Exposer les racines du conflit armé aux Philippines :
A la recherche de solutions ensemble
Avec cinq Montréalais tout juste de retour des Philippines:
Zharmaine Ante (AnakBayan Montréal)
Evelyn Calugay (PINAY)
Renz Grospe (AB Montréal)
Sherilyn Recinto (AB Montréal)
Olga Ulanov (Femmes de diverses origines)
Organisé par le Centre d'appui aux Philippines et #JustPeacePH - Plate-forme pour une paix juste et durable aux Philippines (Montréal)
CONTEXTE
Les pourparlers de paix sont en cours entre le Gouvernement de Rodrigo Duterte (GRP) et les forces révolutionnaires du Front national démocratique des Philippines (FNDP). Un accord en six points a été signé à Oslo, Norvège en août dernier et la prochaine série importante de discussions sont prévues pour octobre, également à Oslo.
Au programme des négociations sera un accord global sur les réformes économiques et sociales, ou CASER, des éléments qui seraient au cœur d'une paix juste et durable. Pendant ce temps, un cessez-le feu tient toujours entre les forces gouvernementales, composées des Forces armées des Philippines (AFP) et de la Police nationale des Philippines (PNP) d'un côté, et la Nouvelle Armée populaire (NPA) de l'autre.
Pourquoi y at-il des pourparlers de paix? Parce qu’une guerre civile fait rage aux Philippines depuis 1969. L'injustice quotidienne, systématique et systémique vécue par la majorité de la population des Philippines les a conduit à rechercher des changements fondamentaux dans la société par divers moyens. Pendant ce temps, la petite minorité bénéficiant du statu quo utilise tous les moyens à sa disposition, y compris les instruments et la violence de l'État pour empêcher tout changement social fondamental. En conséquence, de nombreux Philippins et Philippines ont opté pour la lutte armée pour renverser le système en place. Cette guerre se poursuit dans toutes les régions du pays actuellement.
Les médias canadiens et internationaux sont remplis d'histoires au sujet des déclarations controversées du nouveau président des Philippines, au sujet de sa guerre contre les narco-traffiquants et ses insultes contre le président des États-Unis, entre autres choses. Mais ces manchettes ne racontent qu'une petite partie de ce qui se passe aux Philippines, et ont déformé la réalité dans une large mesure.
POURPARLERS DE PAIX
Pratiquement aucune attention des médias internationaux a été donnée aux négociations de paix que le gouvernement Duterte a accepté de redémarrer, et encore moins au Programme populaire en 15 points qui a été présenté au président Duterte le jour où il a prêté serment. Ce Programme pour un changement nationaliste et progressiste et un programme plus détaillé pour les 100 premiers jours de sa présidence couvre cinq grands domaines: économie, politique sociale, la gouvernance, la paix et les droits de la personne, la souveraineté nationale et la politique étrangère.
Cinq Montréalais qui ont passé jusqu'à trois mois immergés dans les mouvements populaires aux Philippines cet été seront présent le 24 septembre à Concordia pour nous donner un son de cloche de ce qui se passe sur le terrain. Ils ont fait des séjours à Negros, Nueva Ecija, Cebu et Mindanao, y compris Davao, la ville d'origine du nouveau président. Leurs témoignages seront proche du terrain, non censurée et de première main. Ils exposeront quelques-unes des racines du conflit armé aux Philippines et expliqueront comment le programme en 15 points est un début pour s’attaquer aux causes sous-jacentes de la rébellion.
Rejoignez-nous avec vos histoires et vos questions. Ce sera un après-midi enrichissante et passionnante d’échanges, ponctuée de présentations culturelles.
15.6.16
Philippines - Release all political prisoners! : SELDA
STATEMENT
15 June 2016
15 June 2016
Victims of human
rights violations and kin:
RELEASE ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS!
RESUME PEACE
TALKS!
RESOLVE THE ROOTS
OF ARMED CONFLICT!
WE ARE citizens who have experienced human rights
violations since the Marcos dictatorship until the departing Noynoy Aquino
administration. We know what
persecution, torture, deprivation of liberty, forced separation from family,
and isolation from society mean. We are former political prisoners who have
survived to tell our stories.
Today, we are joined by kith and kin, other victims
of rights violations, and justice advocates, to urge the release of all
political prisoners who have been enduring injustice and suffering state
brutality because they fought a war against slavery and poverty, elitism and
greed, subservience to foreign interests, and unfreedom.
They must all be freed.
Today, as we press for the release of 509 political
prisoners languishing in jails all over the country, we are encouraged by the
declaration and intention of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to do so. We are
completely behind him to right what all the past presidents did wrong.
Releasing all political prisoners, especially the 18
consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, will
absolutely create a positive climate for the resumption of the peace talks. There is no way that granting freedom to
citizens who have been wrongfully arrested, jailed, and slapped with trumped-up
charges will not encourage peace. This much-awaited milestone act of
statesmanship by the President-elect, once realized, will what shall initiate
closure to many instances of injustice.
Together with the freed political prisoners and all
our families and organizations, we stand foursquare behind the peace process in
search of solutions to the root causes of the war that has long raged in our
country.
We warn the diehards of the withering Noynoy Aquino
regime and all saboteurs not to sow intrigues, not to redtag, and not to
disrupt and derail the release of political prisoners and the success of the peace
negotiations.
We, the people, shall overcome!
The
Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) is an
organization of former political prisoners in the Philippines. Founded
on December 4, 1984, SELDA was initiated by newly-released political
prisoners of the martial law period. SELDA’s primary task is to work
for the release of all political prisoners and to see to it that humane
treatment of those who are still in detention are complied with by the
Philippine authorities. SELDA advocates justice for current and former
political prisoners. It calls for the mobilisation of resources in
support of political prisoners, former detainees and their families. It
carries out legislative advocacy for the indemnification and
rehabilitation of political prisoners. SELDA goes into partnership and
builds solidarity with concerned individuals and groups for the freedom
and welfare of political prisoners and all victims of tyranny.
SELDA National Office: 2/F, Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets,
Brgy. Central District, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Tel: 632-9906595 Fax: 632-4354146
28.3.16
De retour des Philippines! Rapport sur le mouvement anti-impérialiste
 |
| Leila Khaled du Palestine avec les manifestant-e-s anti-APEC aux Philippines |
Centre des travailleuses et travailleurs immigrant-e-s (CTI-IWC)
4755 rue Van Horne, Bureau 110, Montréal, Québec H3W 1H8 (Métro Plamondon)
Entrée libre: léger goûter et traduction vers l'anglais et le français
Amenez vos ami-e-s (et une chandelle!)
Témoignages de deux déléguées à la conférence de la plus grande organisation anti-impérialiste et démocratique du genre au monde: la Ligue internationale de lutte des peuples, LILP-ILPS.
Louisa Worrell du Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrant-e-s (CTI-IWC), et Inti Barrios des Femmes de diverses origines (FDO-WDO) et du Bloc d'artiste présenteront leurs expériences.
La conférence, qui a eu lieu en novembre 2015 à Manille aux Philippines, a fait parti d'une plus grande mobilisation internationale visant à exposer et bloquer la réunion impérialiste de la Coopération économique en Asie pacifique (APEC). Le chef de l'impérialisme canadienne, Justin Trudeau, était présent a la rencontre de Manille, parmi une vingtaine de chefs d'état.
SUR FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/1697915117134495/
Louisa et Inti parleront aussi de leur expérience au sein des organisations populaires sur l'île de Negros suivant la conférence.
Tout anti-impérialiste est bienvenu-e-s! LILP au Québec invite particulierement ses organisations-membres et les allié-e-s pour partager leur luttes dans la perspective de collaboration et de l'élargissement du réseau anti-impérialiste au Québec et au-delà.
Amenez une chandelle pour une activité à la fin de la soirée!
Un léger goûter sera offert. L'entrée est gratuit, mais nous ne refuseront aucun don. Traduction chuchotée vers l'anglais et le français.
Malcolm Guy
-- coordinateur par interim au Centre d'appui aux Philippines (CAP-CPC), organisation membre de l'ILPS
Back from the Philippines! Report on the global anti-imperialist movement
 |
| Leila Khaled from Palestine joins anti-APEC demontrators in Manila, Philippines. Leila Khaled was a keynote speaker at the 5th International Assembly of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) |
Friday, April 1, 2016, 6pm - 8:30pm
Immigrant Workers Centre (CTI-IWC)
4755 Van Horne, Suite 110, Montreal, Quebec H3W 1H8
Free event, snacks and translation provided
Bring your friends (and candles)!
Join us for first-hand reports from Montreal delegates who took part in an international conference in the Philippines of the world's largest anti-imperialist and democratic formation of it's kind.
The evening will feature Louisa Worrell, organiser from the Immigrant Workers Centre* (CTI-IWC), and Inti Barrios from Women of Diverse Origins* (FDO-WDO) and the Bloc d'Artiste.
They will speak about their experience at the 5th International Assembly of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) held in November in Manila, Philippines. The conference took place in the context of an international mobilization to expose and oppose the meeting in Manila of the imperialist-led Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Justin Trudeau attended APEC as the representative of Canadian imperialism.
Let us know you're going -- Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/1697915117134495/
Louisa and Inti will also talk about their post-Assembly exposure trip with sugar worker communities on the island of Negros.
All progressives and anti-imperialists are welcome! ILPS in Quebec extends a special invitation to member organizations and friends to share about their struggles. We can thus work together to advance and widen the anti-imperialist circle in Quebec and beyond.
Please bring candles for an anti-imperialist solidarity action at the end of the event!
French-English translation and snacks will be provided. Free event, donations welcome.
-- Malcolm Guy (interim coordinator of the Centre for Philippine Concerns (CAP-CPC), a member organization of the ILPS)
* member organizations of the ILPS
1.9.15
Paramilitary group massacres 3 in Lumad School in Surigao Sur
01 September 2015
AN OPEN LETTER
To His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III
RE: School executive, IP leader and a civilian killed
Paramilitary group massacres 3 in Lumad School in Surigao Sur
Date of incident: 01 September 2015
Place of incident: Lianga, Surigao del Sur
Mr. President,
The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR) joins the Filipino human rights defenders, educators, people’s organizations and international rights groups in strongly condemning the barbaric and inhuman act of killing of Emerito Samarca, executive director of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), a self-initiated school for the Lumad. He was found dead on September 1, with a stab wound inside one of the classrooms in the school compound in Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Also killed in Km. 16, some three kilometres from Han-ayan, were Dionel Campos, chairperson of Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU) and his cousin, Bello Sinzo. The two were shot by members of the Magahat/Bagani force in the presence of their community members in Km. 16.
According to the report we received from KARAPATAN, two days prior to the killing, the Magahat/Bagani Force and elements of the 36th IB encamped at the ALCADEV school compound and occupied the function hall and parts of the school grounds. During the encampment, the Magahat group threatened the school faculty members, staff and community members that they will massacre the community if the people will not leave in two days.
On August 31, the MAGAHAT group burned down the community cooperative store of MAPASU while indiscriminately firing around the community. Emerito Samarca, according to the report was held and detained by some armed members of Magahat before he was killed. He was last seen tied around the neck, his hands and feet were also tied. He was brought to one of the classrooms.
On the evening of August 31, the ALCADEV faculty and most of the residents in Han-ayan went to Km. 16 for safety. At around 4 a.m., Magahat Forces went from house to house in Km. 16 and ordered the residents to get out of their houses and go to the center of the community. That was when Campos and Sinzo were met by a volley of gunfire from brothers Loloy and Bobby Tejero of the Magahat/Bagani Force.
Magahat members also confiscated all cellphones and cameras from the residents and ALCADEV staff and remaining visitors in the community.
According to KARAPATAN, the Bagani paramilitary and the 36th IB has long been accusing self-help Lumad school ALCADEV as NPA school, killing the teachers and organizers in the community, consequently depriving the Lumad of their education.
Mr. President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we ask that you order an immediate pull-out of the 36th Infantry Battalion in Lumad communities in Lianga, Surigao del Sur and the dismantling of paramilitary groups in this dirty war against the Filipino people.
We further urge your administration:
1. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights to look into these incidents of human rights violations; and, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
2. To observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that the Philippine government is a party and signatory to.
Finally we call on your administration and all its institutions to uphold the basic human rights of the citizens whom you have sworn to serve.
The Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
Copy furnished:
1. Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com
2. Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila, Philippines
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email: lmdelima@doj.gov.ph, lmdelima.doj@gmail.com, lmdelima.doj2@gmail.com
3. Hon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, (+632) 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
E-mail: comsec@chr.gov.ph
AN OPEN LETTER
To His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III
RE: School executive, IP leader and a civilian killed
Paramilitary group massacres 3 in Lumad School in Surigao Sur
Date of incident: 01 September 2015
Place of incident: Lianga, Surigao del Sur
Mr. President,
The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR) joins the Filipino human rights defenders, educators, people’s organizations and international rights groups in strongly condemning the barbaric and inhuman act of killing of Emerito Samarca, executive director of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), a self-initiated school for the Lumad. He was found dead on September 1, with a stab wound inside one of the classrooms in the school compound in Han-ayan, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Also killed in Km. 16, some three kilometres from Han-ayan, were Dionel Campos, chairperson of Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU) and his cousin, Bello Sinzo. The two were shot by members of the Magahat/Bagani force in the presence of their community members in Km. 16.
According to the report we received from KARAPATAN, two days prior to the killing, the Magahat/Bagani Force and elements of the 36th IB encamped at the ALCADEV school compound and occupied the function hall and parts of the school grounds. During the encampment, the Magahat group threatened the school faculty members, staff and community members that they will massacre the community if the people will not leave in two days.
On August 31, the MAGAHAT group burned down the community cooperative store of MAPASU while indiscriminately firing around the community. Emerito Samarca, according to the report was held and detained by some armed members of Magahat before he was killed. He was last seen tied around the neck, his hands and feet were also tied. He was brought to one of the classrooms.
On the evening of August 31, the ALCADEV faculty and most of the residents in Han-ayan went to Km. 16 for safety. At around 4 a.m., Magahat Forces went from house to house in Km. 16 and ordered the residents to get out of their houses and go to the center of the community. That was when Campos and Sinzo were met by a volley of gunfire from brothers Loloy and Bobby Tejero of the Magahat/Bagani Force.
Magahat members also confiscated all cellphones and cameras from the residents and ALCADEV staff and remaining visitors in the community.
According to KARAPATAN, the Bagani paramilitary and the 36th IB has long been accusing self-help Lumad school ALCADEV as NPA school, killing the teachers and organizers in the community, consequently depriving the Lumad of their education.
Mr. President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we ask that you order an immediate pull-out of the 36th Infantry Battalion in Lumad communities in Lianga, Surigao del Sur and the dismantling of paramilitary groups in this dirty war against the Filipino people.
We further urge your administration:
1. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights to look into these incidents of human rights violations; and, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
2. To observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that the Philippine government is a party and signatory to.
Finally we call on your administration and all its institutions to uphold the basic human rights of the citizens whom you have sworn to serve.
The Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
Copy furnished:
1. Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com
2. Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila, Philippines
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email: lmdelima@doj.gov.ph, lmdelima.doj@gmail.com, lmdelima.doj2@gmail.com
3. Hon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, (+632) 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
E-mail: comsec@chr.gov.ph
29.7.15
Les gouvernements philippin, américain violent les droits du people philippin: Tribunal
29 juillet 2015
Pour diffusion immédiate
Les gouvernements philippin, américain violent les droits du people philippin: Tribunal
Des Montréalais se rassemblent jeudi le 30 juillet 2015 afin de faire le point
Montréal —Un tribunal international à Washington, DC, a émis un jugement reconnaissant la responsabilité des gouvernements actuels des Philippines et des États-Unis dans un large éventail de violations de droits de la personne à l’encontre du peuple philippin.
La délégation montréalaise qui s’est rendue à Washington à titre d’observateurs tiendra un forum public sous forme de BBQ-potluck/levée de fonds jeudi afin de discuter des conclusions du tribunal.
Le Tribunal international des peuples, qui a siégé dans la capitale américaine du 16 au 18 juillet, a entendu les témoignages de 32 victimes, témoignages qui ont révélé toute l’étendue de la violence, des expropriations forcées et de la répression politique auxquelles font face les Philippins.
Un jury international a jugé le 18 juillet que les gouvernements des Philippines et des États-Unis sont coupables de violations graves et systématiques des droits humains, notamment les droits civils et politiques, économiques et socio-culturels et le droit du peuple philippin à l’auto-détermination. Il s’agit d’un « tribunal de conscience », et le jugement n’est donc pas juridiquement contraignant, mais les organisateurs affirment que sa force est à la fois politique et morale.
Le verdict du TIP est émis après deux jours de témoignages, dont plusieurs provenaient des victimes mêmes de ces abus. Ils ont décrit avec force détails leurs expériences de torture, d’arrestation arbitraire et du meurtre d’être chers.
Ces crimes ont été commis par l’armée et la police philippines ainsi que par des forces paramilitaires agissant sous l’égide du programme anti-insurrectionnel du gouvernement, dénommé Oplan Bayanihan, utilisé comme prétexte pour réprimer de mouvements pour la paix et la justice sociale, selon le tribunal.
Le tribunal a également conclu que les États-Unis avaient participé à ces violations par le biais de leurs subventions à l’armée philippine, des interventions directes de leurs troupes et par l’imposition de politiques accentuant la pauvreté, l’exploitation et la dégradation environnementale aux Philippines.
La délégation montréalaise comportait des étudiants, immigrants, écrivains et activistes qui feront part de leurs observations jeudi soir et discuteront des façons dont la population montréalaise peut appuyer la lutte pour le respect des droits de la personne aux Philippines.
Détails de l’évènement:
6:00-9:00 PM, le jeudi 30 juillet
4709 The Boulevard, Westmount
Page Facebook de l’évènement: https://www.facebook.com/events/1427795717550829/
Le jugement intégral du Tribunal et des informations additionnelles sont disponibles en ligne: internationalpeoplestribunal.org
Centre for Philippine Concerns
http://cap-cpc.blogspot.ca/
Contact: David Koch
+1 514-966-7604 / davidgkoch@gmail.com
Pour diffusion immédiate
Les gouvernements philippin, américain violent les droits du people philippin: Tribunal
Des Montréalais se rassemblent jeudi le 30 juillet 2015 afin de faire le point
Montréal —Un tribunal international à Washington, DC, a émis un jugement reconnaissant la responsabilité des gouvernements actuels des Philippines et des États-Unis dans un large éventail de violations de droits de la personne à l’encontre du peuple philippin.
La délégation montréalaise qui s’est rendue à Washington à titre d’observateurs tiendra un forum public sous forme de BBQ-potluck/levée de fonds jeudi afin de discuter des conclusions du tribunal.
Le Tribunal international des peuples, qui a siégé dans la capitale américaine du 16 au 18 juillet, a entendu les témoignages de 32 victimes, témoignages qui ont révélé toute l’étendue de la violence, des expropriations forcées et de la répression politique auxquelles font face les Philippins.
Un jury international a jugé le 18 juillet que les gouvernements des Philippines et des États-Unis sont coupables de violations graves et systématiques des droits humains, notamment les droits civils et politiques, économiques et socio-culturels et le droit du peuple philippin à l’auto-détermination. Il s’agit d’un « tribunal de conscience », et le jugement n’est donc pas juridiquement contraignant, mais les organisateurs affirment que sa force est à la fois politique et morale.
Le verdict du TIP est émis après deux jours de témoignages, dont plusieurs provenaient des victimes mêmes de ces abus. Ils ont décrit avec force détails leurs expériences de torture, d’arrestation arbitraire et du meurtre d’être chers.
Ces crimes ont été commis par l’armée et la police philippines ainsi que par des forces paramilitaires agissant sous l’égide du programme anti-insurrectionnel du gouvernement, dénommé Oplan Bayanihan, utilisé comme prétexte pour réprimer de mouvements pour la paix et la justice sociale, selon le tribunal.
Le tribunal a également conclu que les États-Unis avaient participé à ces violations par le biais de leurs subventions à l’armée philippine, des interventions directes de leurs troupes et par l’imposition de politiques accentuant la pauvreté, l’exploitation et la dégradation environnementale aux Philippines.
La délégation montréalaise comportait des étudiants, immigrants, écrivains et activistes qui feront part de leurs observations jeudi soir et discuteront des façons dont la population montréalaise peut appuyer la lutte pour le respect des droits de la personne aux Philippines.
Détails de l’évènement:
6:00-9:00 PM, le jeudi 30 juillet
4709 The Boulevard, Westmount
Page Facebook de l’évènement: https://www.facebook.com/events/1427795717550829/
Le jugement intégral du Tribunal et des informations additionnelles sont disponibles en ligne: internationalpeoplestribunal.org
Centre for Philippine Concerns
http://cap-cpc.blogspot.ca/
Contact: David Koch
+1 514-966-7604 / davidgkoch@gmail.com
Philippine, U.S. govts violate rights of Filipino people: Tribunal
29 July 2015
For immediate release
Philippine, U.S. govts violate rights of Filipino people: Tribunal
Montrealers to gather Thursday, July 30, 2015 for report-back
Montreal — An international tribunal in Washington, DC, has ruled that the current governments of the Philippines and the United States are responsible for a wide range of human rights violations against the Philippine people.
A delegation from Montreal that attended the tribunal as observers will be hosting a public meeting and fundraising BBQ-potluck on Thursday evening to discuss the findings.
The International Peoples’ Tribunal (IPT), which took place in the US capital from July 16–18, heard from 32 witnesses whose testimonies revealed the extent of violence, displacement and political repression being experienced by the Philippine people.
An international panel of jurors ruled on 18 July that the governments of the Philippines and the United States are guilty of gross and systematic violations of human rights, including civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; and the right to national self-determination. A “tribunal of conscience,” the ruling is legally non-binding, but organizers say its force is both political and moral.
The IPT’s verdict came after two full days of testimonies, many by those who had experienced these violations directly. They described in vivid detail their experiences of torture, arbitrary arrest, and the assassination of loved ones.
These crimes were committed by Philippine military, police, and paramilitary forces that use the government’s counter-insurgency program, known as Oplan Bayanihan, to justify the suppression of movements for social justice, the tribunal found.
The tribunal also ruled that the United States has participated in these violations through its aid to the Philippine military, direct intervention in the Philippines by US troops, and the imposition of policies contributing to poverty, exploitation, and environmental destruction in the Philippines.
The Montreal delegation included students, migrants, writers and activists who will be sharing their observations Thursday evening and discussing how people in Montreal can support the struggle for human rights in the Philippines.
Event details:
6:00-9:00 PM, Thursday 30 July
4709 The Boulevard, Westmount, Québec
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1427795717550829/
The IPT’s ruling and other information can be found at: internationalpeoplestribunal.org
Centre for Philippine Concerns
http://cap-cpc.blogspot.ca/
Contact: David Koch
+1 514-966-7604 / davidgkoch@gmail.com
For immediate release
Philippine, U.S. govts violate rights of Filipino people: Tribunal
Montrealers to gather Thursday, July 30, 2015 for report-back
Montreal — An international tribunal in Washington, DC, has ruled that the current governments of the Philippines and the United States are responsible for a wide range of human rights violations against the Philippine people.
A delegation from Montreal that attended the tribunal as observers will be hosting a public meeting and fundraising BBQ-potluck on Thursday evening to discuss the findings.
The International Peoples’ Tribunal (IPT), which took place in the US capital from July 16–18, heard from 32 witnesses whose testimonies revealed the extent of violence, displacement and political repression being experienced by the Philippine people.
An international panel of jurors ruled on 18 July that the governments of the Philippines and the United States are guilty of gross and systematic violations of human rights, including civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; and the right to national self-determination. A “tribunal of conscience,” the ruling is legally non-binding, but organizers say its force is both political and moral.
The IPT’s verdict came after two full days of testimonies, many by those who had experienced these violations directly. They described in vivid detail their experiences of torture, arbitrary arrest, and the assassination of loved ones.
These crimes were committed by Philippine military, police, and paramilitary forces that use the government’s counter-insurgency program, known as Oplan Bayanihan, to justify the suppression of movements for social justice, the tribunal found.
The tribunal also ruled that the United States has participated in these violations through its aid to the Philippine military, direct intervention in the Philippines by US troops, and the imposition of policies contributing to poverty, exploitation, and environmental destruction in the Philippines.
The Montreal delegation included students, migrants, writers and activists who will be sharing their observations Thursday evening and discussing how people in Montreal can support the struggle for human rights in the Philippines.
Event details:
6:00-9:00 PM, Thursday 30 July
4709 The Boulevard, Westmount, Québec
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1427795717550829/
The IPT’s ruling and other information can be found at: internationalpeoplestribunal.org
Centre for Philippine Concerns
http://cap-cpc.blogspot.ca/
Contact: David Koch
+1 514-966-7604 / davidgkoch@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)