with their struggle for peace, freedom and genuine democracy.
Done on this 22nd day of February, 2004 in Quezon City, the Philippines.
Monday, February 16, 2004
Two more human rights workers murdered in Mindoro Oriental
Juvy Magsino and public school teacher Leima Fortu were killed on February 13 by suspected elements of the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental. Magsino was vice mayor of Naujan and a respected human rights lawyer while Fortu was the acting Secretary-General of KARAPATAN-Mindoro Oriental. They are among the 13 human rights workers and 41 Bayan Muna (People First, a progressive political party) members and officers who have been killed in cold-blood sinde President Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in 2001. Read more about it on indymedia qc.
Monday, February 09, 2004
Finally, Filipinos Get on Indymedia
Finally, there's an indymedia site to serve the Philippine people's movement. I've always believed in the concept of indymedia since the start in Seattle in 1999 and in Belgium less than one year later. It's genuine participatory media and indymedia QC (for Quezon City) says fittingly that "it shall be for the people or it is nothing." I hope it works also in a Philippine setting where internet access is still scarce and wish them all the best.
An article on the indymedia QC collective is in this week's bulatlat and the site of indymedia QC is at qc.indymedia.org.
