PERMANENT PEOPLES’ TRIBUNAL SECOND

SESSION ON THE PHILIPPINES

21-25 March 2007

The Hague, the Netherlands

PHILIPPINESPHILIPPINES

A country known for its rich natural A country known for its rich natural resources and hospitable people,resources and hospitable people,

but majority of its people live in but majority of its people live in abject poverty.abject poverty.

Peaceful protestors against

this condition are.......

.......met with violent police action.

Under the Arroyo government, progressive activists Under the Arroyo government, progressive activists are targets of arbitrary arrests, illegal detention, …are targets of arbitrary arrests, illegal detention, …

Danilo Macapagalformer Gen Sec of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Nueva Ecija

Bayan Muna - Nueva Ecija provincial coordinator Abducted 3 March 2005. Still missing

involuntary disappearances, …

summary executions,summary executions,

and massacres.and massacres.

“The most dangerous place for journalists (2nd only to Iraq!) “

– Committee to Protect Journalists and (2005)

FILIPINO JOURNALISTS KILLED IN 2004 alone1. Ruel Endrinal - Feb. 11, 20042. Eliseo “Ely” Binoya - June 17, 20043. Roger Mariano - July 31, 20044. Arnnel Manalo - Aug. 5, 20045. Jonathan Abayon - Aug. 8, 20046. Fernando Consignado - Aug. 12, 20047. Romy Binungcal - Sept. 29, 20048. Eldy Gabinales - Oct. 19, 20049. Gene Boyd Lumawag - Nov. 12, 200410. Herson Hinolan – November 13, 2004

Filipino journalists are not sparedFilipino journalists are not spared

Human rights defenders are not sparedHuman rights defenders are not spared

Benjaline HernandezJournalist/human rights activist

Murdered 5 April 2002 in Cotabato, Mindanao

Eden MarcellanaHuman Rights activistKARAPATAN - ST

Eddie GumanoyPeasant LeaderKASAMA-TK

Eden and Eddie were abducted while documenting military atrocities in Oriental Mindoro 21 April 2003. Their mutilated bodies were found a day after they were abducted.

Juvy MagsinoLawyer Naujan Vice Mayor

Juvy and Leima were murdered 13 February 2004 in the town of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

Leima FortuActivistPublic school teacher

Atty Felidito DacutActivist Lawyer

Regional Coordinator,Bayan Muna – Eastern Visayas

Murdered 14 March 2005

People of high social ranking are not sparedPeople of high social ranking are not spared

Bishop Alberto Ramento, IFIBishop of the Poor Peasants and Workers

Former Obispo Maximo of the Philippine Independent ChurchMurdered 3 October 2006

Atty Gil GojolActivist Lawyer

Number Six candidate of the Bayan Muna Party ListMurdered December 12 - 2006

November 2004, Tarlac Province, Central Luzon

Most of the victims are poor peasants or Most of the victims are poor peasants or farm workers, victims twice over.farm workers, victims twice over.

Farm workers of Hacienda Luisita and workers of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac joined in strike to demand higher wages, protest deplorable working conditions and labor union repression.

President Arroyo and Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas unleashed government security forces against the strikers.

16 November 2004, hundreds of policemen and soldiers used wooden clubs,

teargas, water cannons…

..high-powered firearms, and three armoured tanks to attack

the striking workers and their supporters.

The military started firing their automatic rifles.

Hacienda Hacienda LuisitaLuisita casualties:casualties:

14 Killed including 2 children aged 14 Killed including 2 children aged 2 and 5 years old2 and 5 years old

Hundreds wounded including 35 Hundreds wounded including 35 who sustained gunshot woundswho sustained gunshot wounds

More than a hundred reported More than a hundred reported missingmissing

133 abducted and illegally detained133 abducted and illegally detained

A brutal crackdown on supporters of the striking workers followed.

GROSS AND SYSTEMATIC GROSS AND SYSTEMATIC VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL AND VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL AND

POLITICAL RIGHTSPOLITICAL RIGHTS

““Every human being has the inherent right to life. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” (Article 6 (1) be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” (Article 6 (1) Part III, International Covenant on Civil and Part III, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)Political Rights)

““ Philippine society was semiPhilippine society was semi--feudal and feudal and semisemi--colonial in character whose economy colonial in character whose economy was an adjunct of the United States (US) was an adjunct of the United States (US) and the world capitalist system and bound and the world capitalist system and bound by the policies dictated by the US and USby the policies dictated by the US and US--controlled International Monetary Fund controlled International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB)…”(IMF) and the World Bank (WB)…”

1980 Verdictof the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on the Philippines (First Session on the Marcos regime)

2727 years later…years later…

... some 65 million ... some 65 million Filipinos (80%) of the Filipinos (80%) of the population struggle to population struggle to survive on the equivalent survive on the equivalent of € 1.55 or less each day of € 1.55 or less each day (at current exchange (at current exchange rates)rates)

... some 46 million ... some 46 million Filipinos (56%) do not Filipinos (56%) do not meet the daily dietary meet the daily dietary requirement requirement

Globalization

o Privatization

o Liberalization

o Deregulation

“Fiscal Tightening”

Unemployment, Low Wages, Less social services

= Increasing Poverty

“Debt Repayments”

“Corruption”

““Globalization”Globalization”

•promises of joining WTO a.o.: 500,000 new jobs a year in agriculture starting in 1995• nearly 12 years later: over a million jobs have been lost in agriculture alone, and..• trade surplus in agriculture was wiped out and replaced by trade deficit

““Globalization”Globalization”

““Privatization”Privatization”

o to make a state run power corporation attractive to investors, the state absorbs the debts

o this means: increased power rates and higher taxes levied on the people(Source: IBON Foundation ,Inc.)

““Privatization”Privatization”

““Liberalization”Liberalization”

= Imperialist Mining Plunder= Imperialist Mining Plunder

Lafayette

Marcopper

Benguet Corp.

““Liberalization”Liberalization”

““Deregulation”Deregulation”

• foreign oil company's a.o. are free to increase prices, despite massive protest against this deregulation

• in 2004 alone prices increased:o oil by 160%o electricity by 175% o water by 450%

““Deregulation”Deregulation”

““Bureaucratic Corruption”Bureaucratic Corruption”

o 20% of each centralgovernment budget is diverted to graft and Corruption

o Gov’t resources lost to corruption on 2006 alone: P 200 billion or US$ 4 billion

““Bureaucratic Corruption”Bureaucratic Corruption”

GROSS AND SYSTEMATIC GROSS AND SYSTEMATIC VIOLATIONS OF ECONOMIC, VIOLATIONS OF ECONOMIC,

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS RIGHTS

“Every people has an exclusive right over its natural “Every people has an exclusive right over its natural wealth and resources. It has the right to recover wealth and resources. It has the right to recover them if they have been despoiled, as well as any them if they have been despoiled, as well as any unjustly paid indemnities.” (Section III, Article 8, unjustly paid indemnities.” (Section III, Article 8, Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples)Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples)

After attacking Afghanistan, US After attacking Afghanistan, US President George Bush declared the President George Bush declared the

Philippines as the Philippines as the ‘second front in the ‘second front in the war against terrorism.’war against terrorism.’

““I am taking a direct hand against the I am taking a direct hand against the enemies of the people and the republic.”enemies of the people and the republic.”

-- Philippine president Gloria Macapagal ArroyoPhilippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

• Imposition of the US war of terror on the Filipino people by the US and the Arroyo regime

•Violation of the people’s national sovereignty and Philippine territorial integrity through unjust military agreements with the US and through US military intervention

•Violation of the bans on foreign military, foreign troops and weapons of mass destruction

•Perpetration of crimes against humanity and crimes of war under the pretext of “war on terror” by US and Filipino troops against the Filipino people and national minorities

•Misrepresentations of the people’s right to national liberation and self-determination as terrorism

•Violations of the right of national minorities to self-determination

•Baseless “terrorist” listing of individuals, organizations and other entities by the US and other governments.

““Criminal Jurisdiction”Criminal Jurisdiction”

GROSS AND SYSTEMATIC GROSS AND SYSTEMATIC VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO

NATIONAL SELFNATIONAL SELF--DETERMINATION DETERMINATION AND LIBERATION AND LIBERATION

“Every people has an “Every people has an imprescriptibleimprescriptible and inalienable right and inalienable right to selfto self--determination. It shall determine its political determination. It shall determine its political status freely and without any foreign interference. xxx status freely and without any foreign interference. xxx and to break free from any colonial or foreign and to break free from any colonial or foreign domination, whether direct or indirect xxx” (Section II, domination, whether direct or indirect xxx” (Section II, Articles 5 and 6, Universal Declaration of the Rights of Articles 5 and 6, Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples)Peoples)

We are victims of politically We are victims of politically motivated killings and other crimes motivated killings and other crimes committed and which continue to committed and which continue to be committed with impunity by the be committed with impunity by the US puppet regime of Philippine US puppet regime of Philippine President Gloria President Gloria MacapagalMacapagal--Arroyo.Arroyo.

JOIN us in our QUESTJOIN us in our QUESTfor JUSTICE!for JUSTICE!

HUSTISYA! (Victims of the Arroyo Regime United for Justice), SELDA (Society of Ex-Detainees for Liberation from Detention and

Amnesty), Families of the DESAPARACIDOS for Justice, BAYAN (New Patriotic Alliance), Ecumenical Bishops Forum,

United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Peace for Life, Public Interest Law Center, Philippine Peace Center,

KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), and IBON Foundation

(INITIATORS)

PERMANENT PEOPLES’ TRIBUNAL

SECOND SESSION ON THE

PHILIPPINES21-25 March 2007

The Hague, the Netherlands

JurorsJurors

oo Prof. Francois Prof. Francois HoutartHoutart (Chairman)(Chairman)oo Dr. Ties Dr. Ties PrakkenPrakken (The Netherlands)(The Netherlands)oo Makoto Makoto OdaOda (Japan)(Japan)oo Prof. Lilia Solano (Colombia)Prof. Lilia Solano (Colombia)oo Dr. Irene Fernandez (Malaysia)Dr. Irene Fernandez (Malaysia)oo Judge Judge OysteinOystein TveterTveter (Norway)(Norway)oo Prof. Richard Falk (USA)Prof. Richard Falk (USA)oo Dr. Hans Dr. Hans KoechlerKoechler (Austria)(Austria)

Please SUPPORT:Please SUPPORT:

PROMOTEPROMOTE the case of the Filipino people the case of the Filipino people against the USagainst the US--backed Arroyo regime within backed Arroyo regime within your organization, your network and your wider your organization, your network and your wider community, community, egeg, holding public meetings, , holding public meetings, distribution of information materials, etc. distribution of information materials, etc. WRITEWRITE letters to officials of your government letters to officials of your government expressing grave concern over the worsening expressing grave concern over the worsening violations of people’s rights in the Philippines violations of people’s rights in the Philippines and drawing attention to the Filipinos’ and the and drawing attention to the Filipinos’ and the international community’s clamor for justice to international community’s clamor for justice to be served. be served.

CONTRIBUTECONTRIBUTE financial and material financial and material resources needed for the Tribunal sessions. As resources needed for the Tribunal sessions. As a sponsor to this endeavor, we will appreciate a a sponsor to this endeavor, we will appreciate a contribution of at least 200 Euros, as a patron contribution of at least 200 Euros, as a patron at least 100 Euros, or as a donor at least 50 at least 100 Euros, or as a donor at least 50 Euros as contribution to the project cost. Euros as contribution to the project cost. Every cent will definitely be a valuable Every cent will definitely be a valuable contribution to the much needed funds. contribution to the much needed funds.

Major Endorsers and Sponsors:Major Endorsers and Sponsors:

oo United Church of CanadaUnited Church of Canadaoo OudOud KatholiekeKatholieke KerkKerkoo KaribuKaribu Foundation (Norway)Foundation (Norway)oo Anglican Church of CanadaAnglican Church of Canadaoo The Primate's World Relief & Development Fund The Primate's World Relief & Development Fund

(PWRDF) (PWRDF) –– CanadaCanadaoo ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)oo Solidarity Organizations in Denmark, Australia, Italy, Solidarity Organizations in Denmark, Australia, Italy,

Belgium, Belgium, HongkongHongkong, USA, Canada, Switzerland, etc., USA, Canada, Switzerland, etc.

Major Endorsers and Sponsors:Major Endorsers and Sponsors:

oo Ramsey Clark (USA)Ramsey Clark (USA)oo Joseph Cardinal Zen Joseph Cardinal Zen ZeZe--kiunkiun, S.D.B.. (HK), S.D.B.. (HK)oo Archbishop Archbishop JorisJoris A.O.L. A.O.L. VercammenVercammen

(Netherlands)(Netherlands)oo JitendraJitendra Sharma (International Association of Sharma (International Association of

Democratic Lawyers)Democratic Lawyers)oo President Kenneth President Kenneth KaundaKaunda (Zambia)(Zambia)oo August Gil August Gil MatamalaMatamala (Spain)(Spain)

Produced by:PPT2 Philippines

International Coordinating Secretariat,Philippine Coordinating Secretariat and

Nederlands-Filippijnse Solidariteitsbeweging

secretariat@philippinetribunal.orgsecretariat@philippinetribunal.orghttp://tribunalhttp://tribunal--onon--thethe--philippines.orgphilippines.org