Month: November 2008

In August, 27 activists in Southern Tagalog were charged with arson, destruction of property and conspiracy to commit rebellion in relation to the burning down of a telecommunication company’s cell site in Lemery, Batangas. Just recently, warrants of arrest were issued this time against 72 activists accused of multiple murder and frustrated murder in connection…

Even as they were accompanied by representatives from the Commission of Human Rights (CHR), members of the Balao family and officers of the of Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) were denied entry to military camps in Manila last Oct. 27. BY CYE REYES Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (247 kms.…

The peace coalition Kalinaw Mindanao criticized the Arroyo government for spending P500 million ($10,216,591) in its military operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), describing it as “irrational, wasteful of public funds, and prolonging the agony of half a million war refugees.” BY BULATLAT HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH The peace coalition Kalinaw Mindanao criticized the…

“The moment…governments systematically export their own people just like commodities to be bought and sold, they definitely infringe on our right to human development. This is forced migration and modern-day slavery, not development.” BY RONALYN OLEA MIGRANT WATCH Bulatlat Close to 200 migrants from 35 countries gathered in Manila Oct. 28 to 30 and stood…

That afternoon of October 29, until 7:30 p.m., the Mehan Garden in Manila was teeming with people. There were people chatting in Cantonese, in Spanish, in French, in English, in Filipino, in Nippon-go, in Korean, in Turkish. In their glances to one other, you can perceive that despite the differences in culture, in language, belief,…

“Embedded” In Arroyo’s Military, US Soldiers Engage Muslim Insurgents in the Philippines With six hundred engaged on each side, we lost fifteen men killed outright, and we had thirty-two wounded–counting that nose and that elbow. The enemy numbered six hundred–including women and children–and we abolished them utterly, leaving not even a baby alive to cry…

Cordilleran migrant workers organizations based in Hong Kong (HK) in solidarity with other migrant workers organizations of Asia strongly criticized the objectives of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held in Manila last week. BY KT OKUBO Northern Dispatch MIGRANT WATCH Posted by Bulatlat Cordilleran migrant workers organizations based in Hong Kong (HK)…

Since the fisherfolk have begun opposing the oil and gas exploration activities of NorAsian Energy Ltd, an Australian company, along the shores of Argao and Sibonga, the military has intensified their operations in the are, tearing down posters, confronting leaders and members of the local fisher folk organization, and interrogating village officials regarding the activities…

A group of farmers asserted that the government’s bio-ethanol program will not ease poverty and hunger in the countryside but will exacerbate instead the Filipino people’s food insecurity. BY KARL G. OMBION REGIONS Bulatlat A group of farmers asserted that the government’s bio-ethanol program will not ease poverty and hunger in the countryside but will…

Many people believe that seven is a lucky number. I do not know where that came from but according to my research it might have originated from the Chinese Feng Sui. Anyway, I came to Easter College seven years ago and I did not realize until today that I have spent seven precious years of…