La guerre contre le terrorisme à la sauce philippine - Alternatives

The war on terror: Philippines-style is the title of this article by CAP-CPC member Malcolm Guy about the situation of the Muslim minority in the Philippines for the April 2009 edition of the Alternatives newspaper in Montreal. It's based on an interview with Amirah Ali Lidasan, national president of Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Moro People). Malcolm spent time with Amirah on the island of Basilan in 2002 during an International Solidarity Mission to investigate the arrival of 5000 US troops in the Philippines.

+++++

jeudi 26 mars 2009 par Malcolm Guy

En 2002, le président George W. Bush, avec l’appui inconditionnel de la présidente des Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, choisit d’ouvrir un « deuxième front » aux Philippines dans le cadre de sa guerre contre le terrorisme. C’est à ce moment qu’Amirah Ali Lidasan, présidente de Suara Bangsamoro (la Voix du peuple), un parti qui représente les intérêts de musulmans, décide d’agir : «  Du jour au lendemain, de nombreux chefs traditionnels au sein de la communauté musulmane ont été considérés comme de présumés terroristes et contraints d’abandonner leur activité. Je me suis alors sentie obligée de prendre la parole au nom de ces personnes désormais réduites au silence », explique-t-elle depuis l’île de Basilan, lors d’une conversation téléphonique.

Les Moros (nom qui signifie « Maures » en espagnol et qui désigne la minorité musulmane aux Philippines) représentent environ 5 % de la population du pays, qui compte quelque 97 millions d’habitants, très majoritairement catholiques. Les Moros sont concentrés dans les régions autonomes de l’ouest de la grande île méridionale de Mindanao et dans une série de petites îles, dont celles de Basilan et de Sulu, qui s’étendent jusqu’à la frontière malaisienne. Ils sont divisés en plusieurs groupes ethno-linguistiques.

Le danger de l’engagement

Amirah Lidasan n’est pas du genre à reculer face aux défis. Elle est la première femme musulmane à avoir été élue à la direction de l’Union nationale des étudiants et elle s’est rendue plusieurs fois à l’étranger, afin de sensibiliser l’opinion publique à la situation des Moros. Par contre, elle reconnaît que le contexte est très délicat : « Cela n’a pas été facile pour moi, d’une part parce que le fait de prendre la parole ne correspond pas au rôle traditionnel attribué aux femmes dans notre communauté, et d’autre part parce que ça implique certains risques, dit cette femme de 34 ans. Depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir de la présidente Arroyo en 2001, pas moins d’un millier d’opposants politiques au gouvernement ont d’ailleurs perdu la vie à la suite d’une série d’exécutions extrajudiciaires. »

via La guerre contre le terrorisme à la sauce philippine - Alternatives.

CAP-CPC hits Canada's refusal to allow Galloway to speak / Le CAP-CPC endosse la venue au Canada de George Galloway

Montréal, le 23 mars 2009

We endorse British MP George Galloway's presence in Canada to speak on the Middle East, Central Asia and Canada's role in these regions.

We have the right to be informed about Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan and Canada's role in the Middle East and Central Asia, and we have the right to support the Palestinian people.

We find it unacceptable that the Harper government has crossed the line against civil liberties and human rights in banning, censoring and/or threatening its opponents on the Middle East and Central Asia.

We denounce the libeling of those who disagree with the Harper government's Middle East policies as terrorists, supporters of terrorism, or anti-Semites.

+++++

Nous endossons la venue au Canada du député britannique George Galloway pour nous parler du Moyen-Orient, de l'Asie centrale et du rôle du Canada dans ces régions.

Nous avons le droit d'être informés au sujet de la Palestine, d'Israël, de l'Afghanistan et du rôle du Canada au Moyen-Orient et en Asie centrale et nous avons le droit de soutenir le peuple palestinien.

Nous trouvons inacceptable que le gouvernement Harper s'attaque ainsi aux libertés civiles et aux droits de la personne en interdisant, en censurant et/ou en menaçant les opposants à sa politique dans ces régions.

Nous dénonçons l'étiquetage diffamatoire de ceux et celles qui sont en désaccord avec les politiques du gouvernement Harper au Moyen-Orient comme terroristes, sympatisantes du terrorisme ou antisémites.

Malcolm Guy pour le / for the
Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns
et/and the
Réseau canadien de solidarité avec les Philippines - Philippine Solidarity Network of Canada (Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver et/and Victoria)

Parago : I will not give up the revolution

By CHERYLL FIEL
Davao Today, March 15, 2009

DAVAO CITY—The motorcycle ride to Paquibato where we were set to interview New People’s Army (NPA) rebel Leoncio Pitao, more known as Kumander Parago, was not for the half-hearted.

The roads were rough all the way up and the ridges the motorcycle traversed could be very treacherous. It was a good many hours before the engine finally halted and we could then inspect if our bones were still intact.

Soon enough, we were on our way trekking. We only stopped when we saw some items of clothing spread on the grass. Then the guide turned to the narrow path towards the bushes and called on to someone. “Go! Naa kay bisita. (Go, you have a visitor).”

We proceeded down the footpath through the bushes. There was practically nothing around us to tell us it was a camp. There was no physical structure in sight, only hammocks and backpacks and those young men, arms by their sides, still managing to press a smile to greet us. They wore black sweatshirts with hammer and sickle printed on it. They were the guerrilla fighters of the First Pulang Bagani Command of the NPA, the unit that Parago heads.

We were then led to what they call “the hall” – a makeshift row of benches, consisting of branches of shrubs attached to some trees. As soon as we settled ourselves, Parago came.

He was wearing the same black sweatshirt as the other men except for his Mao cap and a vest of M203 bullets. We took a deep breath to ask our first question.

How did he take the news on his daughter’s death?

More at: http://davaotoday.com/2009/03/15/parago-i-will-not-give-up-the-revolution/

Services finéraires/funeral services pour/for Melca Salvador 14 mars 2009

Chers membres du Centre d'appui aux Philippines, et ami-e-s et supporteurs de Melca Salvador,

Vous êtes invités aux services funéraires et une réception pour rendre hommage à la vie et la lutte de Melca Salvador, militante pour les droits des travailleuses domestiques.

Le samedi, 14 mars, 2009 (aujourd'hui!) au Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges à Montréal.

Voir les détails en bas (en anglais).

Merci! Tess Tesalona

+++++

Dear CAP-CPC members and friends and supporters of Melca Salvador,

As you probably know, our dear friend Melca Salvador passed away February 27 after a valiant struggle with cancer.

Although this is rather last minute, you are invited today, Saturday, March 14, 2009, to the funeral services and reception for Melca. Please find the details below:

Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges
4525, Côte-des-Neiges Road
Montreal (514) 342-8000

1:00pm to 4:30 - viewing
4:30 to 5:30 - religious services
6:00 to 9:00 - reception

During the reception organized by PINAY and the Centre d'appui aux Philippines/Centre for Philippine Concerns: - food will be served - and a short program will include showing of the film: The Melca Salvador Story and some testimonials from different organizations and individuals who were involved in the campaign to prevent the deportation of Melca and her son Rchard.

Thank you very much, Tess Tesalona
___________________________________________________

Glorioso, Milcah Salvador

1964-2009

On February 27, 2009, Milcah Glorioso, former Salvador, passed away peacefully at the
Montreal General Hospital, after a five-year battle with breast cancer, at the age of 45. She will be lovingly remembered by her children Richard Ebiya, Eunice and Zeus Salvador, her mother Angelina de Castro Glorioso and her three brothers.

The viewing, service and reception will take place at:

Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges
4525, Côte-des-Neiges Road
Montreal +1 (514) 342-8000

on Saturday, March 14, 2009

__________________________________________________________

In memory of Rebelyn, the daughter of a Philippine revolutionary

Rebelyn

Around 6:30 in the evening

When she was abducted

An evening after

She was found dead

In a creek

Clad only in underwear

She bore several stabs

Her hands tied

Her mouth bound with masking tape

She is 20 years old

A Teacher

A daughter of a revolutionary

Her name is Rebelyn Pitao. She is the daughter of New People's Army (NPA) commander Leoncio Pitao, known also as Commander Parago. On her way home in a tricycle a white van blocked her path. Alighting from the van, armed men forcibly took her from the tricycle and boarded her to the white van on the evening of March 5, 2009. She shouted for help. The tricycle driver went back to the terminal to seek help. The incident occurred in Bago Gallera, Talomo District, Davao City (Mindanao, Philippines). The day after, her lifeless body was found in a creek with marks of physical torture, and yes, humiliation.

Rebelyn's mother appealed that her daughter is not involved with the armed option and revolutionary actions being undertaken by her father. The mother unquestionably blamed the military for this atrocity and cruelty. For her, only the military could have had such a motive of abducting her daughter.

The mother said, "Rebelyn is unarmed. She is a civilian who earns her living in a decent manner."

Must the daughter be used to force a revolutionary to give up his option? Must death of his nearest kin be the collateral to demoralize, humiliate and crush the father who has chosen the armed revolutionary path?

There is a war going on in our land. The cowards are those who use treacherous, ruthless, and brutal tactics. They end up using despicable means to fight knowing fully well that they would never win in a battle just by observing justified rules in the conduct of engagements.

The abduction, torture, assault and killing of Rebelyn must be condemned in the strongest terms.

(On March 8), women around the world will be observing the International Women's Day to honor the women who struggled and worked for justice around the globe. It is a continuing challenge for the women today to carry forward the struggles of women as we dream of humanity living with honor and dignity.

Rebelyn is another woman, whose young life was snuffed out in cold-blood. Her mother could only grieve for her and so with her father, the family and the rest of humanity.

We shall remember Rebelyn, a youth, teacher, a daughter of a rebel. There could have been promises of a better future for her. There could have been opportunities for her to be of service to the community as a teacher. But the wicked cowards made it sure that she would die in a most horrendous way.

Perhaps it was to humiliate the father and to demoralize him. Some classical tools of the tyrants to bring death to its enemies, and subdue the struggles of the dissenters.

Norma P. Dollaga
KASIMBAYAN
3/F NCCP
879 Edsa, Quezon City, Philippines
kasimbayan@yahoo.com.ph

Des femmes tiennent un forum militant à Montréal

8ème événement annuel organisé par le Comité du 8 mars des femmes de diverses origines

Montréal, le 2 mars 2009 – Le forum organisé cette année pour marquer la Journée internationale des femmes à Montréal a une fois de plus été une journée de rires, de colère et de larmes, organisée par et pour des femmes fortes et passionnées.

Plus de 200 personnes sont venues entendre des conférencières, discuter et se réseauter, samedi le 28 mars à l’Université de Montréal, sur le thème Les femmes exigent un nouvel ordre mondial : Fin à l’impérialisme, l’occupation, la guerre, l’exploitation et la répression! Il s’agissait du 8ème événement annuel organisé par le Comité du 8 mars des femmes de diverses origines (WDO-FDO).

Y ont pris la parole un ensemble impressionnant de femmes de l’ensemble de la planète et de la collectivité québécoise:
Soha Bechara, ex-prisonnière politique de la tristement célèbre prison Khaim, en Israël, a parlé de la résistance continue des femmes palestiniennes;
Elizabeth Penashue (voir photo), une aînée Innu du Labrador a parlé de la lutte que poursuit sa communauté contre les vols d’entraînement à basse altitude menés par des pilotes de l’OTAN et contre les barrages qui inondent leur territoire;
Deux jeunes femmes de la communauté Tamoul montréalaise ont parlé du génocide actuellement pratiqué contre leur population au Sri Lanka;
Nargess Mustapha a parlé du travail d’organisation communautaire effectué à Montréal-Nord depuis le meurtre par la police du jeune Freddy Villanueva l’été dernier;
Tess Tesalona, de l’Alliance international des migrants, a parlé de la crise économique et de ses impacts sur les travailleuses et travailleurs migrants;
Zoya, la conférencière de RAWA – l’Association révolutionnaire des femmes afghanes –, a vu sa demande de visa refusée, mais elle nous a adressé un message écrit sur la nécessité de retirer d’Afghanistan les troupes étrangères, dont la présence n’a servi qu’à renforcer la position des seigneurs de la guerre et des Taliban dans son pays;
Et la lutte de la population Algonquin de Lac Barrière a été expliquée par un membre de leur comité de solidarité.

La journée a été dédiée à la mémoire de Melca Salvador, une travailleuse migrante philippine dont la lutte contre sa déportation et celle de son fils Richard, né au Canada, est devenue symbolique du courage et de l’énergie des travailleuses migrantes et de tous les problèmes entourant le Programme concernant les aides familiaux résidants au Canada. Sa lutte a mobilisé de larges secteurs de la collectivité en 2001 et a conduit à une victoire pour elle et pour son fils cette année-là. «Elle n’a eu que deux ans pour savourer cette victoire avant de recevoir un diagnostic de cancer du sein», a dit Tess Agustin, de l’organisme québécois de femmes philippines PINAY. Melca Salvador est décédée vendredi matin le 27 février 2009. L’assistance a eu droit à une vidéo émouvante sur sa lutte et sa victoire (que l’on peut visionner en ligne au http://www.pmm.qc.ca/english/spip.php?article20).

L’assistance a endossé une série de revendications présentée par le Comité du 8 mars des femmes de diverses origines, dont un appel à une assemblée internationale de femmes en 2010 à Montréal en vue d’établir une alliance mondiale des femmes.

Des bannières hautes en couleur décoraient l’amphithéâtre et les tables de littérature alignées dans le corridor. Comme chaque année, les personnes participantes ont eu droit à un savoureux repas communautaire, et la journée s’est terminée par une danse kurde où tout le monde s’est tenu par la main pour faire une ronde musicale autour de l’amphithéâtre. Un programme préparé par Anna Carasthathis et Charlotte Altunayar comprenait l’historique des Femmes de diverses origines, des articles et les résolutions présentées à l’assemblée.

Une manifestation organisée par le Comité du 8 mars des femmes de diverses origines aura lieu dimanche le 8 mars 2009 à Montréal à midi, qui partira du Carré Cabot, angle Sainte-Catherine et Atwater (Métro Atwater).

Women Hold Militant Forum in Montreal to mark International Women's Day

This year's forum to mark International Women's Day in Montreal was once again a day of laughter, rage and tears organized around strong, passionate women.

Over 200 people came out to hear speakers, exchange, and network around the theme Women Demand a New World Order: End Imperialism, occupation, exploitation, war and repression on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the Université de Montréal. This was the eighth yearly event organized by the March 8 Committee of Women of Diverse Origins (WDO-FDO).

There was an impressive array of speakers from around the globe and around the corner:

Soha Bechara, a former political prisoner at the notorious Khaim prison in Israel spoke about the on-going resistance of Palestinian women;

Elizabeth Penashue, an Innu elder from Labrador shared her community's story of on-going struggle against low-level NATO flights and the dams that were flooding their territory;

two young women from the local Tamil community spoke about the genocide being carried out against their people in Sri Lanka;

Nargess Mustapha spoke of community organizing after the police shooting of young Freddy Villanueva in Montreal North;

Tess Tesalona of the International Migrants' Alliance spoke about the economic crisis and its impact on migrant workers;

Zoya, the speaker from the Revolutionary Afghan Women's Association sent a written message when her visa was denied, in which she spoke about the need to withdraw foreign troops, which had only served to strengthen the position of warlords and the Taliban in her country;

and the struggle of the Algonquin people of Barriere Lake was explained by a member of the solidarity committee.

The day was dedicated to the memory of Melca Salvador, a Filipino migrant worker whose struggle against deportation became a symbol of the courage and stamina of migrant workers and of all that is wrong with Canada's Live-In Caregiver program. Her struggle mobilized broad community support in 2001and resulted in victory for her and her son Richard in May of that year. "She had only two years to enjoy that victory", said Tess Agustin, of the Quebec Filipina women's group, PINAY, "before she was diagnosed with breast cancer." Melca Salvador died on Friday morning, February 27, 2009. A video made by activist filmmakers documenting the year-long struggle and Melca's victory was shown. (You can see it on-line at: http://www.pmm.qc.ca/english/spip.php?article20)

Participants endorsed a series of resolutions presented by the March 8 Committee of Women of Diverse Origins, which included the call for an international assembly of women in Montreal in 2010 towards establishing a global women's alliance.

Colorful banners decorated the amphitheatre and tables of literature and books lined the corridor outside. As usual, a delicious community lunch was served and a Kurdish dance at the end of the day saw participants hold hands and circle the auditorium to the music. A program featuring the history of the WDO, articles and the resolutions was produced by Anna Carasthathis and Charlotte Altunayar.

An International Women's Day demonstration organized by the March 8 Committee of Women of Diverse Origins will be held in Montreal on Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 12 noon starting at Carré Cabot, corner Sainte-Catherine | Atwater (Métro Atwater).

What a shame: Patching wounds of Edsa

By Ania Aquino
Philippine Daily Inquirer - Commentary

The author is a student taking up communications and law at the University of Western Sydney. She is currently serving an internship at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo did not attend the 23rd Edsa commemoration on Feb. 25. The Vice President arrived, then left after a few minutes. I am a third-generation Australian-raised Filipino. I was there. I stayed.

I was only two months old when the first People Power Revolution broke out. I do not remember Edsa I, but I want to.

And so at the crack of dawn, I was at the foot of the Edsa Shrine, wondering to myself: If democracy was returned to the country here, if this monument of Filipinos with arms raised is so significant, then where is the President and why did my parents still opt to raise me abroad?"

read more at What a shame: Patching wounds of Edsa - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: