Delegates deliver letter demanding end to impunity to Philippine Embassy

Ottawa, Canada (Tuesday, November 22, 2011) -- A delegation of solidarity and human rights activists from Montreal and Ottawa delivered a letter demanding an end to impunity to the Philippine Embassy today addressed to President Benigno Aquino III.

November 23 is the second anniversary of the infamous Ampatuan massacre during which 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed on the island of Mindanao while on their way to register a candidate for the Philippine election. To date the major perpetrators of the crime have managed to avoid their day in court and impunity reigns.

The delegation represented various organizations under Bayan Canada, the Stop the Killings network, independent journalists, human rights activists, unions and church groups. Delegates met with First Secretary and Consul, Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo, to hand in the letter and to discuss their concerns, namely to ensure that former President Gloria Arroyo is also brought to justice concerning with her role in the various political killings and enforced disappearances that occurred during Arroyo's administration.

The delegation raised the fact that the political killings continue unabated under the current administration of President Aquino, with Fr Fausto Tentorio being among the latest victims. The group also raised issue with the formation of mining militias to protect destructive mining operations, including Canadian mining companies. They said that they will not accept any human rights violations perpetrated against the Filipino people in the name of protecting Canadian or other foreign mining companies operating in the Philippines.

For their part, Consul Mayo attempted to assure us that all legal avenues were being made to ensure that Arroyo was brought to justice and defended the actions of the Aquino administration to arrest her before she fled the country as a risk undertaken in "contempt of the Supreme Court". The delegation countered that although the arrest of Arroyo was a step in the right direction, the international community continues to stay vigilant and wants to ensure that Arroyo and other human rights violators do not evade justice by using their political influence.

David Koch, an independent journalist, raised his concern that the Philippines is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, citing the 32 journalists who were killed in the "Ampatuan massacre".

When Consul Mayo challenged the delegates to come out with any recent journalists who have been victims of political killings and they raised the fact that one of the latest victims is an Italian priest who was also an indigenous rights and anti-mining activist in Mindanao.

The delegates also cited the more than 55 political killings and eightenforced disappearances under the present government. Consul Mayo ensured us that they will make sure that our message and the letter will be delivered to the President.

The consul then opened a discussion about the registrations for the Overseas Absentee Voting and the conditions of Filipino migrant workers in Canada, positively citing several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between Manila and various provinces in Canada (including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba).

The consul proudly announced that the Philippines is now the number one supplier of migrant workers to Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Migrante Canada members including PINAY and the Philippine Migrant Society of Canada responded by raising issues about the treatment of Filipino migrants in Canada and asked about the efforts of the Embassy and the consulates to ensure that migrant rights are protected.

The Consul asked the group to send her some points of concern so that she can discuss it with the Embassy and in discussion with Minister Jason Kenny when they meet for consultations around migrant workers. Consul Mayo then invited the Consul responsible for migrants to join the end of the discussion.

Joey Calugay

Philippine Study and Research (PSR) for Solidarity Action on Friday, Nov 11

Le CAP/CPC est heureux d'annoncer la première d'une une série régulière de conférences/discussions en vue de nous informer et nous rappeler des questions contemporaines et de l'histoire des Philippines qui influencent nos luttes et notre travail de solidarité.

Nous invitons tous les membres du CAP/CPC et des organisations affiliées à nous joindre pour la première séance, qui portera sur la Guerre Hispano-Américaine de 1898. M. Antonio Artuso présentera cet événement historique de l'impérialisme.

Soyez des nôtres
vendredi, le 11 novembre de 18h30 à 20h30
au CTI, 4755 av. Van Horne, Suite 110, Montréal. (Métro Plamondon)

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We are glad to announce that CPC will start to have a regular discussion meeting in order for us all to be refreshed and be updated about certain past and present issues concerning the Philippines that have impact on our ongoing struggles and solidarity work.

We are inviting members of CPC and allied organisations to join the first session which will focus on the Spanish-American war of 1898. Mr. Antonio Artuso will be the resource speaker as we go back to this important history event of imperialism.

This will be held on
Friday,November 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
at the IWC Centre, 4755 Van Horne Ave., Suite 110, Montreal, H3W 1J1. (Plamondon Metro).

Occupy Montréal... Occupy the Philippines... take back the world!

En solidarité avec les actions d'Occupy Wall Street aux Philippines et partout dans le monde

SAMEDI, 15 Octobre
MIDI
Au SQUARE VICTORIA  - Près du métro Square Victoria, Montréal, Québec, Canada

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In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street actions in the Philippines and worldwide

SATURDAY, October 15
NOON
SQUARE VICTORIA  - Near métro Square Victoria, Montreal, Quebec, Canada


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En solidaridad con "Occupy Wall Street " acciones en el mundo entero
 
SABADO 15 de octubre
La manifestación empieza al MEDIO DIA
en el SQUARE VICTORIA - cerca de la estación de metro Square Victoria, Montreal, Quebec, Canadá

Invitation: ILPS-Canada, CAP-CPC, Bayan-Canada
-- ILPS-Bayan-CAP contingent à rencontrer au coin de Square Victoria & Saint-Jacques, juste à l'extérieur de la sortie du Métro Square Victoria
-- ILPS-Bayan-CPC contingent to meet on the corner of rue Square Victoria & Saint-Jacques, just outside the Square Victoria Metro exit

Celebrate Peoples' Resistance: International Festival of People's Rights and Struggles in Montréal

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

3 pm to 7 pm

Côte-des-neiges Community Centre

6767 Côte-des-neiges

Room 687 (Metro Côte-des-Neiges)

Montréal, QC

Join us for an afternoon of cultural events, ceremonies, information-sharing, celebration and food.

1. Report-back by Montreal and Ottawa delegates to the International Conferences held July 2011 in the Philippines: IMA, IWA, People's Art and ILPS 4th International Assembly*

2. Ceremony to transfer newly arrived gongs from indigenous people in Cordillera region of Philippines to Montreal indigenous Cordillera cultural group

3. Commemorate James Balao - 3^rd anniversary of enforced disappearance of this indigenous leader from Cordillera region, Philippines.

Enjoy the food for thought with a delicious Lechon dinner (vegetarian dishes also served)

*Organized by the Centre d'appui aux Philippines / Centre for Philippine Concerns (CAP-CPC), Pinay (Quebec Philippine Women's Group), Filipino Workers’ Support Group, International Migrant's Alliance (IMA), International Women's Alliance (IWA) and International League of Peoples' Struggle - Canada (ILPS-Canada).

New film "Deadline - the reign of impunity" by Lamangan and Ilagan at Montreal Film Fest

A new film from the Philippines by director Joel Lamangan and scriptwriter Boni Ilagan along with actor Alan Dizon will be presented at the Montreal International Film Festival this August 25-28, 2011. This is the same talented team who touched all of us with the political thriller Dukot when it was presented in Montreal last year.

The new film, Deadline - The Reign of Impunity, is inspired by the deadly Amapatuan massacre, in which dozens of journalists along with civilians were murdered in November 2009. Deadline will be presented with English subtitles.

DEADLINE - THE REIGN OF IMPUNITY
Philippines
Regards sur les cinémas du monde
2011 / Couleur / 105 min

ÉQUIPE PRODUCTION

Réalisateur : Joel Lamangan Scénariste : Bonifacio P. Llagan
Photographie : Monino S. Duque Montage : John Anthony L Wong
Interprètes : Luis Alandy, Tirso Cruz III, Allen Dizon, Ina Feleo, Lovi Poe, Tj Trinidad

Thriller politique inspiré du massacre de Maguindanao en 2009 où 32 journalistes ont péri. L'assassinat de Henry Rosales, infatigable reporter du Philippine Sentinel, s'ajoute à une longue série qui vaut aux Philippines la réputation d'être l'un des pays les plus dangereux pour les représentants des médias. Il s'avère que le gouverneur Muntazir Ghazi (Gob) a échafaudé ce plan en représailles aux enquêtes de Rosales sur les assassinats de journalistes et le règne des seigneurs de la guerre, dont Gob lui-même, qui a formé son armée privée avec le soutien du gouvernement. À la suite de cet assassinat, la conférence de presse organisée par le Syndicat se termine en véritable bain de sang.
Joel Lamangan

Joel C. Lamangan a étudié le cinéma et l'art dramatique aux Philippines et à l'étranger. Il travaille d'abord comme acteur pour la scène et la télévision, avant d'opter pour la réalisation avec un premier film, DARNA, en 1991. Parmi ses autres films, dont plusieurs ont été primés aux Philippines, mentionnons FLOR CONTEMPLACION STORY(1995), DEATH ROW (2000), DUKOT ( 2009) et SIGWA ( 2010), ces deux derniers présentés au FFM.

25 août 2011 • 19:00:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 16 • L16.25.4 • s.t.a.
26 août 2011 • 12:20:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 16 • L16.26.2 • s.t.a.
27 août 2011 • 16:30:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 16 • L16.27.4 • s.t.a.
28 août 2011 • 18:40:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 16 • L16.28.4 • s.t.a.

James Balao: on June 12, thousands of voices demand justice on 1000th day of enforced disappearance

James Moy Balao is founding member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance and a member of the Ibaloi and Kankanaey indigenous peoples in the Philippines. His works include researches on indigenous peoples’ collective right to ancestral land and self-determination. He is also the President of the Oclupan Clan in Benguet province in the Cordillera region, Philippines.

He was abducted on September 17, 2008 at La Trinidad, Benguet by State security forces under the Operation Plan Bantay Laya (Freedom Watch) of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) regime. He has not been surfaced to this day.

James’ family, colleagues, human rights groups and advocates have launched sustained campaign to search for him – in many military camps, police facilities and public institutions.

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How can you help? By calling, writing, faxing, e-mailing the Philippine embassy in Ottawa to demand the surfacing of James Moy Balao:

Address: 130 Albert St. Suite 900, Ottawa ON K1P 5G4
Tel. Nos.: +1 613-2331121
Fax No.: +1 613-2334165
Email:
embassyofphilippines@rogers.com
attache@philembassy-ottawa.com


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The ‘Surface James Balao Campaign’ received broad support in the Cordillera region and from the national and international communities as well. The Writ of Amparo was granted by the local court in early 2009, compelling the military and security forces to give information with regards to the abduction of James.

However, inspite of all these efforts, James has not been brought back to his family and colleagues. His parents, Arthur and Jane Balao passed away last year without seeing their son.

June 12, 2011 marks James’ 1,000th day of enforced disappearance, which also takes place under the new administration of President Benigno Aquino III. With the continuing political persecution of legal people’s organizations, the change of administration has not translated to a change of policy in human rights, as Operation Plan (Oplan) Bayanihan commenced under this new regime.

We persist in the search for James. His family, colleagues, the indigenous peoples that he serves and many human rights advocates across the globe, will mark the 1,000 days of James disappearance with thousands of postcards and signed petitions addressed to President Aquino.

The thousands of voices for justice will call on Philippine President Aquino to immediately order the military to surface James Balao and prosecute the perpetrators of his abduction. We also demand for a concrete action to surface all Desaparecidos.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance & Cordillera Human Rights Alliance

 

IMA Statement on the Adoption of the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers

The International Migrants Alliance (IMA) congratulates domestic workers organizations, migrants groups and advocates for the rights of migrant workers who have advocated for the passing of an international instrument that can be used for the further advancement of domestic workers rights. Despite attempts by some governments, particularly of the European Union, to water down key provisions, the ILO Committee on Domestic Workers adopted the Convention on Domestic Workers that constituted a big step towards its passing.

Among migrant workers, an overwhelming number are in the domestic work sector. The frequent global crisis has pushed more and more people  especially women to domestic work as socio-economic and political problems in migrant-sending countries escalate. Meanwhile, the labour market in migrant-importing countries has contracted to the point where migrant workers are relegated to the 3D jobs dirty, difficult and dangerous that include domestic work.

As domestic workers, migrants experience some of the worst kind of exploitation and abuse. Severely underpaid, overworked and discriminated in all spheres, domestic workers labour rights are routinely violated with impunity. They suffer from extreme physical, mental and sexual abuse, and even brutal deaths.

Labour laws were not made to cover domestic workers. Most are in live-in employment arrangement that keeps abuse and exploitation hidden from the public. The right to file grievances and seek redress is also denied from domestic workers not only because they are excluded from national labour laws but also due to other barriers such as insecurity of livelihood and lack of access to legal services that should be provided both by the sending and receiving governments of migrant workers.

Organizations of foreign domestic workers have been consistently struggling against policies and practices that impinge on the rights of domestic workers. National movements of migrants in different countries have worked to painstakingly build the solid strength of migrants to resist anti-migrants and anti-women laws like the wage campaign in Hong Kong, the struggle against the anti-migrant provisions of the Live-in Caregiver Program in Canada, the campaign against abuses in the Middle East, resistance against the exploitation of the au pair system in Europe, and many other issues.

In the regional level, the IMA recognizes the work of formations such as the United for Foreign Domestic Workers Rights (UFDWRs) a network of leading grassroots migrants organizations and NGOs who have been calling to have domestic work recognized as work even before the ILO started exploring the possibility of an ILO agreement on domestic work.

But the work is not yet over. Recommendations that will be included in the final instrument are now being discussed. The adopted convention with recommendations must still be passed in the plenary of the International Labour Conference one week from now. If approved, the migrants movement must utilize the ILO Convention on Domestic Work to further push the advocacy for the rights of domestic workers especially in the national level.

Agreements on migrant workers rights have been present for years but still, national governments routinely ignore provisions of these conventions and disregard their principles. National governments must be pushed to revise or create policies that will be in accordance with the convention. The convention must not suffer the fate of the implementation of previous instruments that are violated and ignored.

In this regard, the strength of the grassroots migrants' movement is, more than ever, needed.

As the grassroots movement, both of local domestic workers and foreign domestic workers, plays a crucial role in the advocacy for the convention, so will this movement play a key part in its implementation. Organizing, educating and mobilizing domestic workers must continue to genuinely change the condition of exploitation and oppression of domestic workers.

As the global formation of grassroots migrants with more than 130 member organizations in 26 countries, the IMA shall continue to struggle for the rights and wellbeing of domestic workers. The struggle will not let up for as long as commodification and modern-day slavery of migrants persists, there is every reason for migrants to fight.

Members and networks of the International Migrants Alliance are currently in Geneva, Switzerland for the 100th Session of the International Labour Conference such as the Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU-HK), MIGRANTE-Canada, and CARAM-Asia.

For reference: Eni Lestari
Chairperson, International Migrants Alliance
Tel. No.: 96081475