Archives: Media Releases

The ManiLakbayan delegation, composed of more than 70 leaders of peasants and indigenous peoples from Mindano, today launched at the St. Joseph College in Quezon City, a relief drive for fellow Mindanawons affected by typhoon Pablo.  ManiLakbayan (Journey to Manila) is a Mindanao Peoples’ mobilization for the Defense of Land, the Environment, and Human Rights …

ManiLakbayan Mindanawons launch relief drive for victims of typhoon Pablo Read More »

Karapatan today held a picket in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to underscore the point that Pres. Aquino’s ‘superbody’ is “extraneous and thus, inessential in solving the cases of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations.”    “The victims and their families need no more frills and fuss. If only the government listens …

On Aquino’s superbody: No need for frills and fuss, victims need resolution and end to EJK Read More »

"No one else is to blame but President Noynoy and large scale mining corporations on the lives lost to typhoon Pablo," said Sr. Stella Matutina, secretary general of PANALIPDAN-Mindanao, a network of environmental defenders, in response to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (NDRRMC) Usec. Benito Ramos’ statement that the typhoon Pablo tragedy is …

Aquino to blame on typhoon Pablo tragedy for allowing foreign large scale mining –ManiLakbayan Read More »

Karapatan scores anew Noynoy Aquino’s recent promotion of military officers with clear record of human rights violations, and in fact, have pending cases before civilian courts for such violations, saying that “Aquino’s act is an outright disregard for human rights.”    Karapatan said that the “promotion of military officers like Año and Baladad is the …

Karapatan scores Noynoy Aquino’s promotion of GMA military officers; hits CHR for granting clearance Read More »

A group of Mindanao-based indigenous peoples and environment organizations leading a ten-day lakbayan to Metro Manila called on President Aquino to scrap the government’s standing mining policy allowing large-scale mining operations in the light of the latest disasters in Mindanao where super typhoon Pablo claimed more than two hundred lives in the provinces of Compostela …

Mindanao IPs, envi groups to Aquino, scrap Mining Act to avert another Pablo apocalypse!–ManiLakbayan Read More »

“Darker days ahead,” is how Karapatan describes the human rights situation under the Aquino government “that will even surpass the expected damage of typhoon Pablo.”   Karapatan, in its public presentation of the 2012 year-end report on the human rights situation said that “the appointment of known human rights violators such as the likes of …

Aquino toughens up AFP by promoting rights violators Read More »

Pahubay, a Banwaon ritual that literally means to ‘soften the heart’ was performed by Banwaon Datuand Bae at Plaza Miranda, Quiapo as they appealed to the people of Metro Manila, especially those from Mindanao, to support their call for justice and to stop extrajudicial killings and forced evacuation of peasants and indigenous peoples in Mindanao, due to continuous …

Mindanao peasants, IPs in Manila, call to stop killings and large-scale mining Read More »

Bounty and pop stars, instead of releasing political detainees Karapatan said that, “While the Aquino government plays dead on the call to release political prisoners, it offered bounty for so-called communist leaders and got pop stars to endorse Oplan Bayanihan, the counter-insurgency program that has caused lives of 114 people. The act is both desperate …

Aquino govt’s “righteous road to peace” bodes ill for peace Read More »

Women human rights defenders from Tanggol Bayi, Ecumenical Women’s Forum, BAI National Alliance of Indigenous Women, KAMP, International Women’s Alliance and Gabriela today trooped to the Department of Justice in Manila, in time for the global commemoration of the International Women Human Rights Defenders Day.      With their calls expressed in indigenous woven cloth …

Aquino’s ‘superbody’ camouflages HR situation ala Arroyo –Tanggol Bayi Read More »

“Would the Aquino government finally pull off the $13M US and other foreign aid, which means money from the international community, with the creation of Aquino’s ‘superbody’ to investigate the killings, disappearances, torture and other rights violations?” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay asked wryly.   Karapatan said that the Aquino government is “hell bent on …

Is Aquino ‘superbody’ worth $13M US and aid from the international community? Read More »