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

Philippines: Human Rights Forum with Rev. Rex Reyes

Dinner and public forum on human rights situation in the Philippines with Rev. Rex Reyes
first indigenous General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)

When: Wednesday, June 1, 2011; 5 pm - 9 pm
Where: Beaconsfield United Church, 202 Woodside Road, Beaconsfield, Québec H9W 2P1 (off Sherbrooke)

The Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns (CAP-CPC) invites you to meet Reverend Rex Reyes* at a dinner hosted by Beaconsfield United Church and the CAP-CPC.

The evening, which will be held at Beaconsfield United Church (202 Woodside Road, in Beaconsfield off Sherbrooke) on Wednesday, June 1st from 5:00 - 9:00pm,  will include a pasta supper, cultural presentations and a public forum.

Padi Rex, as he is fondly called by his kakailian (townmates), comes to visit and update us on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

While in Canada Fr. Rex will be address the Montreal/Ottawa Annual Conference Assembly of the United Church;  attend an event hosted by First United Church in Ottawa: meet with Members of Parliament; and visit local organizations such as Mine Watch Canada, as we work together to mobilize our Canadian leaders into action addressing the Human Rights Violations that continue in the Philippines.

This is our chance to hear Fr. Rex's stories and give him a warm welcome to Montreal.

For further details and to find out how you can help with this important Social Justice work, please contact
The Reverend Shaun Fryday : (514) 695-0600 or by email at bu1@bellnet.ca (BUC)
Tony DeJesus at   tonyndj@hotmail.com ; Fr. Art Calaycay at   frart01@sympatico.ca (CAP-CPC)

*The Reverend Father Rex Reyes is an Igorot Priest from Sagada, Mountain Province. He belongs to the Episcopal Church of the Philippines and is the first indigenous General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), a fellowship of 10 church denominations and 10 service organizations. The Episcopal Church and the Philippine Independent Church are members of the NCCP.

Celebrating Cordillera Day on an Easter Sunday in Montréal

Montréal, Québec -- This year's Cordillera Day coincides with the Roman Catholic Church's Easter Sunday. Held each year on April 24th, Cordillera Day is a cultural celebration of the struggles of the indigenous people in the Cordillera region of northern Philippines.

Here in Montreal, Cordillera Day has been celebrated for decades. This year's event was organized by the Centre for Philippine Concerns (Centre d'appui aux Philippines), Migrante Quebec, and Bayan Canada. Dr. Chandu Claver, Chairperson of Bayan Canada, presented a recorded message of solidarity.

The theme of the celebration was "Live out our glorious history of struggle; fight for life, land and honour."

The occasion started with a special Easter Mass by Rev. Fr. Artemio Calaycay with the choir singing Ang Bayan Ko. In his homily, Fr. Calaycay shared his thoughts about peace. He said that the biblical concept of peace is not just the absence of war, conflict or chaos but the "lifting up" of the sorry state of an individual or of the community. He explained, "The Philippine government should continue working for lasting peace as the Filipino people are already tired or systemic corruption, or rising cost of basic commodities, and of human rights violations."

The celebration also included a Skype conference with Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Jalandoni shared updates on the peace talk negotiations between the National Democratic Front (NDF) and Philippine government. Jalandoni said that the Aquino regime continue to exhibit unpeaceable attitudes and actions which has already victimized labor leaders, peasant and social activists and intensified the militarization of civilian communities in the rural areas. The NDF also celebrates its 38th founding anniversary of the revolutionary alliance on April 24.

To heighten the spirit of the Easter celebration, the native American drumming and singing group called ODAYA rendered a contemporary performance. The group is composed of women from different tribes of Canada whose mission is to share the joy and beauties of Indigenous cultures.

There were also cultural presentations by the Cordillera cultural group, PINAY and the children of Filipino Parents Support Group.

Founded in 1982, the Centre for Philippine Concerns is composed of Filipinos and non-Filipinos in Montreal, Quebec supporting the Filipino people's movement for National Democracy through advocacy and public education. The organization is also aligned with Bayan-Canada, Migrante-Canada and the International League of People's Struggles.

Migrante-Quebec is composed of different organizations. PINAY, a Filipino Women's Organization, works to empower and organize Filipino women in Quebec, particularly Filipino domestic workers. Most of its members are migrant workers under the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP). For two decades Pinay has brought together domestic workers and their supporters together in the struggle for basic rights and welfare.

Other members are the Filipino Parents Support Group, Filipino Workers Support Group, Aklan Association of Montreal and the Cordillera Organizing Group.

And just like in many other Filipino celebrations, Pinoy foods, such as arroz caldo and pancit, were served after the Mass and cultural performances.

Contributed by Joyce Valbuena

On the occasion of James Balao's 50th birthday: Stop Enforced Disappearances!

Dear friends,
We are sharing with you the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance statement on the 50th birthday of James Balao, a victim of enforced disappearance since September 17, 2008.  We continue to call for his surfacing and freedom to this day.

Sincerely,

Audrey Beltran
Deputy Secretary General
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance

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CORDILLERA HUMAN RIGHTS ALLIANCE
Statement on the 50th Birthday of James Balao:

SURFACE JAMES BALAO!
STOP ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES!

“Happy 50th birthday James.  Wherever you may be, we keep the hope that you are still alive.  We want you to know that we love you and we’re waiting for you to come home.  You’ve turned 50 today and we, Nonette, Winston, the whole family and your friends miss you so much.
To the State, the military and its agents, stop enforced disappearances.  We want our loved ones brought back to us.“

- Joni Balao, youngest sister of James Balao

Today, April 19, James Balao’s 50th birthday marks the 942nd day when he was abducted by five heavily armed members of the State security forces in Tomay, La Trinidad.

Since that day of his enforced disappearance, we have joined his family, friends and colleagues in the search for him.  Not a day has passed that we do not remember him and call on the State for his surfacing and freedom.

We do so especially now that more light has been shed on the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos.   A month ago, the Commission on Human Rights investigation led by Commissioner Jose Mamauag stated in its report that the abduction and enforced disappearance of Jonas is “not a simple case of kidnapping done by some individuals within the military, but is, in fact, a part of the entire counter-insurgency program of the past administration wherein both military and police forces played a crucial role in its enforcement.”

James like Jonas became a victim of enforced disappearance because of his political beliefs and service to the people.  The Cordillera Peoples Alliance, of which James is a founding member has been unjustly labeled by the State as a sectoral front of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New Peoples Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and thus has been among the targets of the State security forces in the implementation of Operation Plan Bantay Laya (Operation Plan Freedomwatch).  There have been 205 cases of enforced disappearances under the Arroyo regime, all marked with impunity as no perpetrator has been held accountable to date.

The tagging of members and leaders of people’s organizations as sectoral fronts of revolutionary organizations continue to this day under President Benigno Aquino III’s Operation Plan Bayanihan which is patterned after the United States Counter-insurgency Guide.  Since July, there have already been 5 cases of enforced disappearances.

We strongly assert that this policy has to be immediately abandoned by the government if it were sincere in upholding and respecting the rights of the people.  Aquino has to pay heed to the call of the people for the delivery of justice.

We call on the Aquino government to surface James Balao, and other victims of enforced disappearance and see to it that the perpetrators of human rights violations, including former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are brought to the bars of justice.

James has always been steadfast in the defense and assertion of human rights.  The search for him, 942 days after his enforced disappearance is arduous but we will not cease.  We owe it to him, his family and the people he served to continue the search, hold the State accountable, seek for justice and build a society where no one will be taken from one's family because of one's principles and service to the people.#

For reference:
Jude Baggo
Secretary General
Tel: +63 918 919-9007, +63 999 681-1128

-- cordillera human rights alliance
55 ferguson road, baguio city, philippines
telefax: +63. 74. 443. 7159
telephone:  +63 74 304 4239cp:  +63 918 919 9007
email: chra.karapatan@gmail.com

Stop the Harassment of Cordillera Health Workers

Please sign the petition (see link below) to Stop the Harassment of Cordillera Health Workers in the Philippines. Petition forwarded by CAP-CPC member Rev. Shaun E. Fryday.

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We, the undersigned call on Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to effect an immediate, independent, transparent and thorough investigation on the harassment of staff and volunteers of Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE) of the Philippines. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopharassmentofhealthworkers/

Prospects for Peace in the Philippines - an Easter mass/cultural celebration

When: Sunday, April 24, 2011, 2 pm to 5 pm
Where: 6767 Cote-des-Neiges (6th floor), Montréal, Québec

An Easter event/mass featuring cultural celebrations in honour of Cordillera Day, held each year on April 24th to celebrate the struggles of the indigenous people in the Cordillera region of northern Philippines.

The event will include a SKYPE video messages from Dr Chandu Claver, Chairperson of Bayan Canada.

Keynote speakers, also via SKYPE, will be Luis J. Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), which is engaged in Peace Talks with the Government of the Philippines (GPH). Jalandoni is Chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel and Ledesma is a member of the NDFP Panel who has just returned from the Philippines. The NDFP will be celebrating its 38th anniversary on April 24th.