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Press Statement
18 October 2007
Dialogue with Congresswoman Liza Maza
in Vienna successfully Held.
After a well attended forum with Austrian organizations last 29 September
2007, 5-9pm at Amerlinghaus, on the issue of stop the killing campaign,
the dialogue with the Honorable Congresswoman Liza Maza held last 14
October 2007, 5-8pm in Vienna,Austria Europe, marked another success of
migrant Filipinos in Austria.
Father Mars Sahulga, SVD led the opening prayer and blessed the gathering
while Manny Sarmiento, welcomed the participants and introduced the Guest
Speaker. The dialogue was moderated by Maryknoll Padalla of the Igorot
Association in Austria . Tthe panel of reactors were Conrado Evangelista,
Bro. Albert Plata, and Sis Cristina Unlayao.
The 3-hour dialog ue with Congresswoman Liza Maza which was attended by
some 50 migrant Filipinos from different community organisations, was
sponsored by Pinoy in Austrian Society For Integrity, Reforms and Social
Transformation (PINAS FIRST).
After expressing her thanks and appreciation for the overseas votes which
enabled the Gabriela Partylist a seat in the House of the Representatives,
Congressman Liza Maza presented a balance picture of the national
situation, focusing on the problems and possible solution on the basic
economic and political issues in the country.
These are adopting a genuine agrarian reform program, instead of
continuing the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) that are
full of flaws. Espousing a truly nationalist industrialisation, instead of
the packaging and assembly plants of imported parts. These two items are
basic fundamental s of a sound, vibrant and progressive economy.
She also mentioned that the big part (almost 60%) of the national budget
goes to debt servicing. That means only a tiny part of the budget goes to
social services. She also mentioned that one of the big sources of funds
of the government are the remittances of the migrant Filipinos abroad,.ie.,
12 billion dollars in 2006 , which keeps the economy afloat. Thus , the
TraPo's called migrants "modern heroes" or bagong bayani.
On the political side, she narrated that President Arroyo has not properly
addressed the political killings, as there are already more than 900
victims of extra judicial killings. All fact finding missions (national
and international) UN Agencies and the Permanent People s' Tribunal (PPT)
of March 2007, The Hague, Netherlands , are unanimous in holding President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo accountable for the killings by the police and
military forces.
Moreover, she noted that women in the 14th Congress now comprise 20%, but
almost all of them came from the clan of traditional politician (TRAPO).
The ideal is to have more representation of the common tao (farmers,
workers and members of the marginalized sector of the society) .
In the open forum the Hon. Liza Maza answered all the queries raised which
covered the issue of the anti-terrorism law, the atrocities done by the
Arroyo government especially on the extra-judicial killings, enforced
disappearances and re pression of Human Rights defenders. She strongly
suggested the formation of a potent migrant workers group or by uniting
with existing groups and sending resolutions/petitions to the government,
which will likely be considered in due recognition of the role they play
in the economy.
Other issues propped up like the dual citizenship, the incinerators (what
is this?) and other practical problems were discussed.
On the other hand, below are suggestions of the Body for Legislative
considerations.
a. If the government could make a special/good program for migrant worker
retirees?
b. If congress could draft a law on property ownership beneficial to born
Filipinos but of foreign citizenship specially those who reside in
countries who doesn't honor dual citizenship?
c. If congress could do a thorough study on the benefits of incinerators
(what is this? )so the money (debt) could be used to the main purpose it
was borrowed?
d. If legislators could make a thorough review on all questionable
projects that are being paid?
e. If the government could freeze the debts so the budget being alloted to
debt payments be used for the most basic social service the citizenry
needs like Health and Education as both are already a privilege no longer
a right?
Participants were hopeful that this kind of dialogue will be regularly be
held as this will help migrant Filipinos understand the problems
confronting our country and appreciate the role they can play . This was
presented as a resolution and adopted unanimously.
The dialogue ended with community singing of
the famous patriotic song "Bayan Ko" which stirred the patriotic
sentiments of the audience.
Reference:
Manuel Sarmiento
Mobile Phone +43 699 122 77 835
Email address: migrante.austria@gmail.com, website: www.pinas-first.com
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October 11th, 2007
INTER PARLIAMENTARY UNION UPHOLDS SC
DECISION ON BATASAN 6 REBELLION CASE
GABRIELA Women’s Partylist Representative Liza Largoza Maza today welcomed
the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) decision upholding the Philippines’
Supreme Court decision as it closed its investigation on the Department of
Justice’ rebellion case against the Batasan 6.
“The IPU has affirmed the Supreme Court decision on the rebellion case
filed against us, finding the case baseless and without merit. We likewise
welcome their commitment to keep tabs on developments on the murder
charges against Rep. Satur Ocampo in Leyte and Nueva Ecija provinces and
on the sedition case filed against Rep. Crispin Beltran.” said Maza.
Maza and Ocampo attended the 117th IPU assembly held in Geneva,
Switzerland from October 6-9. Last Monday, the militant lawmakers gave the
IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians an update on the
human rights situation in the country particularly on the political
persecution against progressive legislators. They likewise reported on the
cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances involving members and
leaders of militant partylist organizations.
“The IPU has recognized the persecution and harassment against us and our
partylist organizations as politically motivated. Indeed, the human rights
crisis in the Philippines has reached such proportions that the
international community cannot ignore.” said Maza.
The IPU CHRP was convened by Senator Sharon Carstaires of Canada with five
other committee members from Algeria, Chile, France and the United
Kingdom. |
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Ocampo calls on
Filipinos in Europe for people pressure
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, ABS-CBN Online, 18 Oct. 2007
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo called on Filipinos in Europe to put pressure
on President Arroyo to stop the gross human rights violations in the
Philippines, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau reported Thursday.
"Gusto kong maunawaan nila na ang kanilang mga pangangampanya, yung
pagtulong nila para mailantad ang paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa
Pilipinas, pang-aabuso sa gobyerno ay nakakaron ng epekto. May pagsulong
na nagaganap sa hanay ng mamamayan para mailantad ang katiwalian, mga
karahasan sa mga paglabag ng gobyerno Macapagal Arroyo sa karapatan ng
mamayang Piipino at ito ay mababatid sa buong daigdig," Ocampo said.
"I want them to understand that their campaigns, their assistance in
exposing violations of human rights in the Philippines, abuses in
government, are having an effect. It affects the people in revealing the
anomalies and violence of the violations of the Arroyo government to the
Filipino people’s rights and these are being exposed internationally."
Ocampo was in Amsterdam on Wednesday and spoke to a group of 100 of his
staunch supporters coming from different parts of the Netherlands on the
prospects of peace, the human rights situation in the Philippines,
specifically his own experience in the violations of his rights as an
individual and as a member of the House of Representatives, and his
continuing political persecution.
He reminded his supporters that people pressure is still an effective tool
to effect a change.
"Magkakaroon ng pressure sa ating gobyerno para mapigilan natin, para
mabawasan at ultimately matigil itong pagpaslang at paglabag sa karapatang
pantao at maalis na rin ang katiwalian ng opisyal sa ating gobyerno. Sa
anumang paraan ang kapasyahan ay para sa mga mamamayang Pilipino," Ocampo
said.
"Pressure can be exerted on the government to prevent, reduce and
ultimately stop the killings and violations of human rights and stop
corruption of officials in government. In any way the decision is with the
Filipino people."
He informed the Pinoys of the recent corruption charges involving
President Arroyo.
"Currently now the topics in media there is that the President had called
about 200 members of the congress before she approved the budget and gave
them P500,000 each and offered the local government [officials], the
mayors and governors the same amount of money… for what?," Ocampo said.
The Pinoys here are angry at the never-ending corruption problems in the
Philippines.
"Sa amin mahalaga na mula sa kanya mismo narinig namin ang mga balita.
Nabunyag ang mga bagong kaso ng corruption, yung sa NBN (national
broadband network deal) at nagbigay ng mga envelope na may pera. Lalong
nagiging litaw sa amin yung larawan ng nabubulok na gobyerno ni Arroyo,"
Jun Saturay of Rice and Rights said.
("It is important to us that we heard the news directly from him. The new
cases of corruption were clearly exposed, the NBN and the envelopes
containing cash. The picture became much obvious of the rottenness of the
Arroyo government.")
Ocampo also confirmed the people’s notion that the Philippines is at
present in a state of martial law.
"In the circumstances that extrajudicial killings and enforced
disappearances are happening under the system of Gloria that is supposed
to have emerged as a corrective step from the Marcos martial law period is
really a cause of concern that these killings happened as it happened
during martial law," Ocampo said.
He said that President Arroyo learned lessons from the Marcos regime.
He also added that when people talk whether there is a danger for
President Arroyo to declare martial law, she doesn’t have to.
"People say there is martial law without declaration of martial law in
effect. The conditions under martial law are prevalent particularly in the
countryside," Ocampo said.
Ocampo touched on a lot of topics during his more than one-hour speech
which became serious points to ponder for those who took the effort to
attend the forum
Communist Party of the Philippines Jose Maria Sison, National Democratic
Front (NDF) Negotiating Panel officials Fidel Agcaoili and Ruth de Leon
attended the forum.
Connie Ledesma, wife of NDF Chair Luis Jalandoni was also there but
without Jalandoni who had to rest to continue his recovery from an
appendectomy.
The most popular Pinoy congressman in the Filipino community here did not
stop to win more hearts as he talked about his continued persecution in
the Philippines, recalling that even recently during his departure for
Geneva for the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting, he was held for one hour
at the Ninoy Aquino International Ariport.
One of his most avid fans, Grace Punongbayan of Migrante, was just
thankful to see him again.
"Marami ang naniniwala sa Bayan Muna at bumoto sa Bayan Muna. Lahat kami
ay naniniwala sa Batasan 6 kasama si Satur Ocampo. Alam niyo na sila ay
biktima ng paniniil ng gobyernong Arroyo at marami silang pinagdaanang
paghihirap at pagsubok ngunit ngayon ay kasama natin siya muli, hindi nga
lang araw-araw, hindi buwan-buwan, hindi taon taon," Punongbayan said.
("Many believe in Bayan Muna and voted for Bayan Muna. All of us believe
in Batasan6 including Satur Ocampo. They are victims of repression by the
Arroyo government and they have experienced numerous hardships but now
they are here with us, maybe not everyday, not every month, not every
year.")
Consie Lozano of the Liga ng Kabataang Pilipino had been expecting Ocampo
to pass by the Netherlands because she says he owes it to the Pinoys here.
"Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi palagi si Ka Satur dito. Tuwing pumupunta siya
dito talagang dumadaan siya dito sa Netherlands para makihalubilo sa mga
Pilipino hindi lang para makilala yung Filipino community kundi para din
ibalik niya yung suporta ng Filipino community na binoto siya sa ilalam ng
party list ng Bayan Muna," Lozano said. ►►►
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("As far as I
know, Ka Satur always comes here. Whenever he comes he always goes to the
Netherlands to interact with Filipinos not just to acquaint himself with
the Filipino community but to recognize the support the Filipino community
gave when it voted for him under the Bayan Muna party list.")
Ocampo will be
flying back on Thursday to the Philippines and is ready to face his
critics.
Just over the weekend, Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal was also
in the Netherlands where she signed a joint statement with the NDF calling
for resumption of peace talks and which received negative comments from
the officials of Mrs. Arroyo’s government.
"It’s no longer surprising. The first time Madrigal was here to meet with
Mr. Jalandoni, Mr. Sison and the others, the Secretary of Justice
threatened to charge her with treason because she’s an official of the
government and she talks with the enemies of the state," Ocampo said.
Ditto for him, Ocampo says.
"I am prepared to face whatever reaction when I come back there," Ocampo
declared.### |
