Labor Day Protests in Philippines: Enough of grinding poverty and repression

MANILA — The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan will join thousands of workers in the annual May 1 Labor Day rally tomorrow at the Liwasang Bonifacio, as it called on the police and military not to sabotage the peaceful protests.

Bayan forces will march from the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo going to the Liwasang Bonifacio at around 12 noon. They will converge with other groups from various assembly areas.
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Philippines’s Gabriela: ‘We have nothing to apologize for’

MANILA — ?We have nothing to apologize for. The OEA confidential memorandum exists and Malaca?ang is simply lying as it is known to do.?

This was according to Rep. Liza Maza of GABRIELA Women?s Party regarding the denial of the Office of the External Affairs of the validity of the memorandum on special concerns group?s request for funding to support pro-administration party lists.
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China: Olympics countdown — important reforms marred by increasing repression

Despite significant reforms to the death penalty system and new rules for foreign journalists in China, there is little evidence of improvement in other areas of human rights related to the Olympics — and there has been increasing repression of human rights activism and domestic journalism, said Amnesty International today.

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