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Philippines: AFP should focus awareness drive on human rights in its ranks

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is grossly deceptive in its latest scheme to hold so-called awareness drive to justify continuing military presence in urban communities during the elections. Instead of rounding up urban poor communities and universities to lecture against cause-oriented groups, the AFP should focus awareness drive on human rights among its ranks. This election season, they should all go back to the barracks and take a study leave on human rights. We don’t need them dictating upon the people the AFP’s choice of candidates in the guise of ‘awareness drive’ which actually consists of lectures against activist groups as what they did at the Philippine Normal University, Philippine Christian University and other schools and communities. We join the various groups in demanding immediate and total pull-out of AFP troops who will likely repeat the scenario of active military role in the fraudulent 2004 elections.
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DOT, PAMB Are Washing Hands Over Mount Apo Death: Kabataan Partylist

DAVAO CITY ? Kabataan Partylist said the Department of Tourism, the
Mt. Apo Range Natural Park, and Protected Area Management Board’s
(PAMB) are just washing their hands over the drowning of a mountaineer
in Lake Venado in Mt. Apo, April 5, Maundy Thursday.

The youth partylist said the state should be the first and foremost
guardian of the security of its citizens, be it the victim’s fault or
a natural disaster.

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Dead Filipino Maid Begins Journey Back Home to Philippines

Community Farewell, Wake Set for Sunday, April 29th

New York ? After weeks of campaigning for a second investigation and Consulate-sponsored repatriation and burial fees, the body of Filipina domestic worker Felisa “Fely” Garcia will be received by her two sons, Garry and Gliff, when they fly to New York City this week to take their mother’s body to be buried in the Philippines. A community farewell and public wake organized by the Philippine Forum and KABALIKAT Domestic Workers Support Network is set for Sunday, April 29th, 4-8pm at the Greenwich Village Funeral Home. A prayer service is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Garcia’s children as well as community advocates will be in attendance. The event will be open to the public.
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US: Authorities fail to protect indigenous women from shocking rates of rape

(Washington, D.C.) ? Native American and Alaska Native women in the United States suffer disproportionately high levels of rape and sexual violence, yet the federal government has created substantial barriers to accessing justice, Amnesty International (AI) asserted in a 113-page report released today. Justice Department figures indicate that American Indian and Alaska Native women are 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than women in the United States in general; more than one in three Native women will be raped in their lifetimes.
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