It's make-or-break for Pinoy vets' bill
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) | World War II veteran Guillermo Rumingan had a teleconference with other veterans and their supporters and plotted what could be the last chapter of a historic run to push the Filipino Veterans’ Equity Bill.
From Hawaii to California to Washington State to Virginia, they weighed their options that seemed to thin with each passing hour. After a triumphant 96-1 Senate vote to pass S-1315, which contained provisions for Filipino veterans’ equity, the bill is now stalled in the House of Representatives.
Although the 110th Congress is scheduled to hold sessions until the last week of September, veterans activists are looking at the week beginning August 4 as the last window to realize an over 60-year-old dream. If nothing happens by then, all the historic gains achieved this year will come to naught.
They had an appointment with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week, but she was not available and only one of her staff members faced the veterans led by Eric Lachica, executive director of the Virginia-based American Coalition of Filipino Veterans.
"She wanted 290 sure votes for S-1315," Rumingan told ABS-CBN’s Balitang America.
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On the Court of Appeals Dismissal of Habeas Corpus Case of Jonas Burgos
AJLPP | The Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) its condemns in the strongest terms possible the recent Court of Appeals(CA) decision, dismissing the petitions for the writ of habeas corpus and for writ of Amparo of Mrs. Edith Burgos, mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos, who was believed to have been abducted by unidentified military men in broad daylight at 12 noon at the crowded Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue on April 28, 2007.
The AJLPP National Coordinator Mario Santos calls the decision anti-people and a big blow to the victims of human rights violations in the Philippines. It only exposes the Court of Appeals like the Supreme as a tool of the reactionary system to keep the people on the bourgeois justice system.
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A CALL TO ACTION:Write/Email /Call or Fax your Congressman
JFAV | The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), an alliance of veterans, students, youth and community advocates calls on all Filipinos, Filipino Americans and allies to write to Speaker of the House Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and 245 congresspersons to discuss and pass the equity bill, HB 760 pending before the lower house of the US Congress, NOW!
For four times, Congressman Bob Filner and Pelosi promised to pass the bill for the last two years to no avail.
Please email, write them letters and call or fax their offices for them to act on the bill ASAP. The US Congress is ending its session by August 31. Remember its election time this year. Let not the elections sidetrack our advocacy for our veterans.
On the 67th anniversary of the conscription of the Filipinos into the USAFFE, let's make our voices be heard!
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Missing sisters and missing credibility
AJLPP | The daughters of slain Filipino peasant activist Eddie Gumanoy – Rose Anne, 21, and Fatima, 17 – were traveling to the city of Cavite on the morning of July 3 when they realized they were being followed. They sent a text message to their mother Maria to meet them at a mall in Muntinlupa, but the two sisters never arrived. They later sent a second text message saying they had been intercepted by soldiers.
The family and members of the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights) thus began looking for the two women. On July 4, they went to the office of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo, which denied that the military was holding Rose Anne and Fatima. They also filed a complaint with the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
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JUSTICE TO THE "TAGAYTAY 5"!
Philippines Cultural Studies Center | What will it take for the corrupt and brutal Arroyo regime to stop the jailing and torture of progressives and nationalist citizens such as Alex Pinpin and his companions--the "Tagaytay 5"?
Is it enough to pray and wait for "civil society" and our"trapos" and oligarchs and their flunkeys to eventually register the power of mass upheavals for equality and justice around the world as they slowly edge to the "dustbin of history"?
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STAND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES!
GMA WATCH | Petition/Open Letter to UN General Assembly:
Compel the Philippines to implement UN Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston's, recommendations to end extra-judicial killings and other human rights abuses in the Philippines or lose its seat in the UNHRC!
Please consider signing on by going to: 
http://www.petitiononline.com/gmawatch/petition.html
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Autonomous Activists Denounced Police Violence And Neoliberal G8 in Japan
Jong Pairez | Note: this is the edited version (July 14, 2008)
8 July 2008 UPDATE: Silent Protest In Manila Bashed G8, Autonomous Activists Denounced Police Violence In Japan
MANILA, Philippines-- Anti-G8 protesters from various autonomous groups and collectives held silent protest infront Japanese Embassy in Manila, Tuesday noon, denouncing police violence and corporate free trade during the 34th G8 Summit in Japan.
G8 protesters attempted also to hand-out a letter of protest to Japanese Ambassador in the Philippines Makoto Katsura, but the combined security guards and police denied them the effort to do so. Telling the protesters the ploy of imposing bureaucratic processes in handing out a document.
Despite the repressive measures the Authorities had done, the protesters continued their non-violent form of protest until everyone dispersed peacefully.
As the G8 Summit in Japan continues, horrible reports of police violence has been committed already since the week before G8 formally started, namely, injuring a peaceful sound truck driver and arresting a Reuters journalist. Not to mention also the illegal detention of more or less 40 Korean peasants and other Foreigners without any legal charges. “Reports of excessive force imposed against legitimate dissent by police authorities is very unusual to a country who practices compassion according to Buddhist teachings”, says Jean Makisig from Dream Bureau- a situationist group and ice cream enthusiasts.
“This portrayal of terrorism by Japanese authorities only further adds to the already elitist and authoritarian image of the G8, worst than the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda.”, says the Letter of Protest.
This elitist image of G8 reflects on the bilateral trade agreement between Japan and the Philippines under the neoliberal JPEPA, which allows toxic waste to enter the country, in exchange of Filipino caregivers and nurses, as part among varieties of unfair trade policies. The Pinagkaisahan Collective from Bulacan laments this unfair trade agreement by saying, "Our country is not for sale, our country is not your toxic dump site."
In a statement by Aklas Laban Sa G8 (Resistance Against G8)- a network of activists campaigning against G8, they have further explained the effects of neo-liberalism inherent to G8 that, "The influence of the G8 can be best seen in the localities and communities where the most vulnerable population of the world is located. The destruction of the natural environment and exhaustion of the natural resources is basically caused by the economy of scale and competition framework of the mainstream economy, under the leadership of the rich nations particularly of the G8."
The Group of Eight (G8) is an international forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The G8 can refer to the member states or to the annual summit meeting of the G8 heads of government. This 34th G8 Summit in Japan is held on top of a mountain lake in Toyako, Hokkaido, which is far from the people that hides behind gates that cost billions of dollars. “This is how the group of eight rich countries in the world uphold their global dominance over poor countries”, explained Jean Makisig, “Controlling everything from behind a secluded garrison”, he adds.
Groups and Collectives who participated the protest are Pinagkaisahan Collective, United for Peace Collective, Local Anarchist Network, Manila Indymedia, Collective of Anarchists in Bulacan, Anarchist Initiative for Direct Democracy and NonCollective. ###
Story and Photos by Jong Pairez
Manila Indymedia
source:
Aklas Laban Sa G8
http://linux7.sanpal.co.jp/no-g8/?q=en/node/60
Japan Indymedia
http://japan.indymedia.org/newswire/display/4617/index.php
Letter of Protest, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
http://manila.indymedia.org/en/2008/07/669.html
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July 7 Update: Anti-G8 Actions in Manila
cyber pirate | Manila, Philippines-- Anti-G8 local actions started Monday noon, infront Japanese Embassy in Manila, denouncing the Eight global rich countries in their conquest for Global Dominion that worsens poverty, war, hunger and disease in the Global South.
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Rebolusyonaryong pagpupugay kay Navy Capt. Danilo "Ka Dan" Vizmanos
Pesante-USA | Nagpupugay ang buong rebolusyonaryong kilusan kay retired Capt. Danilo "Ka Dan" Vizmanos, masugid na anti-imperyalista at demokratang intelektwal, tapat na lingkod at aktibista para sa bayan, tunay na kawal at bayani ng rebolusyon at sambayanang Pilipino. Pumanaw si Ka Dan noong Hunyo 23 sa edad na 79 sa sakit na prostate cancer.
Si Ka Dan ay nagsilbing maningning na halimbawa ng mga upisyal ng pasistang militar na tumatalikod at nagtatakwil sa imperyalismo, sa papet na reaksyunaryong estado at sa pasistang hukbo nito. Taos-puso niyang niyakap ang mga demokratiko at rebolusyonaryong simulain, lubusang pumanig sa rebolusyon at mamamayan, at puspusang lumahok sa kanilang pakikibaka. Huwaran siya sa katatagan sa prinsipyo, pagiging makatotohanan, masipag, pursigido, mapagkumbaba, at malapit sa mga kasama at sa mamamayan. Itinatanghal siya at pinararangalan ng sambayanang Pilipino.
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Rebel soldier” to forego military honors
FQSN-USA | Even in death, retired Navy Captain and anti-Marcos activist Danilo “Ka Dan” Vizmanos preferred to keep it simple. There will be no honor guards nor medals and flags draped on his coffin. Instead, Ka Dan just wanted a few mementos from his time in the mass movement.
Pictures from protests and tributes from friends and comrades are the only objects that adorn his coffin. Ka Dan also made it a point that his coffin would be “the least expensive.”
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STILL NO EQUITY BILL, PGMA US VISIT-A SPOILER?
Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) | The Justice for Filipino Veterans (JFAV) expressed dismay that the equity bill was not discussed last Wednesday, June 25.
Instead, the legislative visit or the lobby by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took precedence in the House of Representatives. She awarded the "order of the golden" heart in behalf of her government for US representatives even if the US lower house did not act upon the bill and discussed it on the floor.
The information received from the veterans lobby group in Washington DC, the American Coalition of Filipino Veterans (ACFV) said the bill will a chance to be voted on the floor on Wednesday, June 25. But it was not the case.
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WHEN THE US INNOCENT ARE ABANDONED BY THE GUILTY !
Lawyers For Poor Americans | THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FINDS OUT THE TRUTH !
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POORER AMERICANS NEED WORLD'S COURT HELP !
Douglas Field | WILL INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY COME TO THEIR RESCUE ????
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Betrayal of the Filipino Veterans
Perry Diaz | ust as the U.S. House of Representatives was about to vote on S.1315 -- known as the "Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007" -- a group of Filipino-Americans from San Francisco drove a polarizing wedge that could potentially impede the passage of the bill. Indeed, what was almost a certainty two weeks ago is now in jeopardy.
Sixty-two years after the infamous Rescission Act of 1946 was signed into law denying benefits to more than 200,000 Filipino veterans of World War II, the surviving 18,000 aging veterans came within arm's length of finally getting the recognition and benefits that they deserved. Last April 24, 2008, S.1315 was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate on a 96-1 vote. On May 22, 2008, the House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on the bill. The game plan was to get 290 bipartisan support to ensure passage under "suspension of rules," which means that a "killer" amendment could be stopped from being introduced on the floor; thus, averting any attempt to remove the benefits for Filipino veterans.
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Pass the Equity Bill NOW -JFAV
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) | For us in the Filipino American community , the passage of the H.R. 760 , the Filipino Veterans Equity is of the utmost importance.
This issue continues to be the most urgent and longest standing injustice our community has faced for decades. Thank you for your continued leadership and support in fighting for the enactment of the Filipino WWII Veterans Act of 2007, H.R. 760. As a faithful constituent, we recognize that you are an ally in this campaign and ask that the Filipino WWII Veterans Equity bill be made a priority in your already historic role as Speaker of the House.( As a congressperson from ____)
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A daughter's wish for her missing father on FATHER'S DAY
First QUARTER Storm Network (FQSN)-USA | lease find below and attached a letter of Lorena "Aya" Santos for her father LEO VELASCO, who was abducted last year and is still missing. It is her Father's Day message and an appeal to her father's captors to surface him. We hope that you could provide space for it in your media outlets or you could send this to as many people who would care and help in the search for the desaparecidos.
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Activists dub Burmese junta as "coward"; urge UN and ASEAN to take concrete acti
Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils) | "It is baseless. This is plain and simple cowardice. The junta makes irrational decisions that simply ignore world opinion."
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ROUGH SAILING FOR THE VETERANS EQUITY BILL IN CONGRESS SEE
Justice for Filipino AMerican Veterans (JFAV) | The Democrats promised so many times to pass the equity bill. Even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo jumping on the bandwagon even thank President Bush in advance for signing the equity bill even though it is not even in the floor of the house. Philippine President Arroyo is slated to visit the US from June 23 to June 29. Will Bush listen to her?
What has happened since then? What went wrong with the democrats? Is the equity bill dead?
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Detained KMP leader pays tribute to Ka Bel.
Pesante-USA | Kay Ka Osang, butihing kabiyak ni Ka Bel, Kay Ka Ofel, mga apo, sa buong pamilya at mga kamag-anak ni Ka Bel,
Ipinapaabot ko po ang aking taus-pusong pakikiramay at pakikidalamhati sa pagpanaw ng minamahal nating si Ka Bel- tunay, magiting, subok at matapat na lider ng uring manggagawa at masang anakpawis. Patunay nito ang mahigit 50 taong tuluy-tuloy na pagkilos at paglilingkod niya sa masang anakpawis.
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ROUGH SAILING FOR THE VETERANS EQUITY BILL IN CONGRESS?
JFAV | The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), the alliance of veterans groups and advocates through its Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia expressed dismay over the failure of Democratic Party Speaker Nancy Pelosi to present to the floor of the house HR 760 or the Veterans Equity Bill before the memorial day weekend.
JFAV learned from different sources that the reason for the untimely delay was the strong opposition from the “ blue dog” democrats. The blue dogs are the fiscally conservative democrats in the congress. The fear is that they might vote with the conservative Republicans against the equity bill.. ‘
There were simply not enough votes and the Speaker was not confident that the equity bill would pass in the floor vote. That is the reason why the bill was not presented to the floor. Another reason is that some Filipino leaders wanted the “all or nothing” equity bill. There was talks of a letter they sent to Pelosi but his was not duly recorded.
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Pharaoh Bush - Let My People Go
Ann Ikemann | Executive Signing Statements
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