By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY—“Vigilance will always be the ally of the freedom loving citizens in this country, it is as free as our speech and expression. It is priceless as freedom itself.”

This was the reaction of Desiree Caluza, secretary general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Baguio-Benguet to the presentation of Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares during a forum of the Cybercrime Prevention Act at the University of the Philippines Baguio last February 13. The forum was part of the university’s College of College Week activities.

Caluza pointed out that the Cybercrime law is just one of the many desperate measures of government to stifle the peoples right to expression and press freedom. She added that the law was passed at a time when the press in all platforms should be “vibrant and most importantly accessible to the loving citizens of this country”.

“Proposing such a measure is a grave insult for this country that fought for democracy, a democracy that could be lost if the people are not vigilant,” she stressed.

She further stressed that while the temporary restraining order issued on the implementation of the Cybercrime law is a welcome move, the people should remain vigilant and use the power of cyber space to call for the junking of the said oppressive law.

“Clicking a button is like clenching a fist, it is an act to express out desire for social change and justice. Be active, be creative and be expressive. Clench that fist and click that button. Protect our freedom,” she reiterated.

Ivan Labayne of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in his reaction stressed that the Cybercrime law is a draconian response of the state to the growing people power in cyberspace. He explained that just as the Marcos regime met the growing people’s dissent against his administration, the present administration issued e-martial law or the Cybercrime law against the growing people’s dissent on line.

He cited cases like the plagiarism issue hurled at Senator Tito Sotto that earned international criticism in just a click of a button. He explained that the Sotto incident showed how fast and efficient the internet is in disseminating information.

“The Cybercrime law is a form of state repression against the people’s basic right to expression. It was passed out of the government’s fear of the power of the people. Let us assert internet freedom and fight the Cybercrime law,” he ended.

Colmenares in the said forum shared that Bayan Muna petitioned the Supreme Court to strike down the Cybercrime law pointing out that the said law is unconstitutional as it is against the people’s fundamental right to free speech and expression. He added that it also violates the right to due process and privacy.

He stressed that the cybercrime act must be nullified entirely to enable congress to craft a better law now in consultation with experts and internet users themselves to ensure that their rights are protected and not violated.

He further pointed out that it is not true that there is no other recourse to run after cyber bullies, online child pornography and on line libel as the proponents of the Cybercrime law claimed. He reiterated that there are existing laws that include the Child pornography law, e-commerce act and the libel law adding that victims can also file civil charges against cyber bullies.

Colmenares further called on every one to join the campaign against the “draconian measure” and fight for the right to freedom of expression. “We cannot succeed without your help. It has been proven many times that it is the outrage of the people that forces the courts to change its course, if it does not change its course it will act against the people,” he reiterated.

He further said that the students involvement in the fight for the right to freedom of expression should not end in the said forum it should also translate to a continuing participation and vigilance against measures and actions that violates the people’s basic and human rights. # nordis.net

By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — “Iti daytoy nga araramiden ti gobyerno, malablabusan tayon iti dayaw. Anya ti rumbeng nga aramiden tayo? Lumaban!” (With the present government actions, we are being stripped of our dignity. What shall we do? Fight!)

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. Human rights violations countinue despite Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s Daang Matuwid. Three days before the International Human Rights Day, three anti-mining activists namely Cheryl Ananayo, a member of Didipio Earthsavers’ Multipurpose Association (Desama), her cousin-in-law Randy Nabayay, and Rolando Quijano, a farmer and active member of Alliance of Farmers Union in Zamboanga Del Sur, were killed by unidentified assailants. Ananayo and Nabayay were killed in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya while Quijanowas killed in Zamboanga Del Sur. Photo by Noel Godinez

Ornus was among the various organizations that joined the Martsa ng Bayan para sa Karapatan, Kapayapaan at Kalayaan, a protest march led by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) to present “the real state of human rights” in the region on December 10. The march culminated in a program at the People’s Park.

Bagni said that it is sad to note that despite the 64 years after the United Nation’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to which the Philippines is a signatory, the human rights situation in the country has not improved.

She disclosed that the plight of the urban poor sector continues to deteriorate contrary to government claims of an increase in the country’s economic performance. She added that the lack of decent paying jobs and livelihood opportunities for the urban poor remains.

She added that those who are striving to earn their keep by selling along the city’s main thorough fares and parks in Baguio are faced with the threat of demolition and confiscation of their good on a daily basis.

She explained that the urban poor continue to ply their trade despite the threat of confiscation and demolition because the government fails to provide them alternatives. And apart from the threats of demolition of their stalls, she said, is the threat of the demolition of their houses.

Bagni stressed that the urban poor has long demanded for decent jobs and housing but the government seem to be deaf to their calls. She added that the recent conditional cash transfer (CCT) that the Aquino administration is boasting of is not enough.

“We do not need dole outs. What we need are decent, secure and sustainable sources of livelihood,” she stressed.

Michael Cabangon spokesperson of Anakpawis Cordillera reiterated that the government through its various policies and programs violated rights of the basic sectors of the country that include the farmers and workers. He pointed out that government policies on agriculture and labor favor the interests of large foreign companies over the farmers and workers demands. He added that government policies are crafted to serve the dictates of foreign capital.

He highlighted the present two tiered salary scheme of the present administration saying that it is designed to deceive workers. He explained that the said scheme is unfair because wages will be based on the performance of workers and not on their needs. He also criticized the Aquino government for the increasing number of contractual workers. He added that even college graduates are hired as temporary or per contract workers.

Cabangon further reiterated that workers rights to organize themselves and to defend their rights are also met with violence by the government. He said that union busting continues and so does threats, harassment and even killings of labor leaders continue.

“The two years of PNoy in power has only worsened the sorry state of Filipino workers. There is no other resort but to fight for our right to live decently. Only when there is genuine freedom can poverty and hunger be eradicated,” he said in Iloco.

Community Health Education Services and Trainings in the Cordillera Region (Chestcore) Executive Director Mia Rasalan assailed the government’s seeming disregard of the people’s right to health. She stressed that apart from allocating a meager budget for government health careservices, the present administration is even geared towards the privatization of government hospitals.

In the Cordillera, Rasalan stressed that Baguio folk and the entire region should oppose the proposed privatization of the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center (BGHMC). She pointed out that even at the moment that the BGHMC is not yet privatized the majority of patients could hardly afford hospitalization how much more when gets privatized.

“What we need is an additional health care budget instead of giving priority to debt payments and the military budget,” she said.

Katribu the Indigenous Peoples Partylist Cordillera Spokesperson Samuel Anongos highlighted the plight of indigenous people (IP) who suffer from marginalization, development aggression and militarization. He reiterated that IPs have long been suffering from government neglect thus resulting to lack or absence of social services in their communities. He added that IP communities continue to suffer from foreign backed destructive projects that undermines their right over their territories and resources.

He mentioned large scale mining and energy projects accompanied by militarization worsens the already impoverished state of IPs in the Cordillera. He said that the situation of other IPs in the country is similar to the plight of the Cordilleras. He further pointed out that like the other exploited sectors of society the government answers the IPs protests with violence that include the murder and massacre of IPs.

Anongos stressed that just like the rest of the oppressed the IPs have no other recourse but to continue asserting and fighting for their rights.

CHRA Secretary General Jude Baggo reiterated that the human rights situation under the Aquino administration is as deplorable as that of the previous regime. He stressed that rights violations is not a numbers game.

“One killing, one rape is too many. The number of victims of violations reported or documented is not the issue, the issue here is that human rights violations continue and the government allows it with impunity,” Baggo stressed. # nordis.net