Politiske fanger i Filippinerne

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Ifølge den filippinske præsident Benigno Aquino findes der ikke længere politiske fanger i Filippinerne. Men sandheden er at politiske modstandere fængsles i stort tal på grundlag af åbenlyst falske anklager. Anklagerne imod dem bliver dog typisk enten frafaldet eller afvist når de endelig kommer for en domstol - i et ekstremt langsomt arbejdende retssystem. I øjeblikket sidder der ca. 750 politiske fanger i landets fængsler og militærlejre.

Under dække af ”krig imod terror” har det filippinske regime igennem en årrække indført en lang række nye antiterrorlove under overskriften ’Oplan Bayanihan’. Lovene er meget repressive og vækker mindelser om diktatoren Marcos’ krigslovgivning (Martial Laws) i 70’erne. I realiteten bruges Oplan Bayanihan til at udrydde al politisk modstand imod regimet.

Internationalt Forum har inviteret Cristina Palabay, generalsekretær for den filippinske menneskerettighedsorganisation Karapatan til Danmark for at sætte fokus på den massive undertrykkelse af det filippinske folk og de mange overgreb på menneskerettighederne i Filippinerne. Vil du vide mere om Karapatan: www.karapatan.org/

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Meeting: Political Prisoners in the Philippines

According to the President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino there are no longer Political Prisoners in Filipino prisons. But the truth is that a big number of political activists are being imprisoned on false charges. These charges are often withdrawn or dismissed when they finally are placed before the Court – in a Court system which is working extremely slowly.

At the moment there is about 750 Political Prisoners in Filipino prisons or military camps.

Using “War on Terror” as a cover up the Filipino regime has over the years implemented a new set of Anti Terror Laws, the so called Oplan Bayanihan.

These laws are very repressive and remind in many ways about the Martial Laws under the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970’s. In reality Oplan Bayanihan is used to repress all political opposition against the regime.

Internationalt Forum has invited Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of the human rights organisation, Karapatan to Denmark to share with us how the massive suppression on the Filipino people and the many violations on human rights in the Philippines work.

For more information about Karapatan: www.karapatan.org/