Archives: Media Releases

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End the policy of Torture and human rights violations; Stop Oplan Bantay Laya!

The human rights organization, Karapatan, together with the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA), Hustisya! and the families of the Desaparecidos, today observes the International Day In Solidarity with Victims of Torture with a protest action in front of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).  NICA IS one of …

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Torture survivor weds his sweetheart; vows to continue fighting for justice

On June 20, members of the organizations of victims and relatives of victims of human rights violations, Desaparecidos and Hustisya! as well as the human rights alliance, KARAPATAN, turned out in a jubilant mood to show their support to the wedding of torture survivor Raymond Manalo, and his sweetheart, Kristel Alminiana, in a simple ceremony …

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KARAPATAN condemns continuing assault on activists and progressive organizations

Rights group raises alarm over rising violations cases in the run –up to the 2010 elections Karapatan condemns continuing assault on activists and progressive organizations The human rights alliance Karapatan today denounced the continuing state-perpetrated attacks on activists and progressive organizations.  Particularly, the Alliance condemns the June 11 raid of an electoral consultation and conference …

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IALAG abolition does not wash off blood from GMA’s hands

Human rights watchdog Karapatan welcomed the long overdue abolition of the Inter-agency Legal Affairs Group (IALAG). Karapatan claimed that the Philippine government’s act of abolishing IALAG is  but a confirmation that  the agency has time and again been used by state agents to violate human rights. IALAG, formed by the President through Executive Order 493 …

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Abduction of Fil-Am activist, 2 others is a HRV that cannot be erased by discrediting Karapatan and other human rights defenders

The human rights alliance Karapatan today issued a statement condemning the malicious statements made by the Presidential Human Rights Committee on Wednesday. Karapatan Secretary General Marie Hilao-Enriquez said bad-mouthing Karapatan will not erase the fact that there was a reported incident of an abduction of a Fil-Am activist and two other community health workers. The …

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To ignore Alston is to deny existence of dead bodies, blood in government’s hands

 The human rights umbrella Karapatan today said that by ignoring the Alston report, the Arroyo government is denying the existence of dead bodies and the blood in the hands of its security forces. Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Karapatan Secretary General said that the statements made by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to the latest report of UN special …

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Government must go after the real perpetrators and must stop grandstanding

Victims say reward money for perpetrators is another posturing to cleanse GMA’s dirty HR record before the UN Government must go after the real perpetrators and must stop grandstanding  Farmer Raymond Manalo and Pastor Berlin Guerrero, both victims of abduction and torture by state security forces recounted their ordeal to the UN Committee Against Torture …

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The Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, WCC Secretary General, takes time out for a snapshot with Pastor Berlin Guerrero and Raymond Manalo (Juan Michel/World Council of Churches)

Torture victims and rights groups says government lying about not engaging in torture

Government Panel Says Sorry for 20-year delayed report, Lectures UNCAT on Philippine Lawmaking Instead Geneva, Switzerland –The two hour session provided for the Philippine government replies to issues raised by the members of the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UN CAT) in its 42nd Session turned into a class on Political Science 101. Frustration seemed …

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Philippine Government Showcase Bombarded with a Barrage of Queries from UN Body against Torture

Geneva, Switzerland – The rather oversized 27-member Philippine government delegation to the 42nd Session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT), headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, faced a continuous barrage of questions from all ten members of the said Committee after Ermita read the Philippine government report on April 28, the scheduled start …

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Phil UPR Watch with OMCT

Torture survivors tell UN their story

Geneva, Switzerland – Victims of human rights abuses under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration traveled all the way to Geneva to tell their stories of torture during the 42nd Session of the UN Committee Against Torture.