EXPRESSING concern over “disputed arrests and threats to freedom of expression” in the country, Norway said it is closely monitoring the human rights situation here after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of national emergency last month.

In a letter to Norwegian Parliament member Anette Trettebergstuen of the Arbeiderpartiet (Labor Party), Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway “looks with great concern at the latest developments of disputed arrests and threats to freedom of expression.” He also said the Norwegian government has “urged the Philippine government to respect human rights.”

Proclamation 1017 and the two General Orders that implemented it have been met with staunch opposition from several political, human rights, and media groups following a series of warrantless arrests, arbitrary detentions, and even threats of possible takeover of media outfits.

Ordering the military and the police to “suppress all forms of lawless violence as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion,” Arroyo said the country was under threat from a Left-Right conspiracy to overthrow the government. This led to the arrests of ralliers on February 24, the day Proclamation 1017 was issued, left-wing party-list representatives, and members of the military. The Justice Department also said some members of media are being investigated for publishing and airing “seditious” reports.

Last week, authorities vowed to go after the “coup plotters,” placing bounties of up to P10 million on their heads.

“Through our embassy in Manila, we are in close contact with human rights organizations and human rights activists in the Philippines. Through these organizations, Norway is supporting different projects with focus on human rights, humanitarian law and especially on freedom of expression,” Store said.

He said the Norwegian embassy in Manila is working with the human-rights group Amnesty International (AI) “to have a clearer picture” of the situation regarding the emergency rule.

In a report issued last month, AI said it was “gravely concerned over reports of an ongoing pattern of political killings of members of legal leftist organizations in various provinces nationwide.” Bayan Muna, a left-wing party, said 63 of its leaders and supporters have been killed from 2001 to November last year. There are 10 others who are still missing, the group added.

While it welcomed the lifting of the emergency rule, AI reminded the Philippine government that freedom of expression and assembly during emergencies “must be both necessary and strictly proportional to the dangers posed to the rights and freedoms of others.”

Norway is a third party facilitator between the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Philippine government (GRP). “There had been no formal negotiation since the autumn of 2004 between the GRP and the NDF and it remains unclear how the situation around the declaration of emergency rule will affect the resumption of the formal peace negotiations,” Store said, adding that “a politically negotiated solution would be very important for the human rights situation in the country.”

1 Response to Norway expresses concern over human rights situation in RP

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eriko

March 21st, 2006 at 6:39 pm

hello thoughtcriminals,

the right to express has come to an end, public assembly has been tagged illegal, marching on the streets is violently supressed. but they cannot really stop us, they cannot stop the beating human heart.

if they don’t want us demonstrating on the streets. let us show them that we can FUCK SHIT UP on cyberspace.

join the ELECTRONIC SIT-IN to free Sagada 11. demand freedom, demand life! SHUTDOWN GOV.PH WEBSITES! DELETE AUTHORITY! RESTART!

on MARCH 23, 2006 (starting from 10am)
join us protest the ARROYO REGIME and its RAMPANT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION.

on MARCH 23, click the button here:
http://www.geocities.com/sagadatravel11

invite everyone!

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