NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #20/NN_1992_20.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/6473

Text File | 1992-09-11 | 5.6 KB | 125 lines

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Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!rich
From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Philippines: Rise in H. Rights Abuses
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/** reg.philippine: 260.0 **/
** Topic: Rise in H. Rights Abuses **
** Written  5:11 pm  Sep 11, 1992 by fbp in cdp:reg.philippine **
From: Foreign Bases Project <fbp>
Subject: Rise in H. Rights Abuses

/* Written 11:16 am  Sep  9, 1992 by peg:greenleft in cdp:greenleft.news */
/* ---------- "Green Left issue 70, September 9" ---------- */
Philippines human rights abuses on the increase

Dr Aurora Parong has been a close observer of the human rights
situation in the Philippines under three regimes - Marcos,
Aquino, Ramos. Rather than moving into medical practice after her
graduation from the University of the Philippines, she chose
instead to dedicate herself to the emerging community health
movement. Arrested on charges of ``subversion'' in 1982 and
imprisoned for 18 months, she nonetheless continued in the
treatment of the victims of torture and human rights abuses
through the work of the Medical Action Group (MAG). In 1990 she
received the Distinguished Physicians Award from the Australian
Medical Association for the Prevention of War, which sponsored
her recent visit. In Sydney she spoke with Peter Anderson about
conditions in the Philippines today.

``The Aquino government had conducted a policy of gradual
political tightening'', said Parong, ``a policy conceptualised by
President Ramos himself. He described the strategy as removing
the water from the fish - by which he meant the insurgents - so
that the fish would be isolated and would die''.

General Fidel Ramos was installed as Philippine president in
June, replacing Corazon Aquino. Parong said the appointment of
several former generals to important government posts does not
promise a bright future either for economic development or for
the human rights situation.

The new executive secretary was the holder of a logging
concession - an industry that has caused irreparable damage to
native forests. The agriculture secretary owns a banana
plantation in Mindanao and was known as an opponent of land
reform under the Aquino administration. Former general Jose
Almonte, who has a record of devious practices, is now the
director of the National Security Council (NSC).

Almonte was responsible for what became known as the Big Bird
scandal, in which it was proposed that illicit methods be used to
retrieve some of Marcos' hidden wealth in Switzerland instead of
going through the court system.

Through the NSC, Almonte plans to start some sort of intelligence
operation inside government institutions and agencies to spy on
government officials and employees. He also plans a national ID
system.

So far, there have not been any killings of health workers under
the Ramos regime, but the harassment of community health workers
is again on the rise. Already, one MAG regional coordinator has
been arrested on charges of subversion.

``There have been many cases of our members being detained and
questioned for several hours, and we have faced more difficulties
going into the rural areas, especially the so-called military
areas, and difficulties too in servicing the evacuation
centres.''

The Medical Action Group, made up of health professionals,
workers and students, since 1982 has delivered health care to
victims of human rights violations and also has undertaken human
rights advocacy and education in the health sector. There is also
a need to give medical services to internal refugees displaced by
the massive military operations against the rebels.

``It was primarily during the time of President Aquino that we
had more domestic refugees to attend to as a result of the
internal dislocation. There was a lot of harassment of health
workers that disrupted and sometimes stopped the community-based
health programs. Under Marcos there were more cases of individual
torture, as there were many more arrested.''

Some 118 health workers are known to have suffered harassment in
the years 1987-1991, including nine killed on separate occasions.

Presidential Decree 169, issued by Marcos, has been the vehicle
for much of this victimisation. PD169 required doctors to report
any case of physical injuries they treated, especially gunshot
wounds, under pain of penalty and imprisonment for failure to do
so.

``Aquino simply replaced PD169 with Executive Order 212 according
to which, instead of reporting to the Philippines constabulary,
the physician must report physical injuries to the Health
Department.

``The process is more one of harassment than of actual
repression. But we still feel we have the sword of Damocles over
our heads.''

The MAG was labelled several times as a communist front because
of its alleged links with the rebels. But Parong insists the
group simply renders services to victims of human rights
violations, ``regardless of politics, political affiliation,
religious beliefs, sex or social status''.

``We do not see a very bright future for the Philippines, and we
don't really think there will be fundamental changes to improve
life conditions. Previously, we thought with changes in
government (the downfall of Marcos) we would not have the reason
to exist any more, but that is not so.''
** End of text from cdp:reg.philippine **