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CHR clears military in Grecil’s death

In a May 21 decision, the Commission on Human Rights in Southern Mindanao said Grecil Buya was killed in a legitimate crossfire between soldiers and rebels, and that there was no evidence that the soldiers violated the rights of Grecil. It also said that there was no evidence to suggest that she was a communist guerrilla, as earlier alleged by the military.

Grecil Buya's parents had sued the soldiers before the CHR, alleging that the troops summarily executed the girl. (Photo courtesy of MindaNews)

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Farcical and fraudulent: Kontra Daya’s assessment of the elections in Muslim Mindanao

As in the 2004 presidential elections, the Arroyo government has cynically and deliberately exploited the impoverished and anarchic situation in Mindanao to achieve its narrow partisan objectives.

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Albania: Fifteen in Kor?a threatened with eviction and homelessness

Fifteen people, who were orphaned as children, the majority of them women in their twenties and thirties, may find themselves homeless as of today in the town of Kor?a in south-east Albania. A similar threat reportedly hangs over some 40 other adults who were orphaned children in Shkodёr in northern Albania. If these evictions take place, without ensuring adequate alternative accommodation to those affected, Albania will breach its obligations under international and regional human rights law, Amnesty International said.
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Critics: ADB will continue to fund climate change

MANILA, Philippines — ?The Asian Development Bank will continue to fund climate change. The Bank will still invest in coal power plants inspite of its recognition that coal projects have serious environmental and health implications,? said Hemantha Withanage, executive director of NGO Forum on ADB.
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Reflecting hard times, 2 million Filipino children dropped out of school in ’06

Many of these children might have been forced to leave school to earn a living. In 2006 some 2.5 million children aged 5 to 17 were working either to augment family income or simply to survive. The number of children in school is also dropping: in SY 2005-2006 only 84% of children aged 6-11 was able to attend elementary school, a sharp decrease from 90% in 2001-2002.

Continue ReadingReflecting hard times, 2 million Filipino children dropped out of school in ’06