Human Rights

The Arroyo regime?s inquisition

If Defensor and the rest of his posse want Satur Ocampo et al to disappear, then they better come up with something stronger against them. If they are convinced about the sins of these people, they better prove it in the court of law. Otherwise, they have no business turning our democratic justice system on its head.

There?s a reason why presumption of innocence is the foundation of our justice system. There?s also a reason why the burden of proving the guilt of the accused lies in the accuser.

That reason is this: democracy.

Without those basic rights, democracy would be a sham. Without those fundamental principles guiding our justice system, we would be in an autocratic state.

Those who cannot prove anything against their nemesis are inclined to twist these principles around, to suit their own purpose, to spread black propaganda and outright lies.
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In Banana Plantations, Soldiers Bust Unions, Harass Workers

An international fact-finding mission says the military is being used by plantations in Southern Mindanao to harass and intimidate workers from forming or joining unions.

Workers at FBAC's Packing Plant 98 (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)

DAVAO CITY (davaotoday.com) ? A fact-finding mission composed of delegates from several countries questioned on Friday the Philippine military?s participation in union-busting and intimidation of workers in plantations in Southern Mindanao.

The delegates, who completed on Friday a four-day fact-finding mission in a banana plantation in Compostela Valley province, said the military is being used by plantations to harass workers, particularly when the workers? union is engaged in campaigns to improve wages and work conditions.

?We?ve heard complaints by the workers about soldiers present during union negotiations,? said Holly Patterson, a delegate from Australia. At one point, she told reporters in a press conference on Friday, soldiers confiscated the original copy of the union?s collective bargaining agreement.

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Arroyo, the press and international pressure

The killings of journalists have long been the focus of attention of international media groups. But instead of responding positively, this regime has done nothing but deny, deny, deny the fact that the Philippines is the second-most dangerous country in the world for journalists, next to Iraq. ?

A bit of good news today: the US Senate has put more pressure on the Arroyo regime regarding the killings of journalists. In an inquiry, U.S. senators expressed their concern about the deteriorating press-freedom situation in the Philippines.

?Democracy depends on the free flow of information to the public, which depends on a press free to do its work without government intimidation,? said Richard Lugar, the chairman of the foreign-relations committee, as quoted by the Inquirer.

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