Philippines: MNLF-OIC Dialogue Urged to Ease Sulu Tension

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino ?Nene? Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) today urged the Arroyo government to
work out with the Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)
the holding of a tripartite meeting as soon as
possible to review the implementation of the 1996
peace agreement.
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Philippines: Survey Plunge of Leftist Partylist Groups Blamed on Manipulation

MANILA — Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that there was no other way to explain the drastic fall in the survey ratings of the bloc of progressive party-lists but for one reason: the Social Weather Station has given in to pressure from Malacanang to compromise its findings in favor of party-lists funded by the Macapagal-Arroyo government and in favor of candidates of Team Unity.

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Philippines: Comelec Dared to Probe Gonzalez ‘Vote Buying’

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino ?Nene? Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) today challenged Commission on
Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos to restrain Justice
Secretary Raul Gonzalez from making good on his plan
to reward P10,000 to each of the 180 barangay chairmen
in Iloilo City as an incentive for delivering a 12-0
victory for Team Unity senatorial candidates.
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Philippines: Anti-fraud group pooh-poohs military covenant on honest polls

MANILA — The anti-fraud group Kontra Daya said it was skeptical of the covenant signing between poll watch groups and the Armed Forces of the Philippines National Capital Region Command, saying that this was a mere publicity stunt of the military.

The poll watchdog held an ecumenical service and candle lighting activity at the Plaza Roma in front of the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros, Manila. The group called on the public to remain vigilant as moves to undermine the credibility of the elections persist.

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Burma: Violent Attacks on Rights Activists, Government Militias Beat and Harass Opponents

(London, April 24, 2007) ? The Burmese military government should stop
attacks against political and human rights activists by its civilian
supporters, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called
on the government to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of such
attacks.

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