Archives: Media Releases

Karapatan deplores the Aquino government’s continuing attacks against human rights defenders through the recent arrests and filing of trumped-up charges against union organizers and community leaders, days before the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day on December 10.  Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano, both long-time union organizers and staff of the Confederation for Unity, …

Rights group condemns illegal arrests, trumped up charges vs union organizers Read More »

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) raised the alarm on the continuing human rights violations in the country under the Aquino government, particularly cases of extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders.     OMCT noted “the attacks …

Int’l HR org express concern for rights defenders in the Philippines Read More »

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 »