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"If we take the full meaning of the term society into consideration, it will be seen that till now human beings have not been able to form a real society. If India builds a society for only Indians, Pakistan for only Pakistanis, and England for only the English, then these three separate societies will exist, but we cannot look upon them as the society of humanity. Because humanity is divided into groups, one society will naturally try to thrive by exploiting the vitality of others. �You will notice that efforts are being made to establish so-called societies in some particular part of the world, for some particular section of the people, and based on some particular 'ism" or faith. A social consciousness based on such divisions lies latent in the minds of the people, whether they are Indian, Pakistani or English, so they remain absorbed in thoughts of their smaller groups." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar


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"Human beings have still not been able to form a human society, and have still not learned to move with the spirit of a pilgrim. Although many small groups, motivated by self-interest, work together in particular situations, not even a small fraction of their work is done with a broader social motive. By strict definition, shall we have to declare that each small family unit is a society in itself? If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or momentary self-seeking is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way... in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective. All human beings must attach themselves to others by the common bond of love and march forward hand in hand; then only will I proclaim it a society." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar

"Power concedes nothing without a demand.' The struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice do not take vacations. Societies are not static in this regard. They await the political and civic energies of individuals who engage the arenas of power, multiply their numbers and emblazon in deeds and institutions the immortal principle that "Here the People Rule." - Ralph Nader

Amparo Forum Participants Sign Petition for Cordi’s Lone Political Detainee


As lawyers from the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) shared in a human rights forum last week how the Supreme Court’s newly-issued Rule on the Writ of Amparo works, the forum participants also signed a petition calling for the release of Jose “Joe” Cawiding, who is presently the only political prisoner in the Cordillera Region. D Y Maranan & S E Oliveros

BY DOROTHEA YSABEL MARANAN AND SOPHIA E. OLIVEROS
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

BAGUIO CITY (246 kms north of Manila) – As lawyers from the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) shared in a human rights forum last week how the Supreme Court’s newly-issued Rule on the Writ of Amparo works, the forum participants also signed a petition calling for the release of Jose “Joe” Cawiding, who is presently the only political prisoner in the Cordillera Region.

The forum on the Writ of Amparo was held on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Saint Louis School Center Hall in this city.

The Supreme Court issued the Rule, known as AM No. 07-9-12, after their national sponsored conference on the extrajudicial killings and other violations of human rights under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration.

Judge Cleto Villacorta III, a founding member of NUPL and the Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL), said the writ provides opportunities for redressing victims of human rights violations and addressing the state of impunity.

He discussed the legal concepts and procedures of Amparo, including its historical background and applications in Latin American countries like Mexico and Argentina.

“The writ is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated or threatened with violation by a public official or employee,” explained Villacorta to his audience of mostly human rights workers and activists.

Villacorta cautioned his audience however that the administration might also use the writ to their advantage against human rights victims.

It was pointed out in the forum that the writ is still subject to the justice system and is insufficient considering the range of violations of human rights in the country.

Lawyer Randy Baniaga Kinaud, Secretary-General of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) and founding member of NUPL, explained the writ of Amparo's concepts, procedures, and applications by relating it to the human rights situation in the Cordillera.

He discussed the continuing bloodshed due to Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch) which continues to militarize the Cordillera Region, particularly in Benguet, Abra, and Kalinga, where the Arroyo government’s priority mining projects are located. The OBL’s targets are the so-called front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

The CHRA also documented number of cases of extrajudicial killings, arson, illegal arrests, detentions, and other violations.

CHRA data show that from January to November this year, there are 269 reported victims of human rights violations in the region. Twenty seven of them are victims of extrajudicial killings, illegal and arbitrary arrests and detention, and abduction.

Among the victims of extrajudicial killings last year were Rafael Markus Bangit and Alyce Omengan Claver.

The CHRA projected the possible increase of human rights violations in the region as it is among the “second-priority areas” in the implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya II. Kinaud said that military forces are also heavily deployed in the region to suppress communities whose villagers are opposing mining applications.

Sixty-eight percent of the region's 1.8 million hectares are covered by applications for mining permits by companies that are mostly foreign-owned.

Meanwhile, the forum participants signed a petition urging the release of Cawiding, General Secretary of the Metro Baguio Tribal Elders Assembly (MBTELA) and former Bayan Muna (People First)-Benguet Coordinator. Jeanette Cawiding, a member of the Council of Leaders of the militant Tongtongan ti Umili (People’s Forum), took the forum as a chance to rally support for the immediate release of her husband.

Cawiding, falsely charged with murder and was accused of being a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), was arrested by the PNP in Baguio on Oct. 1 three days after the government offered a reward of P500,000 ($11,266.34 based on an average exchange rate of $1:P44.38 for October 2007).

Cawiding is currently detained in the Benguet Provincial Jail. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat

Last Updated December 13, 2007 8:48 PM

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