From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Philippines: Rise in H. Rights Abuses
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 01:08:37 GMT

/** reg.philippine: 260.0 **/
** Topic: Rise in H. Rights Abuses **
** Written  5:11 pm  Sep 11, 1992 by fbp in cdp:reg.philippine **
From: Foreign Bases Project <fbp>
Subject: Rise in H. Rights Abuses

/* Written 11:16 am  Sep  9, 1992 by peg:greenleft in cdp:greenleft.news */
/* ---------- "Green Left issue 70, September 9" ---------- */
Philippines human rights abuses on the increase

Dr Aurora Parong has been a close observer of the human rights 
situation in the Philippines under three regimes - Marcos, 
Aquino, Ramos. Rather than moving into medical practice after her 
graduation from the University of the Philippines, she chose 
instead to dedicate herself to the emerging community health 
movement. Arrested on charges of ``subversion'' in 1982 and 
imprisoned for 18 months, she nonetheless continued in the 
treatment of the victims of torture and human rights abuses 
through the work of the Medical Action Group (MAG). In 1990 she 
received the Distinguished Physicians Award from the Australian 
Medical Association for the Prevention of War, which sponsored 
her recent visit. In Sydney she spoke with Peter Anderson about 
conditions in the Philippines today.

``The Aquino government had conducted a policy of gradual 
political tightening'', said Parong, ``a policy conceptualised by 
President Ramos himself. He described the strategy as removing 
the water from the fish - by which he meant the insurgents - so 
that the fish would be isolated and would die''.

General Fidel Ramos was installed as Philippine president in 
June, replacing Corazon Aquino. Parong said the appointment of 
several former generals to important government posts does not 
promise a bright future either for economic development or for 
the human rights situation.

The new executive secretary was the holder of a logging 
concession - an industry that has caused irreparable damage to 
native forests. The agriculture secretary owns a banana 
plantation in Mindanao and was known as an opponent of land 
reform under the Aquino administration. Former general Jose 
Almonte, who has a record of devious practices, is now the 
director of the National Security Council (NSC).

Almonte was responsible for what became known as the Big Bird 
scandal, in which it was proposed that illicit methods be used to 
retrieve some of Marcos' hidden wealth in Switzerland instead of 
going through the court system.

Through the NSC, Almonte plans to start some sort of intelligence 
operation inside government institutions and agencies to spy on 
government officials and employees. He also plans a national ID 
system.

So far, there have not been any killings of health workers under 
the Ramos regime, but the harassment of community health workers 
is again on the rise. Already, one MAG regional coordinator has 
been arrested on charges of subversion.

``There have been many cases of our members being detained and 
questioned for several hours, and we have faced more difficulties 
going into the rural areas, especially the so-called military 
areas, and difficulties too in servicing the evacuation 
centres.''

The Medical Action Group, made up of health professionals, 
workers and students, since 1982 has delivered health care to 
victims of human rights violations and also has undertaken human 
rights advocacy and education in the health sector. There is also 
a need to give medical services to internal refugees displaced by 
the massive military operations against the rebels.

``It was primarily during the time of President Aquino that we 
had more domestic refugees to attend to as a result of the 
internal dislocation. There was a lot of harassment of health 
workers that disrupted and sometimes stopped the community-based 
health programs. Under Marcos there were more cases of individual 
torture, as there were many more arrested.''

Some 118 health workers are known to have suffered harassment in 
the years 1987-1991, including nine killed on separate occasions.

Presidential Decree 169, issued by Marcos, has been the vehicle 
for much of this victimisation. PD169 required doctors to report 
any case of physical injuries they treated, especially gunshot 
wounds, under pain of penalty and imprisonment for failure to do 
so.

``Aquino simply replaced PD169 with Executive Order 212 according 
to which, instead of reporting to the Philippines constabulary, 
the physician must report physical injuries to the Health 
Department.

``The process is more one of harassment than of actual 
repression. But we still feel we have the sword of Damocles over 
our heads.''

The MAG was labelled several times as a communist front because 
of its alleged links with the rebels. But Parong insists the 
group simply renders services to victims of human rights 
violations, ``regardless of politics, political affiliation, 
religious beliefs, sex or social status''.

``We do not see a very bright future for the Philippines, and we 
don't really think there will be fundamental changes to improve 
life conditions. Previously, we thought with changes in 
government (the downfall of Marcos) we would not have the reason 
to exist any more, but that is not so.''
** End of text from cdp:reg.philippine **

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