It is with grief and sorrow that we heard about the demise of his Excellency. Comrade Jose Santiago Chito Sta. Romana, Ambassador of the Philippines to China, a prominent fighter for peace and our respected friend.

His passing away is a great loss for not only his family but also people’s movements of the Philippines, as well as in Asia and Europe.

The Asia-Europe People’s Forum honours this charming personality, and especially to the great contributions to the work of the Peace and Security Cluster where he was a regular contributor. We remember his work for peace and human security.

The AEPF would like to convey its profound condolences to the family and loved ones of Ambassador Chito and strongly believe that his efforts to advance the cause of world peace will continue, and his tremendous contribution will be his legacy to us and generations to come.

In solidarity

Recently, a political party founded by Sara Duterte (daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte), incumbent Mayor of Davao City, and now vice-presidential candidate for the 2022 national elections—unfoundedly and maliciously labelled Former Member of The Philippines Congress Dr. Walden Belo as a “narco-politician.”

This attack is clearly intended to silence dissent and undermine free speech. This is not unprecedented under the Duterte regime. Anyone who dares to speak truth to power and criticize the administration and its allies are harassed or worse, killed. 

To draw international attention to this politically-motivated attack against Dr. Belo, hundreds of organisations and eminent individuals have released the following statement. 

Background Context

In a recent statement released by Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP or Alliance for Change), the regional party founded by Sara Duterte, daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, activist-scholar Professor Walden Bello was unfoundedly and maliciously labelled as a “narco-politician.” 

Prof. Bello is currently running for Vice President under Laban ng Masa (Fight of the Masses), a left-wing electoral coalition of democratic socialist and progressive groups, against Sara Duterte and several other candidates for the May 2022 Philippine National Elections. Last March 20, 2022, in a televised debate, Prof. Bello called out the issue of illicit drug trade in Davao City, dubbing it the “Drug Center ” of Southern Philippines. Prof. Bello questioned why the former aide of Sara Duterte (Davao City’s incumbent Mayor) was exonerated and freed despite clear involvement in a recent drug bust in Davao. Prof. Bello also pointed out that Sara Duterte’s refusal to attend the said debate displayed a glaring lack of public accountability in confronting the said issue, against the backdrop of thousands killed in the Duterte administration’s deadly “war on drugs”.  

In retaliation, Prof. Bello was painted by the HNP “as a danger to peace and order and a threat to the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government”, and accused of supporting the same drug trade he called out by supposedly withholding information from the authorities. This narco-tagging comes on top of Prof. Bello’s declaration as a persona non grata in Davao City (an act that further vilifies him), along with a 10-million peso (USD 192,000) “cyber libel” lawsuit filed by Sara Duterte’s former aide—a criminal case under Philippine laws that might lead to incarceration despite an ongoing trial.

Statement of Solidarity & Support for WALDEN BELLO amidst Narco-Tagging incident

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS vehemently condemn these defamatory and dangerous actions against Prof. Bello. While the premise behind HNP’s accusation is both baseless and senseless, we are deeply concerned by the convoluted logic and narrative constructed against Prof. Bello due to their serious implications on his safety and security. Such accusations, in this case, are politically motivated; designed to induce prejudice and shift the burden of proof to those painted as involved in the illicit drug trade. Ultimately, it is to silence those who dare speak truth to power by exposing them not only to a trial by publicity but to the serious threats to life and liberty posed by the “war on drugs” campaign.

Prof. Bello’s reputation, credibility, and contributions as a progressive activist and public intellectual speak for themselves and are inconsistent with the imputations being hurled at him. Prof. Bello has been a key figure in the international human rights movement, being actively engaged in the advancement of democracy and social justice since the Marcos dictatorship. Furthermore, as the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize) had described him, Prof. Bello has made a “major contribution to the international case against corporate-driven globalization as a human rights and peace campaigner, academic, environmentalist, and journalist.”

Prof. Bello has assumed different posts at various academic institutions in the Philippines, across Asia and the United States. Prof. Bello obtained his PhD in sociology from Princeton University in 1975 and is currently the International Adjunct Professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Binghamton. He has also served in varying positions with several well-respected policy think tanks and non-governmental organizations at the national, regional, and international levels such as Executive Director of Food First, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Board of Focus on the Global South, President of Freedom from Debt Coalition, Member and Former Chair of the Board of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and Member of the Board of the International Forum on Globalization, the Transnational Institute, and Nautilus Institute, and Member of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.

Furthermore, as a human rights advocate, Prof. Bello has also been one of the vocal critics of Duterte’s “war on drugs.” Since 2016, he has stood in solidarity with various civil society and human rights groups condemning the campaign as a war against the poor and asserting that such a violent approach that narrowly seeks to eliminate alleged drug users and pushers will not address the root cause of the drug problem.

Narco-tagging or any other malicious form of political labelling against activists, dissenters, and opposing voices MUST NOT BE TOLERATED. If this can be done to Prof. Walden Bello—a globally renowned intellectual, human rights advocate, and former Philippine legislator, what more to ordinary people?

WE CALL ON all organizations, movements, networks and individuals committed to upholding human rights, democracy, justice and peace to condemn this irresponsible and life-threatening narco-tagging and the baseless cyber-libel lawsuit, and express our solidarity and support for Prof. Walden Bello, and all those who seek justice, public accountability and genuine democratic participation.

The statement remains open for more endorsements.  To endorse, please click:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEJ9qA-lyAoe8Jskrdk5iflpO-MUIg5vXNNn_mQYlzkx8AcA/viewform

The Asia Europe Peoples Forum (AEPF) condemns the aggression and war by Russia in Ukraine. AEPF is opposed to all act of force and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue. This Russian aggression is causing death and damage in immeasurable ways. We believe that war cannot be a solution and compromise and negotiation is the only way forward. Safeguarding human rights and human security should be at the center of the negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

It is evident that policies of competitive security and one sided military alliances have enhanced threat perceptions. This has led to a break down of dialogue leading to this terrible situation where ordinary people are facing the brunt of war.

We believe that inclusive and common security alone can lead to sustainable peace. For peace with justice an immediate ceasefire is essential. It would be positive to revitalise the Minsk Agreements, get the leadership of Ukraine and Russia back on the negotiation table, involve the the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of which Russia is an affiliate to stand as guarantor of peace.

The real existential issues faced by people across the globe are climate change, inequities and lack of social justice and violation of rights. For this to be realized war and militarism should be collectively ended. We join peace movements and civil society across the world in appealing for a sustainable peace with justice.

February 20, 2022

Asia-Europe Peoples Forum (AEPF)

Statement on the European Parliament’s Urgent Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines

 EU: Time to Act on Human Rights Situation in the Philippines

We, civil society organizations from Asia and Europe under the banner of the Asia-Europe Peoples Forum (AEPF) call on the European Commission (EC) to urgently act on the situation in the Philippines and initiate withdrawal procedures with respect to the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) granted to the Philippines.

 Our call echoes  the concerns raised by the members of the European Parliament contained in two European Parliament Resolutions (2020/2782 and 2022/2540 (RSP)) on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

In its 2020 Resolution, the European Parliament already drew attention to the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines including the attacks on human rights defenders under President Duterte and the thousands of extrajudicial executions and other serious human rights violations linked to the government’s war on drugs.

Furthermore, serious concerns were already raised over the deteriorating level of press freedom in the Philippines and condemned all cases of threats, harassment, intimidation, unfair prosecution and violence against journalists. Two years ago, the European Parliament sounded the alarm already on policies like the newly adopted anti-terrorism law, and proposals to reinstate the death penalty that could further undermine human rights in the country and go against the human rights obligation of the Philippines.

 The latest urgent resolution highlighted, among others, the following critical developments that point to the failure of the Duterte government to address the issues and concerns raised: 

1.   The Supreme Court upheld the legality of most of the Anti-Terrorism Act passed by President Duterte’s administration, which gives security forces the power to arrest and detain suspects for up to 24 days without a warrant and without bringing charges;

2.   COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Philippines, particularly with regard to freedom of expression, media integrity and predictable enforcement, and has had grave repercussions on the capacity of the media and civil society to document such transgressions; whereas the most vulnerable communities in urban areas have been seriously affected by the police and the military’s use of violence to enforce quarantine;

3.   The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, in her most recent report on the Philippines of 7 October 2021, stressed that continuing and severe human rights violations and abuses across the country are taking place and that basic human rights standards are being ignored;

4.   The ICC pre-trial chamber announced that it had authorised the Office of the Prosecutor to open an investigation into crimes against humanity including murders committed in the context of the ‘war on drugs’ under the administration of President Duterte and also into those allegedly perpetrated in Davao City by the so-called Davao Death Squad from 2011 to 2016

5.   The Philippine House of Representatives adopted at third reading House Bill No 7814, which according to the Philippines Human Rights Commissioner ‘provides for presumptions of guilt for people accused of being traffickers, financiers, protectors, coddlers and/or being involved in illegal drugs’ and ‘also attempts to reintroduce the death penalty’;

6.   The adoption of the Human Rights Defenders Protection bill, passed by the House of Representatives, is still pending in the Senate

As civil society organizations in both the EU and Asia that follow the developments in the Philippines, and have worked closely with Philippine CSOs and movements,  we supported the grant of special trade preferences to the Philippines in 2014 under the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+). GSP+ is meant to advance sustainable development and good governance in the Philippines. These privileges were granted on condition of the Philippine government’s fulfillment of its obligations under the 27 conventions on human and labor rights. 

Given the seriousness of the human rights violations in the country, the European Parliament has once again called on the European Commission to immediately initiate the procedure, which could lead to the temporary withdrawal of GSP+ preferences. 

We support this renewed call, which echoes similar calls made by Philippine groups, and urge the European Commission to take decisive actions to initiate the process of withdrawal of these preferences.

A food and beverage factory in Bangladesh was engulfed in fire killing at least 52 workers and injuring more than fifty others. The workers were trapped inside the building since the only exit had been locked. This illegal practice to force workers to remain inside the factory has led to this terrible tragedy. This once again reveals the extremely callous standards of safety that come to public notice only when a tragedy of such magnitude occurs.

The number of actual deaths are yet to be ascertained as many more workers are feared to be trapped in the fifth and the sixth floor of the building which continued to burn even after 24 hours of the incident.

The factory is owned by Sajeeb Group, a Bangladesh company producing juice under Pakistan’s Lahore-based Shezan International for exports to Australia, the US, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Bhutan, Nepal and to the Middle East and Africa. The AEPF condemns this massacre and culpable homicide, and stands in solidarity with the working people of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has a dismal record of industrial safety and has many previous incidents including factories catching fire with workers locked inside. According to Bangladesh labour laws no factory can lock its exit during working hours and when the production is on. However, the laws are routinely flouted resulting in workers getting charred inside as it happened nine years ago at Tazreen Fashions garment factory killing at least 112 workers.

It is also no coincidence that most of these accidents are happening at export oriented units which employ workers at a pittance and flout safety measures at will. The factory owners also resort to beatings and other threats and intimidation to coerce workers and to stop them from unionising. Even though Section 195 of the Bangladesh Labour Act (2006, amended 2013) prohibits such practices, their implementation remains very weak. Additionally, women workers are super-exploited and often abused.

After the Tazreen Fashions fire and Rana Plaza collapse, international bodies including the ILO emphasised the necessity for enhancing safety and working conditions in the garment and other industries but these calls went largely unheeded. In its 2017 report the ILO has acknowledged that the country’s regulatory framework and inspections “had not been able to keep pace with the development of the industry”. Similar concerns about the workers safety and security were also raised by a number of monitoring agencies and labour rights campaigners.

The AEPF denounces this wilful neglect of workers’ lives and condemns the factory owners, the international buyers and the authorities for such repeated disasters. We also demand the:

• Immediate establishment of a high level committee by the concerned authorities to investigate this incident, identify the responsible entities and recommend strong steps to prevent any more incidents of this nature. The committee must include workers’ representatives and safety experts.
• The concerned authorities must initiate criminal prosecution against all those who are culpable – directly or indirectly, and they must be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment.

The government must ensure a fair, just and timely compensation for the families of the killed and, no doubt, permanently disabled by the corporate negligence.

• Immediate enforcement of safety measures and proper working conditions.

• Guaranteeing decent living wage and working conditions of workers.

• Stop union busting and allow workers to organise and form their associations.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2021/07/09/narayanganj-factory-fire-rages-on-many-feared-dead
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/07/10/narayanganj-factory-fire-many-child-workers-still-missing
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/10/bangladesh-police-arrest-factory-owner-after-dozens-die-in-fire?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Asia Europe Peoples’ Forum 

JAKARTA – Lawmakers from across the world have come together to form the International Parliamentarians Alliance for Myanmar (IPAM). The Alliance’s first meeting included 24 members of parliament (MPs) from 12 countries, spanning from Canada, through Europe, Pakistan, Thailand, Japan and all the way to Australia and New Zealand.

The MPs committed to join forces and use their position inside and outside of parliament to support fellow lawmakers from Myanmar, including members of the Committee Representing the Union Parliament (CRPH), to promote democracy and human rights for all in Myanmar, and ensure accountability for international crimes.

“The people of Myanmar need support now, as bullets are being fired, prisons filled, and lives stolen by a ruthless military. As parliamentarians it was evident to us that we needed to come together and form a united front against the Myanmar army’s unrelenting attack on democracy and human rights,” said Heidi Hautala, Member of the European Parliament.

“Our message is clear, we as elected representatives will use our voice to support the people of Myanmar in their quest for democracy,” said Jamie Parker, Member of the New South Wales Parliament of Australia. “Working collectively will strengthen our respective actions, and present the Myanmar military junta and the international community with unified calls and a clear path forward.” 

The initial meeting of the Alliance was convened at the initiative of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), with a view to connecting lawmakers with Myanmar civil society and MPs, to provide a forum for developing joint international and regional strategies, and to serve as a consistent public voice for democracy and human rights for all in Myanmar.

“Our first action will focus on supporting Myanmar MPs currently being detained or forced into hiding when their only crime has been to be elected by the people of Myanmar to serve in Parliament,” said Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament of Malaysia and Chair of APHR. “It is our duty to stand with our colleagues when they face life threatening risks and when the institution of Parliament is being attacked.” 

Members of the Alliance agreed to help gather signatures of parliamentarians around the world for a statement calling for the immediate release of their Myanmar colleagues, and to introduce in their respective parliaments a resolution or motion condemning the coup.

provide a forum for developing joint international and regional strategies, and to serve as a consistent public voice for democracy and human rights for all in Myanmar.

Here is the link for you to sign as well: https://aseanmp.org/2021/03/22/international-lawmakers-call-for-the-immediate-and-unconditional-release-of-their-myanmar-colleagues-and-for-democracy-to-be-upheld/