By James Petras and Robin Eastman-Abaya (Counterpunch.org)

Friday 17 March 2006

Since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo joined the US global "War on Terrorism", the Philippines has become the site of an on-going undeclared war against peasant and union activists, progressive political dissidents and lawmakers, human rights lawyers and activists, women leaders and a wide range of print and broadcast journalists. Because of the links between the Army, the regime and the death squads, political assassinations take place in an atmosphere of absolute impunity. The vast majority of the attacks occur in the countryside and provincial towns. The reign of terror in the Philippines is of similar scope and depth as in Colombia. Unlike Colombia, the rampaging state terrorism has not drawn sufficient attention, le3t alone outcry, from international public opinion.

1. Update from the Philippines

2. Action in Toronto

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KMU 3rd UPDATE and ACTION ALERT

27 February 2006

Another militant Party List Representative arrested; DOJ files rebellion charges against party list reps, tags KMU and other progressive
legal organizations as CPP fronts

3:30 p.m. - Bayan Muna Representative Joel Virador was arrested in Davao City this afternoon. Sketchy reports said that he was arrested at the Davao International airport. He was immediately brought to Camp Leonor but Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took Rep. Virador into his custody.

Tensions high in Philippines as arrests made under emergency
By DPA
Feb 25, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Manila - An opposition congressman and a former police official were arrested Saturday in the Philippines for allegedly being part of a plot to oust President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who ordered the crackdown after declaring a state of emergency.

As many as 200 other people were reportedly being hunted down by police also on suspicion of being involved in the conspiracy to overthrow Arroyo as criticisms over the emergency rule escalated.

Korean farmers take lemming-like plunge into Hong Kong harbour

Jonathan Watts in Hong Kong
Wednesday December 14, 2005
Guardian

In a bizarre waterborne protest yesterday, hundreds of South Korea's notoriously militant farmers stripped off to their boxer shorts, donned orange lifejackets and leapt into Hong Kong harbour in a back-door attempt to sink the world trade talks.

The lemming-like assault came amid an opening day demonstration that, contrary to the organisers' worst fears, saw only minor scuffles with ranks of riot police blocking the road to the conference centre.

From political crisis to a revolutionary situation
By BOBBY TUAZON, Bulatlat.com

The next three weeks are expected to be crucial in determining whether embattled
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will stay in power longer or begin to lose her
grip on the presidency. On July 25, the President will deliver her traditional
state-of-the-nation address before Congress amid mounting calls for her to step
down due to election fraud and alleged jueteng (numbers racket) connections
during her vice presidency.