Seeds are the lifeblood of agriculture. In the wake of increasing corporate control of seeds— where only 3 companies (Monsanto, DuPont/Pioneer, and Syngenta now control close to 60 percent of the global seed market—States are duty-bound to respect, protect and fulfil the Peasants’ right to seeds!

La Via Campesina, The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF), World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movement (FIMARC), International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), Association Centre Europe-Tiers Monde (CETIM), FIAN International, International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), Bread for All, and other organisations that we will add afterwards in annex list

To the fifth session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIWG) on a United Nations Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas

Geneva, Palais des Nations, Room XX / 9-13 April 2018

We peasants, indigenous peoples, pastoralists, fisher folk and rural workers, including rural women from around the globe, from La Via Campesina, IUF, WFFP, FIMARC, IITC along with CETIM, FIAN International and other organizations, represent all together billions of rural people. We have been constructively engaging in this process of the UN Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, from the field, our workplaces around the world and here in Geneva for many years. We strongly welcome the level of constructive support from regions, from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe. We especially welcome the warm and effective leadership of the Chair-rapporteur and the Bolivian mission in this negotiation. It is worth taking note that delegates of UN member states have extended their very strong contributions to the process. It appears clear that, aside little exceptions that we all know, nobody denies the need of adopting such Declaration. This process is a demonstration of the effort to continue advancing in the pluriculturality of the human rights system. 

As we have been saying from the very beginning, we, representatives of peasants, indigenous peoples, pastoralists, fishers and rural workers, including rural women, are legitimate parties in international cooperation and international solidarity in relation to human rights, food and rural development, since we constitute the sector of the population mostly affected by hunger and malnutrition despite strongly contributing to feeding the world. We, more than 2 billion peasants and other people working in rural areas have great knowledge and experience. We understand the current challenges facing the world’s food systems, and we have ideas for solutions and therefore we are able to contribute to solve those challenges in a valuable manner.

After seventeen years of work, effort and dedication, throughout the world, this process has made our movement and struggle stronger than ever. We are always ready to take our roles in terms of fighting for our human rights. The legal gaps with regard to the protection of peasants’ and other people working in rural areas rights at the international human rights level, need to be filled without further delay.

This is our Declaration, elaborated from the grassroots, we have been and we will keep defending it before this Council and before our national governments until its conclusion in this year 2018. All peasants and other people working in rural areas around the world strongly identify themselves with the content of this Declaration, which will be an instrument to restore and dignify our status in society, to recognize and protect our rights, and to guarantee conflict resolution with dialogue and in peaceful manner. We are confident to see the willingness of States to recognize the crucial rights of their respective rural populations. This is not only valuable for us individually and collectively – but also for all humanity, and it is in the interests of public authorities as well. In fact, the Declaration is going to be useful for governments because it can contribute to reduce social conflicts, food crisis, problems related to drug trafficking, poverty, migration towards cities; fighting environmental destruction and climate crisis; to improve the quality of our food; and to attract and keep more and more young people in farming and in rural areas.

Finally, Mr. Chair, it is worth underlining that what were perceived as new rights by certain countries, are now favorably reconsidered. Thanks to the inputs by peasants, indigenous peoples, pastoralists, fisher folk and rural workers, including rural women and other people working in rural areas from all over the world, and also legal grounds put forward by the experts, these rights are gaining more support in the Declaration, as they are specifically referred to in international agreements and a growing number of national legislation. Our grassroots testimonies reinforce the state of emergency for recognizing these rights in the Declaration without any further delay.

As we all stand here, in full knowledge that human rights prevail over profit and economic interests, as well as the alarming violations of the rights of peasants that occur systematically throughout the world, we call on States to unite in order to recognize and further guarantee the realization of the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas. States can no longer postpone the Declaration. The time is ripe for the recognition and protection of our rights. Let us work to finalize this process and adopt this Declaration this year.

Thank you very much.

Geneva 13 April 2018

Photo: #boliviaonugv

https://viacampesina.org/en/joint-statement-from-la-via-campesina-and-other-social-movements-and-civil-society-organizations-for-the-conclusion-of-the-5th-oeiwg-session-on-a-un-declaration-on-the-rights-of-peasants-and-othe/

This paper summarizes the discussions that took place in a meeting of representatives from peasant, fisher folk, indigenous peoples and rural women’s organizations, and civil society organizations (CSOs),  in Bangkok Thailand, 26-28 September 2017. The main aim of the gathering was to foster learning on how to use the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT or Tenure Guidelines), with the broader goal of advancing human rights-based tenure governance in Asia. Over 50 participants from 12 countries in Asia and four outside Asia participated in these discussions. Majority of them are active in grassroots and national organizing to secure land and natural resource rights for their constituencies. Others have been involved in multi-level policy making processes to support local peoples’ rights to land and natural resource tenure.

The paper refers to some presentations made in the regional meeting and features ‘think pieces’ from resource persons who provided inputs on key themes tackled during the three-day discussions.  However, the views expressed in this paper are those of Focus on the Global South (Focus).  

By Afsar Jafri

The initiative of La Via Campesina, largest peasant movement on earth comprising more than 182 organizations from 81 countries, for a United Nation Declaration on Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural areas will soon be a reality. At the conclusion of 5^th Session of the United Nations Open-Ended International Working Group (OEIWG) on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, held in Geneva, April 9-13, the process for finalizing the declaration this year was further revitalized. The Declaration will create an international human rights instrument, within the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR), for the promotion and protection of peasant rights. It will also draw attention to the threats and discrimination peasants and people involved in small-scale food production across the world suffer from. Through this Declaration, millions of peasants around the world will also be able to reclaim their rights to feed their families and communities, as it recognizes the fundamental role of small-scale food producers while also offering them tangible prospects for decent working and living conditions, consequently making this world a safer place for peasants.

The motive for evolving the UN Declaration on Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas has been exquisitely illustrated in the Preamble of its last revised draft. (A/HRC/WG.15/5/2 of 12^th February 2018). It says:

• Recognizing the special relationship and interaction between peasants and other people working in rural areas, and the land, water and nature to which they are attached and on which they depend for their livelihood;
• Recognizing also the past, present and future contributions of peasants and other people working in rural areas in all regions of the world to development and to conserving and improving biodiversity, which constitute the basis of food and agricultural production throughout the world, and their contribution in ensuring the right to adequate food and food security which are fundamental to attaining the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• Concerned that peasants and other people working in rural areas suffer disproportionately from poverty, hunger and malnutrition;
• Concerned also that peasants and other people working in rural areas suffer from the burdens caused by environmental degradation and climate change;
• Concerned further about peasants ageing around the world and youth increasingly turning their backs on agriculture owing to the lack of incentives and drudgery of rural life, and recognizing the need to improve the economic diversification of rural areas and the creation of non-farm opportunities, especially for rural youth;
• Alarmed by the increasing number of peasants and other people working in rural areas forcibly evicted or displaced every year;
• Alarmed also by the high incidence of suicide of peasants in several countries;
• Stressing that peasant women and other rural women play a significant role in the economic survival of their families and in contributing to the rural and national economy, including through their work in the non-monetized sectors of the economy, but are often denied tenure and ownership of land, equal access to land, productive resources, financial services, information, employment or social protection, and are often victims of violence and discrimination in a variety of forms and manifestations;
• Stressing also that several factors make it difficult for peasants and other people working in rural areas, including small-scale fishers and fish workers pastoralists, foresters and other local communities to make their voices heard, to defend their human rights and tenure rights, and to secure the sustainable use of the natural resources on which they depend;
• Recognizing that access to land, water, seeds and other natural resources is an increasing challenge for rural people, and stressing the importance of improving access to productive resources and investment in appropriate rural development;
• Convinced that peasants and other people working in rural areas should be supported in their efforts to promote and undertake sustainable practices of agricultural production that support and are in harmony with nature, also referred to as Mother Earth in a number of countries and regions, including by respecting the biological and natural ability of ecosystems to adapt and regenerate through natural processes and cycles;
• Considering the hazardous and exploitative conditions that exist in many parts of the world under which many peasants and other people working in rural areas have to work, often denied the opportunity to exercise their fundamental rights at work, and lacking living wages and social protection;
• Concerned that individuals, groups and institutions that promote and protect the human rights of those working on land and natural resources issues face a high risk of being subject to different forms of intimidation and of violations of their physical integrity;
• Noting that peasants and other people working in rural areas often face difficulties in gaining access to courts, police officers, prosecutors and lawyers to the extent that they are unable to seek immediate redress or protection from violence, abuse and exploitation;
• Concerned about speculation on food products, and the increasing concentration and unbalanced distribution of food systems, which impairs the enjoyment of human rights;
• Recognizing that, in order to guarantee food security, it is essential to respect, protect and promote the rights recognized in the present declaration.

On April 16^th, the LVC and other social movements issued a Joint Statement from Geneva on the outcome of the 5^th Session of the OEIWG, which says that “it appears clear that, aside little exceptions that we all know, nobody denies the need for adopting such Declaration. This process is a demonstration of the effort to continue advancing the pluriculturality of the human rights system.” It further says, “after seventeen years of work, effort, and dedication, throughout the world, this process has made our movement and struggle stronger than ever. We are always ready to take our roles in terms of fighting for our human rights. The legal gaps with regard to the protection of peasants’ rights and of other people working in rural areas at the international human rights level, need to be filled without further delay. This is our Declaration…all peasants and other people working in rural areas around the world strongly identify themselves with the content of this Declaration, which will be an instrument to restore and dignify our status in society, to recognize and protect our rights, and to guarantee conflict resolution with dialogue and in peaceful manner”.

In the opening of the 5th Session, April 9^th, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights said in her opening remarks that “over five years of diligent effort, the drafting had been built on existing international standards relevant to the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, as well as FAO Principles and several Voluntary Guidelines.” These remarks from the Deputy High Commissioner transmitted a sense of urgency to the Working Group to finalize its work on the draft declaration to address the gap in protection for more than a billion people, who face discrimination and other challenges. She also said that “the situation is aggravated by globalization, free trade agreements, and patents over seeds which erode the ability of small farmers, as well as climate change which affects particularly those who depend on the land.”

As told by the LVC representative at the 5th Session to Focus, the negotiation went on quite smoothly on some of the articles that gained broad agreements, including in languages but that some of the articles witnessed intense debates, among these Article 5 (Right to natural resources), Article 11 (Right to information with regard to production, marketing, and distribution), Article 12 (Access to justice), Article 15 (Right to adequate food), Article 16 (Right to a decent income and livelihood and the means of production), Article 17 (Right to land and other natural resources), Article 19 (Right to seeds), Article 20 (Right to biological diversity), Article 26 (Cultural rights and traditional knowledge), Article 18 (Right to a safe, clean and healthy environment), Article 21 (Right to water and to sanitation), Article 28 (General), Article 2 (General obligations of States), Article 1 (Definition of peasants and other people working in rural areas), and in the preamble and negotiations on the matter of  collective rights. However, La Via Campesina delegates, its allies, and experts emphatically defended these articles through inputs and testimonies favoring their retention.

Other civil society groups that were represented in the 5^th session were the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF), World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movement (FIMARC), International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), Association Centre Europe-Tiers Monde (CETIM), FIAN International, International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), Bread for All, among others. The experts who were assigned certain articles or groups of articles played a key role in explaining the importance of various articles and why these articles must be retained in the current draft, stressing that any dilution or deletion of text of these articles would compromise the spirit of those articles and would go against the current human rights obligations and ultimately affect the protection of the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.

At the end of the final meeting of the of the five-day session on April 13th, the Chair-Rapporteur concluded that a revised draft will be prepared by the Chair-Rapporteur on the basis of the different proposals and views expressed during the fifth session of the working group, and encouraged States, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders to send their written textual proposals and contributions to the draft declaration, as presented during the fifth session, before 20 April. During the negotiations, the Plurinational State of Bolivia and especially Chair-Rapporteur played a constructive role with the sole intention making the Declarations a reality as soon as possible.

The Chair-Rapporteur will also prepare a final draft to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its adoption, in fulfillment of the mandate of the working group as stated in paragraph one of Resolution 19/21 and subsequent resolutions. The draft Declaration will come up for vote at the Human Rights Council in June 2018 and it is hope that the whole process will finally be concluded with a vote on the draft Declaration at the UN General Assembly in September this year. The period from now till June has been deemed crucial for mobilizing the member states of UNHCR towards voting for this historic declaration.

If this Declaration gets adopted by end of this year, according to La Via Campesina this will be a wonderful gift from the World Community of United Nations in its 25^th year (LVC was formally established in 1993) of its long struggle for the protection of peasants’ rights and millions of peasants, indigenous peoples, pastoralists, fisher folk and rural workers, and rural women.

Afsar Jafri can be contacted at: a.jafri@focusweb.org

April 20, 2018. QUEZON CITY—Members of human rights movement IDEFEND decried the worsening human rights situation and the continuing threats to Philippine democracy. 

“Philippine Democracy is in Danger” declared IDEFEND in the wake of more recent events like the deportation of Giacomo Fillbeck, of the Party of European Socialists, the detention of Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox, and the continuing threats to judicial independence.  

“Verbal assault of Duterte against international personalities and institutions have now moved to actual reprisals,” according to IDEFEND spokesperson Ellecer Carlos.  

“These latest developments form part of a larger pattern, an apparatus to thwart opposition and silence dissent to his authoritarian rule,” asserted Carlos. 

“The Duterte Government wants us to be satisfied with the killings, broken promises, and misogyny,” said Wilnor Papa of Amnesty International.  On the deportation and detention of foreigners critical of the administration, Papa added that “It’s not just an issue of foreigners being involved in politics but the shrinking democratic space.” 

“Rather than addressing the concerns, the government just like a bully, resorts to threats,” added Papa.

Rose Trajano of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), says the repression is happening everyday. “A build, build, build for an authoritarian state” is how Trajano described the situation, alluding to the Duterte administration's banner infrastructure program. 

“It started early on in his presidency: The declaration of ML (martial law) in Mindanao, the assaults in the justice system, the control over legislators, the repressive bills and laws that have been passed—like giving subpoena powers to the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the electronic surveillance of foreign entities, the National ID system among others— and also the tagging of 600 people including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, as terrorists, and the continued harassment of media and journalists,” said Trajano.

Reflecting on the case of Sr. Patricia Fox, Judy Pasimio of Lilak, Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights said, "Sister Pat was with us many years ago in the campaign against mining in Aurora. 27 years, and yet the conditions of indigenous peoples and farmers remain the same and corporations still rule." 

Pasimio asked, "Who is the real threat to sovereignty? A 71-year old Australian nun fighting mining and pushing for human rights, or an Australian mining company such as Oceania Gold, ravaging the natural resources and acting like the government in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya?"  

"Who is the one pushing for the entry of more corporations here?  Especially with the proposed Charter Change which will open our economy to 100 percent foreign control and ownership of our land and natural resources?"  

"Duterte is the real threat to sovereignty. Sovereignty doesn’t lie with Duterte but with the people" concluded Pasimio. 

In the wake of recent statements made by President Duterte himself threatening deportation of foreigners critical of the government, IDEFEND called on the public to embrace solidarity, instead of human rights violations, dictatorship and tyranny; and it called on the public and the international community to protect human rights, defend democracy, and resist the return of another authoritarian regime.

Photo:  Ellecer Carlos, IDEFEND spokesperson stressing a point during the press conference on Democracy in Danger held in Quezon City. 20 April 2018. Photo by J. Purugganan

New digital publication OUT NOW!!

This new publication compiles articles, songs, videos and visual contents created and gathered for the International Day of Peasants'Struggles 2018. 

To read it online, please click here.

Background

Focus on the Global South (Focus) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with offices in Thailand, the Philippines and India. Focus combines policy research, advocacy, activism and grassroots capacity building to generate critical analysis and debates among social movements, civil society organisations, elected officials, government functionaries and the public on national and international policies related to corporate-led globalization, neoliberalism and militarization. 

The Focus Philippines office is looking for a new Finance and Admin Assistant to assist with the daily finance and administrative needs of the team.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Philippines Head of Office, and in coordination with the Finance and Administrative Officer, the Finance and Admin Assistant will undertake the following tasks:

Finance:

1. Take charge of release of funds and cash advances.
2. Monitor and comply with the requirements of the different government entities such as BIR, SSS, HDMF, SEC and Philhealth.
3. Facilitate the signing of checks and other important documents by authorized signatories.
4. Provide assistance with the financial reporting for small-funded activities, as needed.

Administration:

1. Receive telephone calls and office visitors, answer general inquiries concerning office procedures, and refer matters requiring the attention of the Head of Office, Finance and Admin Officer and Program staff.
2. Maintain calendar of scheduled events (e.g. conferences, meetings, book launches, etc.) and sees to it that required documents for the meetings and conferences are prepared and provided.
3. Maintain an updated inventory and record of borrowers e.g. books and office equipment.
4. Take charge of the maintenance of the Focus book/document collection and delivery/dissemination of Focus publications to pertinent offices, as needed.
5. Provide general assistance in responding to coordination, communications, liaison and administrative logistical concerns.

• Make reservations and flight arrangements of staff/participants.
• Make inquiries, reservations and arrangement of meeting, conference, and workshop venues.
• Make inquiries, reservations and arrangement of accommodation.

6. Perform other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Qualifications

• At least 3-5 years professional experience in providing administrative and financial support.
• Excellent program support skills, particularly in the areas of administration and finance.
• Proven experience in accounting and financial management.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Demonstrated experience in working with NGOs.
• Oral and written fluency in English.

This is a full-time position based at Focus’ Philippines office in Quezon City. The post offers a salary commensurate with experience and comparable to those of other regional organisations.

Applications should be in English and include a cover letter, CV, and contact details of at least two referees. Please send applications to jobs@focusweb.org with “Finance and Admin Assistant” in the subject line by 25 May 2018.

The European Union (EU) is one of the largest international donors to the Lao PDR, with a budget of over 200 million Euros for the 2014-2020 period.

On 15 March 2018, the EU and the Lao PDR held the eighth session of their annual Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels.  Ahead of the Dialogue, many organisations concerned by the deteriorating situation regarding civil liberties and peoples’ rights in the Lao PDR made submissions to the EU, presenting examples of persisting and deepening rights violations.  

Below is a letter that was submitted to the EU by nine organisations, asking that the EU link its aid to actual betterment of basic freedoms and human rights of the targeted beneficiaries of aid.  The letter also asked the EU to publicise a detailed account of the proceedings of the Dialogue. 

Such an account has yet to be made available to the public.

8 March 2018

HE Mr. Léon Paul Faber, Ambassador

Europe House

Unit19, Hom 2, Setthathirath Road, Haisok Village, Chanthabouly District

P.O. Box: 9325; Vientiane, Lao PDR

cc: Mr. François Pravongviengkham, Policy Officer

Re: EU-Lao Human Rights Dialogue

Dear Sir,

As is well known, the European Union is one of the largest international donors to the Lao PDR, with a budget of over 200 million Euros for the 2014-2020 period. Many of your diplomatic initiatives as well as assistance programmes (particularly those through the EIDHR mechanism) focus on the promotion of human rights, the development of civil society, and the empowerment of local communities.

Yet, while your assistance has nearly doubled over the previous period, the actual situation in these sectors has deteriorated considerably:

• In early 2016, Soukan Chaithad, Somphone Phimmasone and Lodkham Thammavong were arrested, held incommunicado, allegedly beaten, tried in secret, and given extremely harsh sentences of up to 20 years. While the specific charges are not known, it appears their ‘crimes’ were to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights of free expression and assembly. The three had criticized the Lao Government on Facebook for corruption, deforestation and human rights violations, and protested outside the Lao Embassy in Bangkok. Indeed, the European Parliament raised concern about these cases, along with several other issues in a Resolution on 14 September 2017. It is noteworthy that your delegation failed to share this important resolution on your web or Facebook pages.

• In July 2017, 14 villagers from Ban Yeub in Sekong Province were arrested for protesting a rubber plantation that had taken their previous lands, and for demanding adequate compensation. Several were beaten, and one, Mr. Somsavanh, recently died in custody. While authorities claim it was suicide, relatives state it was a result of harsh conditions and torture. It has also come to light that the detainees are facing health problems possibly because of lack of food, and that their families have to pay the police in order to visit them. One of the detainees, Mr. Vihanh, was released on February 16. However, another 12 are still in jail including two people under 18 years of age. They are: Mr. Suvanh, Mr. Vikham, Mr. Bounleang, Mr. Bounpoke, Mr. Nak (under 18 years), Mr. Bountia, Mr. Bountean, Mr. Po, Mr. Nai, Mr. Sonh, Mr. Bounsod and Miss Ny (15-years old).

• In August 2017, the Lao government issued an updated decree (No. PM/238) which substantially increases the already suffocating restrictions on Non-Profit Associations. A number of international organisations have spoken out against the law, asserting it contravenes both the Lao constitution and the country’s international human rights treaty obligations. Over the past years the Lao government has also severely restricted the ability of non-profit associations to access funds and operate autonomously.

Please also note that cases of enforced disappearance, including those of Sombath Somphone in 2012 and Sompawn Khantisouk in 2007, remain not only unresolved, but almost wholly unaddressed by the responsible authorities. Additionally, the Lao government has yet to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, claiming it is still studying the agreement which it signed a decade ago.

During its 2015 Universal Periodic Review, the Lao government accepted 119 of the 203 recommendations made. However, over half-way through the five-year cycle, no follow-up plan for the implementation of these recommendations, or for civil society’s inclusion in this process, has been released, despite numerous donor efforts to support that involvement.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is currently preparing a report on the criminalisation of indigenous human rights defenders. A call has been made for documentation of concrete cases, which require the consent of the affected people or families.

But how is this possible in the current political context? While the EU and other international donors spend millions on programmes to promote human rights, build civil society, and empower local communities, the unfortunate reality is that those who actually raise their voice or assert their rights are often brutally suppressed.

While it is common for submissions such as this to provide information, we suggest ample information already exists; the need is for greater will toward authentic action.

In closing, we call on the EU, and specifically its Delegation to the Lao PDR, to:

• In the spirit of good governance, more directly link aid to authentic performance, particularly with regard to basic freedoms and the human rights of targeted beneficiaries.

• In the spirit of inclusiveness, expand the human rights dialogue to enable wider inputs and an ongoing process that can raise specific cases as they occur.

• In the spirit of transparency, publicise a detailed account of the upcoming proceedings, including specific issues or cases raised, and commitments made.

With kind regards

Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN)

FIAN International

Focus on the Global South

International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI), University of Michigan

Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation

Network for Transformative Social Protection

Stiftung Asienhaus

The Corner House

Transnational Institute

Statement from the Free Jonas Burgos Movement

The Supreme Court affirming the March 27, 2013 resolution of the Court of Appeals ruled that the Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines took Jonas Joseph Burgos on April 28, 2007, establishing that Jonas is a victim of enforced disappearance. He was alone, unarmed and having his lunch when Maj. Harry Baliaga Jr. along with 3 men and a woman, dragged him out of the Hapag Kainan Restaurant of the Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City, according to the same document of the Supreme Court. An order by the Court for the military to produce Jonas was not complied with and to this day, nobody has been cited in contempt.

Eleven years after the abduction Jonas remains to be missing. The truth about his enforced disappearance authored by the military remains to be a mystery. Justice has been denied. Meanwhile the suspects in the case, all military officers, have been promoted, granted choice positions in government and the military hierarchy and enjoy the perks that go with their positions. It is not a surprise to read news stories that report that some of the suspected abductors are now assigned in areas where there are many cases of enforced disappearances.

For eleven years Jonas’ family endured the consequences of a missing breadwinner, protector, brother, son. No relief is in sight… for now.

Unless and until the authorities realize that the only way to earn the complete confidence of the people in government sincerity, to completely implement the law, the first step of which is to clean the ranks of the military and weed out the undesirables.

The case of Jonas is a clear example of why impunity and tyranny continue to afflict our society. The evidence established the guilt of the accused, and the court ruled accordingly … the case was won, but the battle was lost. Those accountable were not made to pay. Jonas has not been returned to his family.

For eleven years, family and friends tried all peaceful avenues purportedly available in a democratic society.

There has been no dearth in fidelity, nor of persistence and tenacity among members of the family, nor has there been any shortage of generous hearts and souls, volunteers and pro bono services in all the arcs and bends, man-made ruts and pits and heaps and mounds of the sometimes agonizing, sometimes dangerous path of the search for Jonas. At every turn, family and friends were constantly accompanied by prayers, so much so that the phrase ‘God’s providence’ was so genuinely felt. When someone in the family would falter, a Simon of Cyrene and a Veronica are sent our way.

So what else is left? ‘Missing eleven years’ is unacceptable. We pray that the Lord would soften the hearts of the perpetrators… prick the consciences of those ‘who know’ and enlighten the minds of the executioners of the law.

Return Jonas as ordered by the Supreme Court! Punish the guilty!

On May Day 2018, workers from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines send these messages to the world:

• No to Endo / short-term contracts 
• Strong Pro-Labor Laws 
• Just living wages and benefits
• Freedom from exploitation
• Rights to assemble and association
• Social security and welfare for workers 
• Allow independent unions 
• Uphold ILO Convention 87 

Watch the video to see their messages in full. 

3 May 2018, Singapore: Trade officials from 16 countries that are negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are meeting in Singapore this week to advance this ambitious mega-Free Trade Agreement (FTA), however civil society has been shut out.

Civil society has worked hard to gain access and a voice in previous rounds, although not nearly enough. At the negotiating rounds in the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and India, key representatives of civil society were at least invited to share their concerns.

The Singapore government has gone backwards. Today, it hosted Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and other local business groups at a Business Dialogue to identify their interests and concerns. Trade unions, farmers and civil society organisations who will be adversely affected by RCEP were excluded.

The negotiations to further open up and deregulate sectors such as agriculture, public services, manufacturing and the digital economy are taking place under complete secrecy and no text has been made public, despite that the negotiations have been on-going for the past six years.

“ASEAN governments have been asserting ASEAN centrality throughout these RCEP talks. Meaningful consultations are important to voice the concerns of people. The consultation in Singapore has effectively shut out peoples’ voices and instead provided privileged access once again to business. This exposes further the democratic deficit in the RCEP process.”, said Joseph Purugganan, of Focus on the Global South and convenor of Trade Justice Pilipinas .

Paul Lunghdim from Delhi Network of Positive People from India  stated, “It is unacceptable that people living with HIV, networks of people with hepatitis C and other affected groups whose lives are at stake by the IP rules proposed in RCEP were not invited to share their views and raise their concerns.  DNP+ has been working on IP and FTAs for the last decade raising awareness of the most harmful IP provisions proposed in FTAs such as EU-India and RCEP, but

"The Governments and TNCs gathered in Singapore are deciding the rules for tomorrow's digitised economy. It defies logic that workers, whose fundamental rights will be directly affected by these new rules, have been completely shut out of this process. Meaningful engagement with workers and other affected communities from across the region is a necessary precursor for workers to exercise their democratic rights; what we have seen here makes a mockery of these rights." – Building and Wood Workers International (BWI)Regional Representative Apolinar Tolentino. BWI represents close to 4 million workers in the Asia-Pacific region, with affiliate unions in thirteen of the sixteen RCEP countries.

Civil society members are also gathered in Singapore for their own meeting on RCEP reminded their governments that it is their collective responsibility to ensure that, as a minimum, inclusive and comprehensive stakeholder consultations are held as recognised inputs into each round of negotiations. Country representatives cannot hide behind the lack of political will of the host country and need to ensure that minimum standards for enabling meaningful and inclusive stakeholder input is set for future rounds of RCEP negotiations.

Photo courtesy of bilaterals.org 

“P-move wishes to affirm that we are not only poor people who are troubled or abused, but we are also groups of people with our own concrete development models to solve our problems.  We have savings groups, community banks, community welfare systems for building houses, building communities, waste disposal and disaster preparedness; various models exist in concrete form in many localities.”

From P-MOVE statement on 9 May, 2018 (see below for full statement)

Land, Freedom, Democracy, Justice.  These are the main organising pillars of The People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move), a coalition of six grassroots people’s movements struggling for justice, rights, dignity and identity in Thailand. P-MOVE members come from across Thailand and include: Isarn Land Reform Network; Southern Peasant Federation of Thailand; Northern Peasant Network; Land Reform Network of Bantad Mountain Range; Four Region Slum Network, and; Community Network for Reform of Society and Politics.

P-MOVE has presented the problems and challenges faced by its member communities to three governments since 2010, asking for timely and appropriate resolution, and recognition of their rights as Thai citizens. P-MOVE members have documented over 200 cases of violations of peoples’ rights to land, water, livelihoods, citizenship and justice.  However, despite the formation of several governmental committees and promises of consideration by officials since many years, no concrete actions have been taken by the government to address P-MOVE’s core issues and demands.

To draw attention of the government and the public to their continuing (in some cases worsening) situations, P-MOVE members have been in Bangkok since the beginning of May, seeking agreements with various ministries and the Prime Minister’s Office for fair and timely solutions to their problems. They have been sleeping, cooking and eating in temporary camps on the wide pavements in front of government buildings. As they wait for decisive resolutions/actions from the government, P-MOVE members share their experiences with each other, build solidarity across communities, strengthen their movement, and try to reach out to Bangkok society, press and media to explain why they left their homes and villages to camp out in the heat, pollution and rain of Bangkok for so many days.

Below are statements issued by P-MOVE that express their situations, thoughts and demands.  These are accompanied by photographs of the P-MOVE camps and short video clips, all of which will be updated regularly on the Focus website and Facebook.

For updates in Thai language, please visit the P-MOVE Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Pmove2011/

A conversation with Dorothy Guerrero and Kolya Ambramsky.

Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016, a decision that surprised many and with complex consequences that are still unfolding. Some interpreted it as the revolt of the have-nots against neoliberal globalisation, other see rising xenophobia and perceived threats of immigration as the main concerns that swung the vote. The British progressive and Left groups have varying position about the EU. Some campaigned for a Left Exit (Lexit) and some campaigned for the UK to remain within the EU. The British Left’s efforts during the referendum to expose the dominance of corporate agenda in the neo-liberal framework of the EU as a roadblock to radical fiscal and environmental reforms to effect a Lexit vote did not lead to a wide and deeper understanding of the UK’s role as a co-architect of the current EU that favour the interests of the few and not the many. However, the rise of Jeremy Corbyn - his transformation from an idealist to a statesman and possible prime minister – is bringing about hope for a more compassionate Britain. What are the prospects for a “hard-Left Labour” to be the next government in Britain? Will it be able to put the “ferocious beast of free-market capitalism on a leash” before it devours all around it? Can the British Left defeat racism and put an end to the prevailing hostile environment for immigrants? What would a post-Brexit UK trade relations, especially with developing countries, look like and how can we build a broader global solidarity for just trade and corporate accountability?

Our Speakers:

Dorothy Guerrero is currently Head of Policy and Advocacy of Global Justice Now, a UK campaign organisation based in London and Edinburgh. She previously worked with Transnational Institute, Focus on the Global South, Asienhaus Germany and Institute for Popular Democracy. She works on and writes about globalisation, China, climate change and energy, corporate power, and migration.

Kolya Abramsky is a freelance author and editor. He edited the book "Restructuring Resistance: diverse voices of struggles in Western Europe" and "Sparking Worldwide Energy Revolution: social struggles in the transition to a post-petrol world." 

Laws and policies have not always been on the side of the people. For the basic masses—workers, farmers, indigenous peoples, urban poor, especially the women from these basic sectors—the country’s legal and justice systems have also often times failed to protect their rights and interests. But to be totally without rule of law, to cause the collapse of already weakened democratic institutions and processes is more dangerous. Such situation puts the people at the mercy of regimes such as Mr. Duterte’s who acts in contempt and abuse of the Constitution and people’s rights, and therefore with impunity. This was what happened on May 11th with the ouster of Chief Justice Sereno through an unprecedented, deemed unconstitutional means, the issuance of quo warranto against her, at the behest of the executive.

(May 21, 2018/Manila) – “To include non-Moro indigenous peoples rights in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) means inclusive peace, and a more lasting one,” says Titay Bleyen Santos Unsad, a Teduray leader from Upi, Maguindanao. 

“Peace in Mindanao is a common aspiration of the Moro people and the non-Moro IPs. We have supported the struggle of our Muslim brothers and sisters for peace and development within our region. Their peace, is our peace. And that is why the BBL, to be truly a peace instrument, should also recognize the rights of the Teduray, Lambangian and other non-Moro indigenous peoples in Maguindanao,” adds Titay Bleyen Santos. 

Titay Bleyen Santos Unsad is one of the 350 IP leaders who have been part of the Mindanao IP Legislative Assembly or MIPLA, which was convened by the Office of the Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process (OPAPP) last year. The MIPLA was mandated to draft specific proposed revisions to the BBL which would contain the IP agenda. The Assembly worked for 3 months, and came up with proposed revisions. 

“We drafted proposed revisions to enhance the BBL, recognizing our rights to our ancestral domains, and our distinct identity as non-Moro IP rights. These were presented to the Congress,” according to Titay Bleyen Santos. “But now, all of these seem to be set aside in favor of the version from the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), which prescribes that all peoples within the proposed Bangsamoro territory are all Bangsamoro. But we are not. We are Teduray, with our own ancestral domain, justice system, and governance. We are non-Moro indigenous peoples.” 

The Congress plans to pass the proposed BBL before it adjourns on June 1, upon the urging of President Rodrigo Duterte. At the House of Representatives, the House Committees on Local Government, Muslim Affairs, and Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity approved House Bill No. 6475 or the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) without amendments last week. This did not sit well among some members of the House, who said that all the consultations and public hearings were rendered useless, as no revisions were entertained. The HB 6475 is the version submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).  The same can be said with the Senate, when Senator Miguel Zubiri decided to author instead the BTC version. The interpellation of SB 1717, or the proposed BBL, is ongoing at the Senate. 

“It’s true, that the BBL is long overdue. We have been part of the struggle, too. We have been attending congressional hearings, dialogues, public forums, to express our support to BBL, but also to say that an inclusive BBL is the only way to go to have an inclusive peace,” says Fintailan Leonora Mokudef. Fintailan is a title for a Teduray woman leader.  “Indigenous Peoples in ARMM did not enjoy the rights provided by the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA). Recognition of our rights is also long overdue.” 

The government of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) did not recognize IPRA, a national law, as applicable within its territory. Its applicability over the Bangsamoro Territory is one of the critical revisions that the IP leaders are pushing for. The IP leaders went to the Senate today to have dialogues with the Senators and to observe the plenary discussions of SB 1717, or the Senate version of the proposed BBL. 

“The halls of the Senate are familiar now to us. We have been here before, during the Aquino administration lobbying for the inclusion of IP agenda in the BBL. We have allies then who seem to have changed their position,” observes Titay Bleyen Leticio Datuwata, a Lambangian leader, from South Upi, Maguindanao. “We just hope that there will still be a number of members of the Senate who believes in the pursuit of peace, and that peace should be for everyone – even us, non-Moro Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao.”

Titay Bleyen Santos, Fintailan Leonora and Titay Bleyen Leticio are all part of LOYUKAN, a common term among Central Mindanao Lumad to mean comrades. It is a coalition of IP leaders, Indigenous Political Structures, IP rights advocates, human rights organizations, and other members of the social movement who are all pushing for the full inclusion of the IP rights within the BBL. 

For more information:

Mabel Carumba --  tubong.mindanao@gmail.com

Judy a. Pasimio -- judy@lilak.net

[REPOST FROM THE REAL NEWS NETWORK]

Last month, Walden Bello, Focus' co-founder was interviewed by The Real News Network. In his exchange with producer and reporter Ben Norton, he explains how Duterte's government and politics are a threat to Democracy.

To read the whole transcript of this interview, please visit: https://therealnews.com/stories/philippines-duterte-uses-war-on-terror-tactics-to-crack-down-on-leftists

[REPOST FROM THE REAL NEWS NETWORK]

Last month, Walden Bello, Focus' co-founder was interviewed by The Real News Network. In his exchange with producer and reporter Ben Norton, he discusses how the middle class is the social base for far-right movements. 

To read the whole transcript of this interview, please visit: https://therealnews.com/stories/philippines-drug-war-kills-poor-addicts-not-rich-dealers

(May 23, 2018/Manila) – “Identity, ancestral domain, protection of their rights as non-Moro Indigenous Peoples – these are the issues that I have heard from our Lumad leaders, and I will bring these to the plenary debates on the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law),” says Senator Joel Villanueva. 

Indigenous leaders from Teduray, Lambangian and Erumanen ne Menuvu communities met with Senator Villanueva, Tuesday, to bring their concerns on SB 1717--the proposed BBL from the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC)-- sponsored by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. These indigenous communities come from the core and adjoining areas of the proposed Bangsamoro territory. One of the key issues is the recognition of their rights as articulated in the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA). 

“Is the definition of the Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) as provided for in the proposed BBL, the same as that in IPRA?”, asked Senator Villanueva during his interpellation of the proposed BBL.  Senator Zubiri responded, “Yes”, to which Senator Villanueva said, “I appreciate that response from the sponsor himself, guaranteeing the rights of the Indigenous Peoples in this measure.” 

“This is something very promising,” Fintailan Leonora Mokudef  Teduray woman leader said. “One of our proposed revisions is the recognition of rights of IPs over natural resources.  Exploration, development and utilization of natural resources within ancestral domains should be subject to FPIC.”

According to Timuay Santos Unsad, a Teduray leader, “We have been pushing for a BBL that does not diminish our rights as already provided for in IPRA.”  IPRA, a national law, has not been recognized and implemented in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since its passage in 1997. “This is now the opportunity for us to be fully included in the peace process. If our rights already recognized in the IPRA will be fully included in the proposed measure, we highly appreciate this, as this will make this process genuinely inclusive and responsive not only to the Bangsamoro people’s aspiration for just and lasting peace but also to us IPs who have been marginalized,” Timuay Unsad continued.

“In the repealing clause of the proposed BBL, we are proposing that it be amended to say ‘Provided that such laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances and parts thereof, shall not be inconsistent with the Constitution, and shall not fall below the minimum standards contained in national laws and relevant international instruments.’” 

Timuay Unsad, played a critical role in the government-convened Mindanao IP Legislative Assembly (MIPLA) being a Majority Floor Leader of the MIPLA 34-member Panel of Representatives, which consolidated IP recommended revisions to the BBL. These recommendations were endorsed and submitted by the NCIP to both Houses of the Congress. 

Senator Ralph Recto, which received the MIPLA proposals told Timuay Unsad and the group, committed to “push for the MIPLA revisions 100%.”

The IP leaders also met with Senators Nancy Binay, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, and the offices of Senator Loren Legarda, Jv Ejercito, Antonio Trillanes and Franklin Drilon. They are scheduled to meet with Senator Leila de Lima. 

“We have left our communities again to be here and meet with the members of Congress. There have been promises and commitment of support to our cause. We hope that this time, these promises will be translated to actual amendments, and will be incorporated in the bill and an inclusive BBL will finally be passed,” says Timuay Leticio Datuwata, a Lambangian leader. 

The IP leaders are part of LOYUKAN (IPs in Central Mindanao term to mean comrade) which is composed of different Indigenous Political Structures, and IP rights advocates pushing for the full inclusion of IP rights within the BBL. 

Contacts:

 Mabel Carumba (MPPM) – tubong.mindanao@gmail.com and Judy A. Pasimio (LILAK) – judy@lilak.net

On 22 May 2018, about 500 citizens of Thailand gathered at Thammasat University in Bangkok and marched peacefully towards Government House, demanding an end to martial law and return to democratization and civilian rule, starting with elections by the end of 2018.

The date of the march—22 May—is significant since it was on this date in 2014 that the Thai military took control of the country through a military coup, in a proclaimed bid to restore political stability to the country. Despite claims over the past four years that it will return democratic rule, the military regime—the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)--has not provided a clear timeline for this, and repeatedly delayed general elections.

The demonstration on 22 May was dispersed after some core leaders of the march were arrested by the Royal Thai Police and others voluntarily surrendered to the police to avoid violence. Some other leaders were prevented by the police from even reaching the gathering. The leaders of the group organizing the assembly and march “Individuals Who Want Elections,” showed tremendous maturity and responsibility in the way they conducted themselves and de-escalated tensions between the marchers and the police.

Those arrested were: Nuttaa Mahattana, Chonthicha Jangrew, Anon Numpa, Rangsiman Rome, Sirawith Seritiwat, Piyarat Chongthep, Ekachai Hongkangwan, Chokchai Paiboonratchata, Kiri Khanthong, Putthaising Pimchan, Roj Trong-ngarmrak, Viset Sangkhavisit, Pattarapol Jankot, and Prasong Wangwan. Latest news indicates that, they have been released on bail. However, the charges held against them have not been dropped.  

The pro-democracy activists were charged with several offences including sedition, being part of a gathering of more than nine persons that have either caused or threatened to use violence, disobeying orders to disperse by the authorities, and for obstructing traffic. Sedition itself carries a long prison sentence, and taken together, they could be incarcerated for a long time for simply asserting their rights as Thai citizens.

We, Focus on The Global South, join the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), Human Rights Watch (HRW) and many others, in urging the Thai Government to drop all charges against them and let them go free.

We further respectfully call on the Thai Government to ensure that all Thai citizens have the right to peacefully demonstrate and express their political views.

Picture: A pro-democracy marcher stands in front of riot police officers during a protest to demand that the military government hold a general election by November, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 22, 2018. Source: Reuters