International HR group says Filipinos now live in fear

By Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews / 04 November 2005
COTABATO CITY -- A Hong Kong-based human rights group claimed that most Filipinos now live in fear due to the government’s anti-terror campaigns.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)-Philippines, in a press statement, said that, “fear has overwhelmed lives of ordinary Filipinos as President Gloria Arroyo uses anti-terrorism and anti-crime drives as weapon to subdue them.”

“Millions of Filipinos have been suffering from extreme economic hardship…they lack any legitimate channels through which to have their voices heard. Even people who dare to cry out that they are hungry and impoverished face threats, rather than support, from government officials and the members of local elites,” said the AHRC, a regional non-governmental organization monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia.

The AHRC said that “throughout the country, steps are being quickly taken to silence complainants rather than address their grievances”. “Protesters and human rights defenders are being aggressively repressed,” it said. <snip>

http://www.mindanews.com/2005/11/04nws-ahrc.htm

here in the USA!

I had more information on what is going on here with the economic hardship they are going through. I sympathize with them, I just have no clue how this is causing them problems. Isn't free trade supposed to be a good thing?

simply the sense of being completely afraid, then instead of fighting it, they created it.

:grr:

:dunce:

:cry:

"Anti-terror" should be in quotation marks. But I guess the word "terror" can now mean any disagreement with the government.

Onelook dictionary:

terror - noun: a person who inspires fear or dread. noun: an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

but fighting it acknowledges its existence, with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The way to neutralize it is to be unaffected by whatever it is as just a passing thought, or illusion if you like. Isn't everything just thoughts after all, its about being in control. somebody once said the mind is a terrible master. but a wonderful servant.

say to myself, "Jeez,this is still a US colony!" We even have American
officials meddling in their politics (shock! LOL)

It really is terrible. They tried to impeach her, but she wiggled out of it...

And, she pulls the religion card...the bishops are involved, taking sides...It's creepy. The military is also a big player in this, too.
Some near coups this past year...

Arroyo even got caught on tape giving bribes to election officials, yet she squirmed out of it.

The only solution is for a revolution that topples the axis of evil from power.

Between the Moros and the NPA, plus her own unpopularity, I doubt that Arroyo will survive for long.

"The AHRC said that “throughout the country, steps are being quickly taken to silence complainants rather than address their grievances”.

I bet Wilson/Plame and Richard Clarke among others would agree. Also all those protesters who have been arrested. Who knows how many have been secretly whisked away into unknown places...never to be heard of from again.