Friday, October 26, 2007

“PANTY POWER AGAINST THE JUNTA” Women workers picket Burma embassy in Makati

To commemorate the crackdown on peaceful demonstration of monks happened in Burma a month ago, women workers under the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines today held a protest action called “PANTY POWER”.

Disgusted with the failure of all diplomatic means in dealing with the generals in Burma, women workers now resorted to a kind of protest that for them, will surely insult the generals in Rangoon—throwing panties infront of the Burma embassy.

It will be remembered that on September 26 the military regime crackdown thousands of people engaged in peaceful protest against the government despite calls of the international community for the junta to exercise utmost restraint.

Last October 19, Burma Embassies in the UK, Thailand, Australia and Singapore were targeted by the “Panties for Peace” campaign. Some junta members believe that any contact with female undergarments - clean or dirty - will sap them of their power. Report said that one group already sent 140 pairs to the Burmese embassy in Geneva.

FBC-Phils said that diplomacy failed in Burma and human rights
violations including torture of prisoners, rape and killings of
activists escalated even more after the crackdown last month.

“Sending female underwears to Burma embassy is our way of telling the junta we want democracy in Burma now. Panties also symbolize women liberation in Burma because the junta is also known for being the world’s number 1 women rights abuser,” said Marlene Sindayen, Spokesperson of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL-Women).

Sindayen added, “It’s hard to get information inside Burma now. The junta cuts off all communication lines including the internet. There are still reports of evening arrest of monks and other activists in Burma. This is more alarming.”

Meanwhile, Yuen Abana of the Partido ng Manggagawa stressed, “Until today, the SPDC is conducting raids of houses and monasteries searching and arresting activists. There are already 800 people arrested without warrants. Life is cheap in Burma now and the junta is the one putting the tag price.”

Abana explained, “The ASEAN and the United Nations should not hesitate to do more concrete actions to bring back genuine democracy in Burma. For 10 years, the UN and the ASEAN have been doing numerous efforts to bring Burma into the mainstream but nothing has changed in Burma. What we see now is a kind of government that is unwilling to cooperate. Junta’s concern is simply to maintain its grasp on power.”

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

On the new Cha-cha bid: it’s God Save the Queen again

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros said that the revival of the administration's revival of the charter change bid means that the survival instinct of the President is once again kicking in, but this time as a response to a threat within her own base.

"The revived Cha-cha call is no doubt diversionary, but what's surprising is that this new attempt is apparently JDV-less," Rep. Hontiveros said. "When the administration pushed for Cha-cha during the 13th Congress, it was meant to tame or abolish an impertinent Senate. Speaker De Venecia supported Cha-cha because he believes that a shift to a parliamentary form of government would benefit his own desire to become a Prime Minister."

"The new attempt is conspicuously JDV-less, however. The stress now is on federalism, a message that, perhaps in addition to the alleged passing of envelopes and bags containing 'Christmas gifts', clearly pleases the local allies of the President," Rep. Hontiveros added.

She said that a JDV-less Cha-cha is unlikely to survive. "The administration would need his support if they truly want to succeed," Rep. Hontiveros said.

She said that the new Cha-cha call is nothing but a spin-off of the proxy war between the President and JDV. "It is not a call for genuine federalism, which should lead to empowerment from below. GMA's cha-cha is meant to consolidate the support of the President's local allies to respond to a threat that emanates from JDV," Rep. Hontiveros said. "She is using federalism as a political insurance against JDV and to get the support of local politicians."

She explained that GMA's version of federalism would devolve elitism and warlordism, but not the empowerment of local communities. "Power would be in the hands of the local elites and it would not strengthen democracy at the grassroots level. It's not meant

The solon vowed that AKBAYAN would oppose the new charter change bid. "This effort is clearly tainted by the President's survival needs. While AKBAYAN supports genuine empowerment at the grassroots level, we don't see the new Cha-cha bid as democratic," Rep. Hontiveros said.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Abalos’ resignation to open a Pandora’s box

AKBAYAN welcomed today the resignation of COMELEC Chair Benjamin Abalos, saying that this could open a Pandora's box.

"His resignation means that he's free to tell everything – from the ZTE controversy to electoral fraud cases in 2004 and 2007," AKBAYAN Chair Emeritus Etta Rosales said. "Otherwise, if he keeps mum on what really took place, this would only be seen as an attempt to save other personalities from the administration who have been implicated in the anomalous ZTE contract and other controversies."

Rosales said to put an iota of dignity to his resignation he should spill the beans. "Or else, people would take it that he agreed to become the administration's sacrificial lamb and he willingly allowed himself to be slaughtered," Rosales added. "There is no dignity to that kind of submission."

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who earlier endorsed the impeachment complaint against Abalos, said that his resignation is a proof of the strength of the complaint. "The impeachment would create a rift within the majority, and Abalos' resignation, wittingly or unwittingly, has preserved the majority coalition in the House," Rep. Hontiveros said.

She added that Abalos would still face criminal charges. "The impeachment has become moot and academic, but we will still hold Abalos accountable. AKBAYAN's legal team is studying the charges that Abalos should face before our legal system," Rep. Hontiveros said.

She said that controversies involving Abalos, such as the 'Hello Garci' controversy, the 2007 electoral fraud cases, and the bungling of the election modernization project, would haunt the beleaguered former COMELEC Chairman.

She admitted, however, that his resignation brought a sense of relief, especially for those who have been pushing for electoral reforms. "Abalos was the single biggest block to electoral reforms. His resignation would make it easier to push for policies and programs that Abalos either mangled or ignored, in particular the automation of elections," Rep. Hontiveros said.

Abalos’ resignation to open a Pandora’s box

AKBAYAN welcomed today the resignation of COMELEC Chair Benjamin Abalos, saying that this could open a Pandora's box.

"His resignation means that he's free to tell everything – from the ZTE controversy to electoral fraud cases in 2004 and 2007," AKBAYAN Chair Emeritus Etta Rosales said. "Otherwise, if he keeps mum on what really took place, this would only be seen as an attempt to save other personalities from the administration who have been implicated in the anomalous ZTE contract and other controversies."

Rosales said to put an iota of dignity to his resignation he should spill the beans. "Or else, people would take it that he agreed to become the administration's sacrificial lamb and he willingly allowed himself to be slaughtered," Rosales added. "There is no dignity to that kind of submission."

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who earlier endorsed the impeachment complaint against Abalos, said that his resignation is a proof of the strength of the complaint. "The impeachment would create a rift within the majority, and Abalos' resignation, wittingly or unwittingly, has preserved the majority coalition in the House," Rep. Hontiveros said.

She added that Abalos would still face criminal charges. "The impeachment has become moot and academic, but we will still hold Abalos accountable. AKBAYAN's legal team is studying the charges that Abalos should face before our legal system," Rep. Hontiveros said.

She said that controversies involving Abalos, such as the 'Hello Garci' controversy, the 2007 electoral fraud cases, and the bungling of the election modernization project, would haunt the beleaguered former COMELEC Chairman.

She admitted, however, that his resignation brought a sense of relief, especially for those who have been pushing for electoral reforms. "Abalos was the single biggest block to electoral reforms. His resignation would make it easier to push for policies and programs that Abalos either mangled or ignored, in particular the automation of elections," Rep. Hontiveros said.