Press release
‘Halimaw sa cauldron’: Karapatan gives preview of effigy for 2019 Int’l Human Rights Day
Submitted on Mon, 12/09/2019 - 10:26
A day before the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day on Tuesday, December 10, human rights group Karapatan presented a preview of the effigy that will be used for mass actions at the Liwasang Bonifacio and Mendiola in Manila.
Karapatan expresses support for the resumption of peace negotiations, calls for the release of political prisoners
Submitted on Sun, 12/08/2019 - 10:53
"Karapatan expresses its support for the possible resumption of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). We support earnest endeavors at attaining peace and resolving the roots of the armed conflict.
Lifting martial law in Mindanao is no justification for proposed amendments to the anti-terror law - Karapatan
Submitted on Sun, 12/08/2019 - 10:45
"A new narrative is peddled by top militarists in Duterte's Cabinet. They are now supporting the lifting of martial law in Mindanao, but there's a catch -- it ought to facilitate the passing of the amendments to the anti-terror law or Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007. Having benefited from it after two years, the government is now using the lifting of martial law as a bait to pass a nationwide policy that will practically place the entire country under de facto martial law.
Karapatan questions continued illegal detention of Panday Sining activists, lambasts Año for inciting attacks against the youth
Submitted on Fri, 12/06/2019 - 12:14
"Suddenly, with avid attention and desperation from government officials, it seems that vandalism has become the worst crime in the world. So unforgivable that the youth who write scribbles of protests and criticisms through this form are criminalized akin to those who have committed heinous crimes.
Reprisal perjury charge against Karapatan and Gabriela dismissed, but QC court continued to lodge said case vs. 80-year old nun
Submitted on Thu, 12/05/2019 - 20:05
"National Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. is behind this political persecution against rights groups. Knowing he has no case against Karapatan, Gabriela, and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), he has instead settled with targeting a single individual -- 80 year-old Sister Elenita Belardo. We are with Sr. Elen throughout this result, and will continue to strongly assert that this trumped-up case is a form of reprisal against RMP's advocacy. Sr.
Karapatan: Close to 400 political prisoners arrested under the Duterte regime
Submitted on Thu, 12/05/2019 - 11:18
Today, December 6, human rights group Karapatan and Kapatid, along with other people’s organizations, trooped to the Boy Scout Circle in Quezon City to call for the release of all political prisoners.
As Duterte appoints Justice Mario Lopez, Karapatan wary over declining judicial independence, weaponization of law
Submitted on Thu, 12/05/2019 - 10:07
As President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Mario Lopez to the Supreme Court (SC), human rights group Karapatan expresses its deep concern over the declining independence of the judiciary that might equate to greater complicity over attacks against government critics and human rights activists.
Political prisoners face forced dispersal as Whole of Nation approach implemented in jails – Karapatan
Submitted on Wed, 12/04/2019 - 13:53Karapatan raised objections against an ongoing scheme by the Department of National Defense, through the Bureau of Jail and Management and Penology (BJMP) officials, to disperse political prisoners and transfer them to different detention facilities outside of Metro Manila. Calling the plan “surreptitious and detrimental to the long-term health and well-being of political prisoners,” Karapatan said this is part of the military’s whole-of-nation approach (WONA) in jails.
Karapatan denounces PNP awards for cops involved in arbitrary arrests, raids in Negros
Submitted on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 13:45
Human rights group Karapatan denounced the Philippine National Police for conferring medals of merit on the 10 cops who simultaneously implemented search warrants that led to the arrest of 57 individuals, including 13 minors in Negros Occidental. Of the 57 arbitrarily arrested on simultaneous operations in Negros last October 31, 2019, seven activists were slapped with trumped-up nonbailable charges and have remained incarcerated.
Rights groups put up symbolic memorial for victims of extrajudicial killings, renew calls for justice
Submitted on Sun, 12/01/2019 - 08:24
Human rights groups Hustisya and Rise Up for Life and for Rights, along with several other advocacy groups and families of victims of extrajudicial killings, held a gathering for justice on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at the Ecumenical Center of the National Council of Churches of the Philippines in Quezon City. The gathering is among the opening activities for the December 10 International Human Rights Day coordinated protests.
