uphold, assert and defend all human rights for all!
uphold, assert and defend all human rights for all!
A briefing paper for the FIDH-PAHRA Mission to the U.S., November 17-24, 2010. This paper also serves as a follow-up of the results of the Fact-Finding and Follow-up Missions conducted by FIDH and PAHRA and IRCT.
November 23 started as a regular day in 2009. Until noon, when a series of news reports about a massive killing of women, children, journalists and civilians by the ruling Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao were reported. It was a desperate attempt to suppress the political opposition in Maguindanao. It was a brazen attempt to bury the truth that can no longer be denied – political families are ruling parts of the country and they are beyond the rule of law.
Action Network Human Rights-Philippines' open letter to the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Berlin commemorating the victims and the plight of their families still waiting for justice of the Ampatuan massacre.
Philippine Embassy
The Honorable Leah B. Ruiz
Charge D'Affaires
Uhlandstr. 97
10715 Berlin
In remembrance of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre at its first anniversary on November 23, 2010
It has been a year now since the atrocious massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao led to the brutal killing of 58 people. This incident made the Philippines one of the most dangerous country for journalists in the whole world.
All 58 People had to die because the clan of Ampatuan wanted to hold its political influence when competitor Esmael Mangudadatu announced to file a candidacy for the governors position in Maguindanao that was traditionally occupied by the powerful Ampatuan clan.
The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) denounces the arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defender Jean Marie Ferraris in Jakarta in July 2010 and the distortion of facts as reflected in the statement of Retired Police Director Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza published in a leading broadsheet in November 6, 2010 regarding Ferraris alleged communist-related financial activities in Indonesia as reason for the arrest.
The outright accusations against Ferraris’ heading the international financial cell of the Communist Party of the Philippines manifest the continued trend of labelling human rights defenders as insurgents and enemies of the state. Such trend is clearly indicated in the arbitrary arrests and detention of the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal for allegedly attending a session on making explosives.
Mexico -- On 8-11 November 2010 the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) will meet for the fourth time, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, following meetings in Brussels, Belgium (2007), Manila, Philippines (2008) and Athens, Greece (2009).
The GFMD is an inter-governmental consultative process open to all UN Member States. The process is state-led, voluntary, non-binding and informal. The GFMD is the only inter-governmental forum that exists at the international level to discuss migration policies and practices.
