Isyung HR: A rights’ propaganda
Isyung HR: A rights’ propaganda
PNoy was quoted in several news articles saying “a very vocal leftist community in the Philippines is very good at propaganda on human rights but I think the record speaks for itself.”
I searched for the definition of the term propaganda for the sake of clarity. Natanong ko sa isang mokong, “What is propaganda?” he answered, “GMG -Google mo Gago!”
And so I did. According to Wikipedia…
“Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position by presenting only one side of an argument. Propaganda is usually repeated and dispersed over a wide variety of media in order to create the chosen result in audience attitudes.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda
Naisip ko, Oo nga, pwede nga naman. Pero kung ang documentation of human rights violations ang titingnan, propaganda pa rin nga kaya ang human rights issues sa ating bansa?
Sa ganitong lohika, Human Rights groups document HRVs to influence a result. Oo nga, to push government to perform its obligations. One sided? oo rin, dahil nakapanig ang mga grupo sa mga biktima. And human rights violations pertain to the duty bearer’s violations of its obligations to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.
“Human rights violations occur when actions by state (or non-state) actors abuse, ignore, or deny basic human rights (including civil, political, cultural, social, and economic rights). Furthermore, violations of human rights can occur when any state or non-state actor breaches any part of the UDHR treaty or other international human rights or humanitarian law.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights
Sa aking pagkakaalam, International Human Rights standards and laws were set up in the context of States responsibilities and obligations in respecting and protecting the human rights of the people.
Pero in Pnoy’s point of view as quoted in the PhilStar.com article, “But in the past two weeks, for instance, we’ve had a lot of abuses done on state agents. When they were enforcing, for instance, eviction notices… they were pelted with human waste. And a lot of danger has happened to our people.”
Ibig sabihin ba nito, mas human rights issue for PNoy ang nabanggit? The “right not to be pelted with human waste” versus the peoples’ “right to housing.” Subukin nating hanapin sa UDHR. Hehehe mokong lang po…
Kung propaganda ay half truth, at ang HRVs ay propaganda, hindi nga ba katotohanan ang mga issues na katulad ng recent massacre committed by members of Military forces against family members of a B’laan tribe leader opposed to the entry of Sagittarius Mines Incorporated (SMI) in their ancestral domain area?
The massacre that killed a pregnant mother and two of her children happened last October 18, 2012 in Sitio Fayahlob, Barangay Datal Aliong, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, Mindanao. The perpetrators were members of 27th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army led by 1Lt. Dante Jimenez the commanding officer of the Bravo Company and under the command of Lt. Colonel Noel Alexis Bravo, Battalion Commander.
An article published in RAPPLER.com states that, “At sunrise Thursday, October 18, the soldiers of the 27th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army “strafed” the house of Erita’s brother, Daguil Capion, killing Capion’s 27-year old wife, Juvy and his sons, Pop Capion, 13, and John, 8, Erita told Rappler.
“According to Erita, at around 6:30 am, gunfire echoed across the quiet mountainous village, about 3 hours away from Koronadal, the capital of South Cotabato.
“Pumasok kami [sa bahay], sumigaw kaming mga babae. Bakit dinadamay ang mga bata? Ang magulang kong babae, talagang sumisigaw siya. Yung militar, pinatay ang mga bata nang walang awa.”
(We entered the house. The women were crying, ‘Why did you include the children?’ My mother was really crying. The military killed the children without mercy.”
According to news reports the military was saying that it was a legitimate encounter. So ito ba ang the other half of the truth?
“The military however claimed that what happened was an encounter between the group of Erita’s anti-mining tribal warrior-brother Daguil and government troops. Reports said that Lt Col Alexis Noel Bravo claimed that members of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion were attacked by armed men suspected to be Daguil’s group as the troops arrived in Sitio Alyong, Barangay Kimlawis in the town of Kiblawan del Sur. Bravo said the Army soldiers were responding to reports that the tribal leader was in the area.
“Erita (one of the witnesses) belied the military’s claim, saying that troops were already in their community hours before the killings. She said she and her fellow B’laans saw three 6×6 army vehicles arrive as early as 2 am of October 18.
“Eking Freay, a sitio leader in Bong Mal, also said he saw the military vehicles arriving in their area in the early hours of Thursday, October 18.”
Human Rights violations may not be as bloody as in this case. Sa mokong kong perspective, ang pagtrato sa human rights violations sa bansa bilang mahusay na propaganda lamang ng iilan, lalo at nagmula pa sa deklarasyon ng pangulo ay isang human rights violation itself. And it contributes to impunity.
We should be reminding the President that inaction in human rights violations ay human rights violation mismo. And such declaration shows na totoo nga ang nasagap natin sa ilang mga mokong na ang karapatang pantao ay hindi prioridad ni PNoy mismo.
Propaganda ang turing niya sa mga kaso ng HRVs, kaya pala mukhang hindi pa niya siniseryoso ang isang National Human Rights Action Plan.
“A warrant of arrest has been issued for a former Army general wanted for human rights abuses, the President said. He was referring to Jovito Palparan, who is wanted for the kidnapping and torture of two University of the Philippines coeds. The two are listed among the victims of enforced disappearances.” The news article concluded.
O ayan naman pala, e ‘di dapat na ngang pirmahan na ni PNoy ang Anti-Enforced Disappearance Bill. Pero kung propaganda pa rin ang turing ni PNoy sa mga cases ng enforced disappearance ay baka hindi niya pirmahan ang nakasalang na batas? Paano na?
Ang masaklap pa nga, this statement of PNoy was made in October 23 ilang araw matapos ang Massacre sa Tampakan at during the Indigenous Peoples Month.
Kung isang propaganda ang akto ng pagiging one sided o pagpanig sa mga biktima, at isang propaganda ang intensiyong makapagtulak ng resultang kilalanin ang karapatang pantao ng mamamayan, e di sige propaganda na nga.
Therefore, ang artikulong ito ay isang propaganda. A rights’ propaganda.
Again pasensiya na mokong perspective lang po.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=862776&publicationSubCategoryId=63
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/33-editors-pick-moveph/14428-b-laan-tribe-laments-massacre-of-leader-s-family
Related articles
- B’laan tribe laments ‘massacre’ of leader’s family (rappler.com)
- [Press Release] B’laan family in Tampakan massacred allegedly by 27th Infantry Battalion -ATM (hronlineph.com)
- [Press Release] Groups blame Xstrata-SMI: “Their blood are in your hands!” -ATM (hronlineph.com)
- Groups vow to seek justice for slain B’laans (mindanews.com)
- Mother, 2 sons killed in Tampakan mine site clash (mindanews.com)
- [Press Release] Church, solon outraged by ambush of tribal leader and his family -ATM (hronlineph.com)
- Casiño to Aquino: Human rights issue is no leftist propaganda (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
- Tribal uprising feared after killings (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
2nd HR Pinduteros Choice Awards -HRonlinePH.com
2nd HR Pinduteros Choice Awards.
In celebration of the coming 2012 Human Rights Week in December and as a way to give thanks to HR Defenders who continued their support by patronizing and contributing online articles, photos, statement, press releases and other resources, HRonlinePH.com is holding its 2nd HR Pinduteros Choice Awards.
The HR Pinduteros Choice Awards is an online event that aims to give recognition to human rights defenders’ online activities (Individuals and groups) that informed, inspired and mobilized the online readers to our common cause that is to promote, defend and assert human rights utilizing the internet as a tool.
Online polling and popularization of the event also hopes to contribute in increasing awareness and build up for the international HR day celebration in December 10, 2012 through encouraging the netizens to visit and learn more about human rights issues, campaigns and etc. posted and featured in different HR sites.
Human Rights Pinduteros is a community of internet users, HR advocates and activist who as a network promote and defend HR and believe in HRonlinePH.com’s call to inform, inspire and mobilize our readers to our cause online and offline.
“2nd HR Pinduteros Choice Awards” aims to:
1. Encourage active HR promotions and posting
2. Recognize online efforts for human rights
3. Promote HR activities online and offline
4. Encourage more readers and patronage for HR sites and causes
Recognitions/Categories for HRonlinePH pinduteros’ (readers’) choice 2012
• 2012 most clicked HR bloggers
• 2012 most clicked HR website
• Top HR bloggers posts 2012
• Top HR networks post 2012
• Top HR event 2012
• Top HR photo 2012
• Top HR off the shelf 2012
• Top HR video 2012
Mechanics
Nominees were chosen from the top items per category posted in HRonlinePH.com based on the hits generated from the period of October 2011 to September 30, 2012.
50% of the score for winning post will be based on HRonlinePH.com statistics
50% will be based on an online voting/polling which will be held from the period of October 2012 to November 30 2012.
Winners will be announced and awarded during the HR week 2012 celebration. (Exact date and venue to be announced)
[Statement] RA 10175 is an Anti-Cybercrime Law that criminalizes internet freedom an assault to human rights! -HRonlinePH.com
Human Rights Online Philippines (HRonlinePH.com), a group of human rights defenders online, stands against the present state of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law and we demand that such law must be consistent with human rights standards and perpetrators behind this spiteful law be held accountable.
RA 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is a State crime and an assault against the human rights of the people. HRonlinePH.com is one with the Filipino netizens in condemning its intention to deliberately go against our right to defend human rights online.Under the law, activists and human rights defenders will be the obvious and primary target of attacks by guilty politicians and government officials.
The intentional inclusion/insertion of treacherous provisions poses great danger to defenders utilizing the internet in its work to promote, defend and assert human rights against violators from the government.
The law is an obvious assault to many of the peoples’ rights both activists and ordinary citizens like free speech, freedom of expression, due process and among others. It is inconsistent with government’s obligation to respect, protect and fulfill human rights as provided in the Bill of Rights under the Philippine constitution and international Bill of Rights.
The law is also a blatant breach of the Government’s obligation and commitment to the United Nation International Covenant on Civil Political Rights (ICCPR) which states that;
Article 19
1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
Certainly we need a law that would protect the people from cyber criminals and it’s our elected officials’ obligation to provide us one. But we cannot allow a law that would be used to suppress any of our democratic rights and freedom may it be on the internet or on the grounds. We must not allow any law that violates standards and protection of our rights.
We challenge and demand that PNoy government fulfill its duty and obligation to protect us. Protect the people from cyber criminals and from any form of attacks of human rights violators from the government.
We reiterate and assert that it is our right to defend human rights offline and online and any law that would violate these rights must be junked and perpetrator must be held accountable!It is obviously the intention of the malicious provisions of the law for guilty politicians to protect themselves by depriving the people of venues for airing demands and remedy for their issues.
It is not a crime to criticize government inaction and irresponsibility, it is our right!
It is not a crime to expose government violations, it is our right!
It is not a crime to assert and defend our rights, it is our right!
But it is a CRIME by the Government to violate our internet freedom because it is our human rights!
#internetfreedom Excerpts from Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue
States’ use of blocking or filtering technologies is frequently in violation of their obligation to guarantee the right to freedom of expression…
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/A.HRC.17.27_en.pdf
The types of action taken by States to limit the dissemination of content online not only include measures to prevent information from reaching the end-user, but also direct targeting of those who seek, receive and impart politically sensitive information via the
Internet. Physically silencing criticism or dissent through arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearance, harassment and intimidation is an old phenomenon, and also applies to Internet users. This issue has been explored in the Special Rapporteur’s report to the General Assembly under the section on “protection of citizen journalists” (A/65/284). Such actions are often aimed not only to silence legitimate expression, but also to intimidate a population to push its members towards self-censorship.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/A.HRC.17.27_en.pdf
The Special Rapporteur remains concerned that legitimate online expression is being criminalized in contravention of States’ international human rights obligations, whether it is through the application of existing criminal laws to online expression, or through the creation of new laws specifically designed to criminalize expression on the Internet. Such laws are often justified on the basis of protecting an individual’s reputation, national security or countering terrorism, but in practice are used to censor content that the Government and other powerful entities do not like or agree with…
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/A.HRC.17.27_en.pdf
Youth and rights groups hold nationwide torch parade and candle lighting to honor nameless heroes and martyrs of Martial Law
Youth and rights groups hold nationwide torch parade and candle lighting to honor nameless heroes and martyrs of Martial Law
Youth groups led by Youth for Rights (Y4R) together with human rights organization Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) held a torch parade and nationwide candle lighting to honor nameless heroes and martyrs in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
In Quezon City, the group’s torch and candle light parade started at 5:30 in the afternoon OF September 21, along Quezon City Circle that proceeded to Palma hall in University of the Philippines where a concert which they dubbed as “Balik Himig sa mga Awit ng Pakikibaka ng panahon ng Batas Militar, the RememberML@40 concert” was being held.
“We are one with the human rights community and all the survivors of Martial Law in confronting attempts to revise and distort history. The Marcoses maimed, killed, tortured, and disappeared thousands. The families and victims of that horror have yet to find justice and closure and yet the lies of the Marcoses and their allies are being peddled as truths,” said Emmanuel Amistad, Executive Director of TFDP.
TFDP is a national human rights organization established in 1974 by the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) in response to the rampant human rights violations caused by Proclamation 1081 by then President Ferdinand Marcos.
“TFDP refuses to forget the lessons that the nation learned from that dark episode of our history. That on that faithful day of September 21, 1972, forty years ago, President Ferdinand Marcos deliberately breached his contract with the Filipino people by declaring Martial Law that would lead to unimaginable cases of human rights violations and abuses,” Amistad added.
TFDP’s documentation shows that 6,472 suffered arbitrary arrests and detention, 1,050 were tortured by government security forces and paramilitary groups.
“Under Marcos rule, many were tortured, killed and disappeared. Mostly were activists from the marginalized sectors of our society. Their only fault was that they never feared to fight for their rights and demand for change,” Amistad continued.
According to TFDP, Forty years ago, the Filipino people were faced with a corrupt abusive regime that not only fed from the nation’s wealth but from the blood of the toiling masses.
The candle lighting to honor nameless heroes and martyrs of Martial Law was also done in other major cities in Visayas and Mindanao.
Members of the RememberML@40-Never Again to Martial Law campaign network also lighted candles in Cebu Freedom Park, in Dumaguete and in Freedom Park and University of Mindanao in Davao City as well.
TFDP also initiated the online campaign #rememberML@40 in the social networking site Facebook. “It serves as venue to share stories of heroism, sacrifices and nationalism of the youth under ML,” Amistad explained.
FB users changed their profile pictures with photos and icons of pinky fingers with a red ribbon as pledge to remember, inform and inspire others about the truth and demand for justice for all victims of Martial Law.
“We call on President Aquino to honor our nameless heroes and martyrs by starting with fulfilling his promise during his 2011 SONA to compensate all victims of human rights violations of Martial Law. May he be inspired with what his father, former Senator Ninoy Aquino fought for,” Amistad declared.
“TFDP will never allow that all the sacrifices of those who fought the dictatorship will go to waste. We will continue to inform and educate the Filipino people about the truth especially our youth of today who never experienced ML. For there will be no better way to honor our heroes and martyrs not only by retelling their stories but to be inspired about their lives and to continue asserting for human rights,” Amistad concluded.
Torch parade Photo by PhilRights
TFDP, Y4R and members of #rememberML@40 campaign network in Visayas in Cebu Normal University commemoration activity- September 21, 2012. Photo by TFDP Visayas
TFDP, Y4R and members of #rememberML@40 campaign network in a candle lighting in University of Mindanao- September 21, 2012. Photo by TFDP Mindanao
Word of the Lourd on Anti-Cybercrime Law
Galing!
by tv5theeveningnews @ youtube
October 2, 2012
Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Word-of-the-Lourd-TV5-AksyonTV-41/195147443843667
ONLINE ACTION Join us in a Letter/Appeal sending campaign to PNoy!
ONLINE ACTION
Join us in a Letter/Appeal sending campaign to President Aquino! Petition for passage of the proposed bill providing compensation to victims of human rights violations (HRVs) during the Marcos administration under Martial Law.
Sign and send letter to https://www.facebook.com/presidentnoy
Benigno S. Aquino
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
Manila
September 6, 2012
Your Excellency,
September 21, 2012, the 40th year since the imposition of Martial Law by then President Ferdinand Marcos offers a kairos, a moment of grace and opportunity, to you and your administration. It is a momentous chance to show to the country and to the world that the matuwid na daan breaks through impunity and leads to justice.
All the undersigned request Your Excellency to give an explicit public support for the soonest passage of the proposed bill providing compensation to victims of human rights violations (HRVs) during the Marcos administration under Martial Law. A follow-up to your State of the Nation Address (SONA) on this matter would signal unequivocal determination in seeking justice.
Your support will solidly be grounded in the international human rights instruments the Philippines had ratified, as well as the increasing number of national laws passed compliant to many of the said treaties since the EDSA people power.
Your Excellency’s encouragement will surely enthuse the authors and /or supporters of the Bill from both Houses of Congress.
We, the undersigned, have been very concerned, if not alarmed, at conscious efforts even in cyberspace to distort the real happenings during martial law and to dismiss altogether the atrocious violations of rights and dignity. We thus launched a campaign within a period of six months earlier to broaden and to raise awareness among the citizenry, especially the youth, of the true situation during Martial Law and the justness of enacting a long-delayed compensation bill that is fair and equitable to all victims.
Such a move and passage, Your Excellency, would be unprecedented in the ASEAN and Asian Region. It will be a standard of fulfilment that would make us Filipinos all proud in the realm of human rights.
Thousands of victims of human rights violations engendered hope that the impunity perpetrated during that period of repression would be dealt with progressively when the Presidential Committee on Good Governance (PCGG) allotted a definite portion (Php 10 billion) of the confiscated ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos estate for the victims’ compensation. After all, the United Nations “Updated Principles in Combating Impunity” states, among others, “the right of victims to have an effective remedy and to receive reparations”. Compensation, then, while not the fullness, is an integral component of justice.
Thank you very much, Your Excellency, for the kind consideration of this our request that sincerely seeks
Dignity and justice for us all,
WHEREAS, the Philippines is a Charter-State of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and is, therefore, duty-bound to protect and uphold the basic rights of all its peoples;
WHEREAS, Section 11 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines declares that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights;
WHEREAS, pursuant to this declared policy, Section 12 of Article III of the Constitution prohibits the use of torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free will and mandates the compensation and rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar practices and their families;
WHEREAS, by virtue of Section 2 of Article II of the Constitution adopting generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land, the Philippines must also adhere to international human rights laws and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), and also the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPAPED);
WHEREAS, the broadening collective understanding of the need to enact national laws so as to comply with our international human rights commitments as well as the growing public desire to prevent further recurrence of trampling upon human dignity, such as the Anti-Torture Law with its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and the law on the International Humanitarian Law, as well as the near passage of the bill against Enforced Disappearance;
WHEREAS, —- of all Filipinos who were victims of summary execution, torture, enforced or involuntary disappearance and other gross human rights violations committed during the dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos covering the period September 21, 1972 to February 25, 1986 and restore the victims’ honor and dignity;
#Remember ML@40 – Never Again to Martial Law!
WHEREAS, the State hereby acknowledges its moral and legal obligation to recognize and/or compensate said victims and/or their families for the deaths, injuries, sufferings, deprivations, and damages they suffered under the Marcos Dictatorship;
THEREFORE, We, the undersigned human rights organizations, human rights defenders, people’s organizations, non-government organizations, and other concerned individuals, especially victims of Martial Law, do hereby call on the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives to both jointly, urgently and immediately pass a ‘Compensation Act to Victims of Human Rights Violations During the Marcos Dictatorship’; and
FURTHERMORE, We also call on all of our country’s young people, youth and students, young workers, community youth, young professionals, and together with all the other basic sectors of Philippine society, to not only sign this ‘People’s Petition Calling on the Philippine Congress to Urgently Pass a Bill to Compensate all Victims of Human Rights Violations During the Marcos Dictatorship’ but, to also help ‘Inform, Inspire and Remember Martial Law after 40 years’. The latter should be one of our primary collective missions in order to prevent any future emergence of a state and society that could once again embrace a brutal militarist dictatorship to undermine and destroy our basic human rights.
