September 2010 - Launch of the maiden issue of the Focus on the Global South Policy Review
September 19 - In Malaysia will be held the forum called "Regional
Strategy Meeting on Emerging Social and Cultural Concerns in ASEAN: Climate
Change, South East Asian Peoples’ Right to Information, Labor Migration and
Domestic Work and Platforms for Civil Society Engagement with the ASEAN." Focus Philippines will make a presentation on "Building
a Case for an ASEAN Protocol on Freedom of Information"
September 23 - 26 - Asean People's Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam. Fore more information, please send inquiries to the following: <apfhanoi-pc@aseanpeoplesforum.net>, <apfhanoi-ws@aseanpeoplesforum.net>. Ms Dorothy Guerrero, who is in the Bangkok office of Focus, seats in the Program Committee.
September 27 - October 1 - Freedom of Information Advocacy Week
September 23 - FOI Forum
September 27 - R2KRN will visit the Senate to renew the FOI campaign
September 28 - R2KRN will meet with Representatives of the Lower House
Thai Intellectuals Grapple With Issues of Democracy and Civil Unrest
By Clarissa V. Militante
The dusts from the melee of fleeing Red Shirts and assaulting teams of soldiers have settled, and not even the hint of smoke from the burned buildings could be detected. Bangkok’s residents are now trying to pick up on the routines of their daily lives before the red-shirted protesters mounted mass actions in large sections of central Bangkok from March to May. But for the Thai’s intellectuals, this seeming lull is a chance to take a more in-depth look at the recent past events and deal with nagging issues that confront Thai society.
Is it a class struggle—being manifested in a brewing civil war—that is unraveling in Thailand? This was a major question raised during the Philippine forum “Thailand: Democracy, People, Power” organized by the Focus on Global South Philippines, a week after the military dispersed the Red Shirts and dismantled their camps that have become part of Bangkok’s landscape in the past two months. Joy Chavez, Philippine Programme Coordinator of Focus, moderated the discussion.
Peace Activists Hold Indignation Rally at Israeli Embassy in Makati, Philippines
On June 2, around 70 members of the Stop the War Coalition Philippines massed up in front of the Israeli embassy in Makati City to convey their indignation against the attack made by Israeli commando forces on the aid-carrying Freedom Flotilla, May 31. The incident resulted in the deaths of more than 10 activists while dozens more were injured; the ships were dragged to the port of Ashdod and hundreds of peace activists were detained in Israel. Thomas Sommer, a staff member of Focus on Global South who joined the Greek ship, was one of those detained.
In a statement read during the rally, the Coalition condemned the military action and the continued blockade of Gaza. It also demanded for justice for the victims of the Israeli military action, and for 1.5 million Palestinians who have been deprived of basic necessities and social services since the Israeli government imposed the embargo on Gaza Strip in 2008. The rallyists, who came from various sectors including labor, women, youth, professionals as well as from Bangsa-Moro, church-based and non-government organizations, carried paper boats that represented the Freedom Flotilla; several of the protesters posted the statement on the glass entrance door of the embassy building when no staff member or official came out to receive it.
Condemn Israel’s Brazen Attack on the Freedom Flotilla
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.
The Political Crisis in Thailand Democracy, Power, People
Focus on the Global South – Philippines Programme
invites you to deliberate these questions with us,
explore parallelisms and draw lessons for the Philippines.
The Political Crisis in Thailand
Democracy, Power, People
A Roundtable Discussion
Friday, 28 May 2010, 5:30 p.m.
Balai Kalinaw, University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
SPEAKERS
Ms. Ubonrat Siriyuvasak
Deputy Dean, Research and International Affairs, Faculty of Communication Arts
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Mr. Surawut Pratoomraj
Human Rights Defender/Trainer
The Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organization of Thailand
Rep. Walden Bello
Akbayan Citizens' Action Party
Author, A Siamese Tragedy: Development and Disintegration in Modern Thailand
(London: Zed, 1998)
Moderator
Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez
Focus on the Global South
For more information, contact Lou Torres at
or +63 2 4330899
Solidarity with the Mindanao Tri-People Women Resource Center (MTWRC)
On the evening of March 10, just two days after a successful celebration of the international women's day in the streets of Cotabato City in Mindanao, the office of the Mindanao Tri-People Women Resource Center (MTWRC) was caught up in a fire outbreak that started from a neighboring abandoned house. Fortunately, the colleague who was sleeping inside the office was able to escape the fire. And with the intervention of the Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire was extinguished before it completely burned down the office.
However, the fire seriously damaged the office of the MTWRC, with all aircons, electricity and communications lines destroyed and the printers and computers severely burnt. Adding to the shock and the worries of the members of the Center, next month, the MTWRC will organize and host the 4th Mindanao Grassroots Women Conference, which will gather participants coming from all over Mindanao. Despite the tragedy, our friends from the MTWRC are committed to continue their work. They need our solidarity and help. They specially need office equipments.
You can contact their executive director, Amabella L. Carumba at the Mindanao People Peace Movement, where they are temporarily holding office: +63 64 4211358, or donate through their bank account:
Account Name: Mindanao Tri-People Women Resource Center
Account Number: SA 325756900017 (dollar account)
Bank Name: Philippine National Bank, Cotabato City Branch
Bank Address: Makakua St., Cotabato City, Philippines
Please circulate this solidarity call to your networks and friends. Thank you very much !
Programmes 
