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Condemn Israel’s Brazen Attack on the Freedom Flotilla |
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1 June 2010
Focus
on Global South condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack
made by the Israeli army early morning of May 31 on an aid-carrying
flotilla bound for Gaza. This is violence committed against civilians
who were on a mission to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians. There
was no reason or justification of whatever kind for this military
action.
Media reports place the number of deaths at more than 10, with dozens more injured.
Dubbed
the Freedom Flotilla, the convoy comprised six (6) ships with 600
people on board, including human rights activists, a Nobel laureate and
several European legislators. The flotilla was on a mission to ship
10,000 metric tons of humanitarian aid, including cement, medicines,
school supplies, among others to 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza
Strip who have been deprived of basic necessities and social services
since the Israeli government imposed the embargo on the Palestinian
community in December 2008.
Focus supported the formation of
the Freedom Flotilla, contributing one of its staff members, Thomas
Sommer, to the mission.
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Senator Noynoy,
I am part of the Right to Know. Right Now! campaign network that sent you a letter appealing for you to support the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in this Congress, and inviting you to a mass for FOI on May 30th. It is disappointing that despite having gone through different channels, we are unable to get a formal response, even to say that the invitation came too late and that your schedule has been booked days ahead. But more worrying for me was your rather soft endorsement of the bill, only stating that the bill can be refiled and passed in the next Congress. I look to your leadership and commitment now, at this crucial juncture. Only two steps remain for freedom of information to become a reality. While the onus of ratification remains with the Lower House, and the final signature with the President, people look to you for solidarity and affirmation of what an FOI Act can do for the country. You have taken a strong position on the appointment of the Chief Justice. We hope that you can do the same for FOI. To be able to meaningfully contribute to good governance, and to claim our rights, we need freedom of information now.
Respectfully,
Jenina Joy Chavez
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Freedom of Information: A Legacy of the 14th Congress? |
by Walden Bello*
from Inquirer.net
How will the 14th Congress be remembered?
Will it be remembered mainly as being a rubberstamp for Malacanang, the one where a majority voted for a Constituent Assembly the aim of which was to change the constitution to allow President Arroyo to remain as head of state under a parliamentary system? The Senate’s refusal to countenance such a move by the House saved the country from a political crisis such as that now wracking Thailand.
Yet not all was negative in this Congress. The law extending the Comprehensive Land Reform Program (CARPER) was passed, mandating the completion of land redistribution and providing $150 billion for this purpose as well as for support services for land reform beneficiaries.
Another bright light was the passage of the Cheaper Medicines Act, which give the government the power to bring down the price of medically prescribed drugs. The benefits of this law, especially for seniors, will be incalculable once it is fully implemented.
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