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President
Arroyo confronted with brutal facts at Inter-Faith Dialogue
29 May 2007
Delegates to the interfaith dialogue hosted by Prime Minister Helen Clark
at Waitangi in New Zealand, were left in no doubt about the real issues of
peace, security and tolerance that should be on their agenda, says the
National Distribution Union.
Banners reading 'Stop the Killings Gloria' and 'Stop the Killings in
the Philippines' highlighted the appalling record of human rights
violations under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a co-host of the
forum.
Several dozen white crosses were planted in the ground at the entry to the
treaty grounds to symbolise the 858 extra judicial killings during the
Arroyo regime.
Photographs of slain protestant Bishop Alberto Ramento and other victims
showed the human face of this travesty.
Renowned New Zealand law professor Jane Kelsey said that crosses planted
at the entry to the Copthorne Hotel made it impossible for Arroyo to miss
the protest when she arrived to address the conference.
"Our noisy reception sent President Arroyo a clear message to stop the
killings, for which the UN rapporteur holds her ultimately
responsible," she said. "Equally, Helen Clark was challenged for
hosting someone with a proven record of gross human rights violations.
It's no longer acceptable for our Prime Minister to claim that she has
raised these issues with President Arroyo. Past assurances have been shown
to be worthless. The time has come for the New Zealand Government to put
its money where its mouth is. Instead of channeling 'technical assistance'
funding to the Philippines government that is responsible for the
violations, it should direct that money to the churches and other
independent human rights advocacy organizations."
A local Maori leader, Arthur Harawira, who welcomed and led the
protest on his ancestral grounds, and who visited the Philippines
during Marcos time.
"I challenge the hypocrisy of the New Zealand government for holding this
event on the sacred grounds of Waitangi in an attempt to give legitimacy
to an illegitimate occasion.
Mr Harawira drew links between the struggles of Maori with the
struggles of the indigenous peoples and workers in the Philippines.
Spokesperson of the "Free Ka Bel" movement, Dennis Maga, urged inter-faith
participants not to sit at the table with governments, like that of
President Arroyo, who are responsible for gross human rights violations in
their own countries.
"Yesterday, another UCCP pastor Berlin Guerrero has been abducted and
found tortured by the Philippine National Police and charged with inciting
to sedition dating back to 1991 and 1992," he said. "This reality flies in
the face of President Arroyo's assurances repeated at the press conference
yesterday that her Government was fighting to improve its record in the
killings."
ENDS
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New Zealand Herald News: Philippine president faces
protests in Wellington
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Philippine unionist fears for his life after
Wellington protest
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You will be judge mercileesly - statement of
Hongkong human rights group
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Green Party: Arroyo visit a chance to confront human
rights abuses
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New Zealand Herald: Philippines president faces
protests in Wellington
►
President Arroyo confronted with brutal facts at
Inter-Faith Dialogue
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NZ: Filipino unionist to protest at Parliament in
cage against President
Video of protest rallies on You Tube
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mumsQdn-TJU
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkgVV3KIk7I
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rFfzFVJ5gk
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