Human Rights

International Probers to Look Into Harassment of Workers in Davao?s Banana Plantations

The mission aims to investigate the recent spates of killing and harassment of labor and trade union leaders in the Philippines. Last year, according to the Kilusang Mayo Uno, 31 leaders, members and sympathizers of labor unions were murdered around the country.

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? Delegates from several countries arrived in Davao City on Tuesday and are set to investigate this week the alleged harassments by the military of union leaders and members in Southern Mindanao. They would also look into reported violations of workers? rights and welfare in banana plantations.

Some 36 delegates, several of them from other countries, paid a courtesy call to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte early in the day; he assured them that they would be safe in the region, and even gave them his mobile phone number in case they are stopped in military checkpoints in Compostela Valley province, where they are scheduled to do ocular inspections of banana plantations.

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As Killings Continue, Arroyo Is Blamed for ?Policy of Terror? Vs Left

DAVAO CITY (davaotoday.com) — ??This is Gloria?s heartless, brazen and state-sponsored terror.?

Thus said Bayan Muna congressman Joel Virador in reaction to the continued killings of activists, particularly members and leaders of his own party.

The killings, Virador said, indicates the government?s ?culture of intolerance to progressive parties and organizations.?

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Davao Media, Others Violate Guidelines on Reporting on Children: Unicef

MANILA ? In a bid to create a more child-sensitive media environment, the United Nations Children?s Fund (Unicef) commissioned research studies that verified Philippine media?s adherence to the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1999.

The studies, which covered print and television in Metro Manila, Cebu City and Davao City, uncovered that the media guidelines are being violated. The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) conducted the research.

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Murder of Peasant Leader Elicits Condemnation of Gov?t, CARP

DAVAO CITY ? The assassination on Monday of a peasant leader in Panabo demonstrates once again the campaign of repression against agrarian-reform activists and reformists, cause-oriented and human-rights groups said on Wednesday.

Enrico Cabanit, secretary-general of the Pambansang Ugnayan ng mga Nagsasariling Lokal na Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (Unorka), a peasant organization that has been campaigning for agrarian-reform in Davao del Norte, was gunned down on April 24 at a public market.

His daughter, Daffodil, was in critical condition after she, too, was shot by the bonnet-wearing assassin.

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