[P2P-F] Fwd: [CommonGood] fyi: [aepf] Statement of I-DEFEND (Philippines) on threat vs human rights activists

[Michel Bauwens]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Birgit Daiber <bir.dai at hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 3, 2016 at 1:13 PM
Subject: [CommonGood] fyi: [aepf] Statement of I-DEFEND (Philippines) on
threat vs human rights activists
To: "commongood at listi.jpberlin.de" <commongood at listi.jpberlin.de>



*From:* aepf-request at lists.riseup.net <aepf-request at lists.riseup.net> on
behalf of Maris dela Cruz <sirmallet at gmail.com>
*Sent:* Thursday, December 1, 2016 2:30 PM
*To:* AEPF e-group
*Subject:* [aepf] Statement of I-DEFEND (Philippines) on threat vs human
rights activists

DEFEND THE RIGHT TO LIFE, RESIST THE RETURN OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE
I DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY MOVEMENT
<https://www.facebook.com/iDEFENDHumanRightsandDignityMovement/>·THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 1, 2016
<https://www.facebook.com/notes/i-defend-human-rights-and-dignity-movement/defend-the-right-to-life-resist-the-return-of-authoritarian-rule/1774152309501338>
<https://www.facebook.com/notes/i-defend-human-rights-and-dignity-movement/defend-the-right-to-life-resist-the-return-of-authoritarian-rule/1774152309501338#>
On Monday this week President Duterte threatened to kill human rights
defenders criticizing his war on drugs. And so it is revealed. The main
program of the President for this country is to kill. Kill suspected drug
peddlers yesterday, human rights activists today, kill all opposition
voices tomorrow.
President Duterte’s paradigm of change rests solely on a framework of Peace
and Order that promises a development agenda which, five months into his
term, is slowly being revealed as the same anti-poor, pro-oligarch,
neo-liberal agenda. The peace and security purportedly being felt in our
communities are nothing more than the silent terror of a bullet through our
doors and bullets delivered by those “riding in tandem”. Duterte’s brand of
change is grimly familiar with former President Ramos’ “Philippines 2000”
development aggression, and Gloria Arroyo’s “Strong Republic” with its own
body count of extrajudicial killings and internal displacement. It is most
familiar of course, with the Marcos family, the architects of Martial Law.
Duterte’s bloody war on drugs underlines the violence already suffered by
the people due to extreme poverty, landlessness, contractual labor, war and
displacement, shortage of housing and livelihood opportunities. These are
the real crises of our nation, but are met with more violence, death,
misogyny, sexism, vulgarity. The war on drugs have become government’s only
concrete response to the pressing and complex issues facing the country
today.
Duterte is supported by a super majority in both houses of Congress which
are now railroading the passing of anti-human rights legislation designed
to establish a new police state. The State of National Emergency on account
of lawless violence remains in effect. The reintroduction of the death
penalty, reducing the minimum age of criminal responsibility, calls for the
suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, calls for amendments to the
anti-wiretapping law, Charter Change and the continuing derogation of the
rule of law, are not measures to eliminate drugs and crime. They are laying
the groundwork for an authoritarian rule of a new despot serving the
interests of the old oligarchs to which he belongs.
OUR ALTERNATIVE IS HUMAN RIGHTS. iDEFEND has always asserted the need for a
human rights based governance system that addresses the root cause of
criminality, and guarantees a sustainable and people centered development.
We push for a harm reduction strategy in the approach to the drugs issue:
institutionalizing a public health framework, a complete halt to the
targeting and killing of suspected drug users, and rule-based law
enforcement procedures in apprehending drug traders.
iDEFEND supports the implementation of an economic agenda based on social
justice: an end to contractual labor, land conversions, demolitions,
internal displacement, and militarization. The defense of the right to life
refers to the protection of both the physical integrity as well as the
ability of a person to lead a life of dignity. The right to life requires
the absence of fear for our lives and our loved ones; the right to life
requires job security, land security, housing rights, a sustainable
environment, long-term economic opportunities, a justice system that works,
and access to health care and education for all.
On the launch of the Global Day of Action in Defense of the Right to Life,
iDEFEND calls on our people to strongly oppose the resurgence of
authoritarian rule even as it feels like martial law is already here, as
evidenced by now 5,600 victims of extrajudicial killings. We can only
continue our work for human rights and sustainable development if our
freedoms to express, report, organize, assemble and conduct public actions
are preserved, and our civil liberties are guaranteed.

-- 
*“It's ok to follow a leader with a strong positive agenda, but by no means
should you forget to take your critical thinking with you.” ― Edmond Mbiaka*

*“The comprehensive mind is always dialectical.” ― Plato
<http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/879.Plato>, The Republic
<http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1625515>*

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