BC Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Human Rights group to hold conference on Philippines

For immediate release: May 21, 2006

A local human rights organization will hold a one-day conference on the Philippines. “Prospects for peace, human rights and democracy in the Philippines: Canadians answer the call of the Filipino people for support and solidarity,” will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 from 9 a.m – 5 p.m. at the YWCA, 733 Beatty St. in downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Since Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed power in January 2001, the welfare and social conditions of the people continue to worsen under her anti-people and pro-foreign economic policies. Because of the people’s resistance, human rights violations have escalated to alarming proportions. Summary executions, illegal arrests, abductions, enforced disappearances, harassment, and the suppression of fundamental rights and civil liberties have become the hallmark of the Arroyo government.

From January 2001 to May 17 this year, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice in the Philippines and human rights group Karapatan tallied a total of 603 victims of extra-judicial killings, 151 victims of which were enforced disappearances and more than 200 attempted killings. This means that every week, four people are killed and one disappears.

This conference is an opportunity to bring to the attention of Canadians the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines and the descent into open authoritarian rule worse than during the Marcos 20-year martial law dictatorship. The conference will also provide an opportunity for Canadians to take action on the present Philippine situation.

Speakers will include labour leader Elmer Labog, Chair of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement), Luis Jalandoni, Chief Negotiator of the Peace Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and representatives of Canadian church, academe and parliamentarians.

Please register by June 13, 2006. Registration fee of $25 CDN includes food and conference materials. To register please contact BCCHRP at: 604-215-1905 or e-mail: bcchrp@kalayaancentre.net