Rapists ng Maguindanao nurse, hinahanting!

Ang larawan ng grupong Suara at Gabriela sa rally ng mga ibat-ibang organisasyon sa Cotabato City bilang pagkondena sa gang rape ng isang nurse sa Maguindanao province.

COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 29, 2010) – Patuloy kahapon ang paghahanap ng mga awtoridad sa mga natitirang suspek sa panghahalay sa isang nurse sa Maguindanao province matapos na madakip ang 6 sa kanila sa bayan ng South Upi.

Ayon sa pulisya ay 4 na iba pa ang pinaghahanap kaugnay sa panggagahasa na naganap nuong Setyembre 25 sa isang nurse, 21 taong-gulang na volunteer naman ng pamahalaang lokal.

Nabatid na karamihan sa mga suspek ay mayayaman at pulos Kristiyano, ngunit hindi naman inilabas ng pulisya ang identipikasyon ng mga suspek.

Ang biktima ay natagpuan walang saplot at may sugat sa katawan at hinihinalang iniwan sa akalang patay na ito di-kalayuan sa pagamutan ng South Upi. Gang rape umano ang naganap sa biktima.

Mariing kinondena rin ng grupong Gabriela ang panggagahasa. “Nananawagan kami sa mga awtoridad at lokal na pamahalaan ng South Upi na maglunsad ng isang masinsing imbestigasyon at gawaran ng kaukulang parusa ang mga perpetrators na gumawa nito kay Florence,” ani Jaquelane Billiones, tagapagsalita ng Gabriela sa Cotabato City.

Kamakalawa ay isang malaking indignation rally naman ang isinagawa ng mga ibat-ibang grupo bilang pakikiisa sa pagkondena sa panggagahasa.

Ayon kay Billiones ay nakapagtala ang Gabriela noong 2009 ng 9,585 na kaso ng pang-aabuso laban sa mga kababaihan at kabataan at sa pagtatantya nito ay mayroong nagagahasa na dalawang kababaihan bawat araw sa nakalipas na taon.

Nalulungkot naman ang Gabriela sa sinapit ng biktima dahil wala umanong malinaw na seguridad at proteksyong tinatanggap ang mga health workers lalo na nag mga kababaihan laban sa iba’t-ibang porma ng pang-aabuso lalo na sa mga rural area. (Mindanao Examiner)

Church joins protest against Jolo rapes

People at the Jolo rally protesting the increase in rapes. (Photo by UCAN)

JOLO, Philippines (UCAN) - A Jolo vicariate official has joined the call for action against gang rapes in his southern Philippine town, where at least 25 rape cases have been reported in the past two months.

Oblate Father Romeo Villanueva, director of the vicariate's Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation commission, denounced lack of government support for victims of the reported rapes, mostly young Muslim women returning from night classes.

Father Villanueva addressed hundreds of people representing more than 60 civil society groups in Sulu province demanding government action to stop violence against women.

Jolo vicariate, based in the provincial capital, covers Sulu and neighboring Tawi-Tawi province, which comprises 457 islands and islets. Roughly 2 percent of the territory's 1.1 million inhabitants are Catholics, while the vast majority are Muslims.

Under a sweltering sun, young women from religious and government schools carried placards at the September 4 rally demanding action to stop the rapes as well as justice for the victims. One placard read, "Women must be loved and respected and not abused."

The rally resolution, read out by Anwar al-An, convener of the interreligious and multisectoral Sulu People's Congress (SPC), lamented local authorities' failure to act competently and protect women.

Father Villanueva urged local authorities to document the abuse carefully, so their investigations could lead to successful prosecution of wrongdoers.

The government also should promptly provide protection to victims, he said at the rally, broadcast over local radio.

The priest also signed a two-page resolution prepared by the SPC.It appealed to the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of nvestigation, Commission on Human Rights, other government bodies and elected officials to create immediately a fact-finding mission on the mounting rapes.

Father Villanueva told UCA News on September 17 that one recent victim, an 80-year old woman, reportedly was raped by 10 men. He added that he went to see her, but was told she fled Jolo out of fear the rapists would return for her.

Fear is common among the victims, who complain that police do not follow up on their complaints, he added.

"Usually, the reports about gang rapes involve young Muslim girls walking home after classes, usually alone," the priest said. He described the attacks as coordinated: "A number of motorcycle riders who spot a victim contact a covered van that then picks up the victim, who the gang will rape."

He said no Christians have reported being raped, but pointed out that if some had become victims, they might be reluctant to report this to police.

"We are upset because the police are in a state of denial and refuse to accept the accounts of the victims," he stated.

Father Villanueva explained that his Church commission joined the prayer rally because its role is to promote human rights and freedom and to share the task of peace-building. Catholics, though a minority, form networks with other civil society organizations hoping to help transform Sulu, he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Women's Desk of the Sulu provincial police conducted a two-week information drive on the Anti-Violence against Women and Children law in all high schools and colleges in Jolo, since majority of the victims are students.

The National Statistical Coordination Board ranks Sulu 13th-poorest among the 80 Philippine provinces. (UCAN)


Link: http://www.ucanews.com/2009/09/18/church-joins-protest-against-jolo-rapes/

Groups Issue Joint Statement On Reports Of Rape, Sexual Abuse Of Penan Women

Joint Press Statement

NGOs' response to reports of rape, sexual abuse and exploitation of Penan girls and women by loggers.

With reference to the growing reports of rape, sexual abuse and exploitation of Penan girls and women in Sarawak, the latest of which was highlighted in the Star dated 6 October 2008, we the undersigned NGOs wish to state the following:

Despite the obvious serious nature of these allegations, the Sarawak police have not taken the issues seriously. Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohammed Salleh's insistence that a police report must be lodged first reflects poorly on the police as they can certainly take the initiative to investigate these reports without a formal police report.

The situation is worsened by Marudi district police chief Deputy Superintendent Jonathan Jalin who was reported to have said that the police have not found evidence to support the allegations but only a number of "marriages" between the workers and Penan women.

The "marriages", he claimed, were between willing parties, were accepted by the Penan elders, are of a temporary nature and will end once the workers leave for other logging areas. The police in these instances seemed to have summarily dismissed these serious allegations and have failed to take into account the vulnerability of the Penans, especially the women and girls, where the logging company and workers are concerned.

We also wish to add that in November 1994, the Penans lodged a police report listing 10 instances of abuses committed against their persons, property and lands, including the rape of a 12-year-old girl by Police Field Force personnel (PFF, now known as General Operation Force).

These were quickly dismissed by the police even before any investigation has begun, causing a serious loss of confidence in the ability of the Sarawak police to act professionally.

In 2000, a report was also made to Suhakam but similarly there was no action.

Due to the vulnerability of these girls, women and the communities as a whole, we strongly and urgently call upon the Government, in particular the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and also Suhakam, to follow through their concerns and take these allegations seriously to set up a fact finding mission comprising respected and qualified members who will be able to conduct the fact finding independently, fairly and competently.

We further urge that proper police investigation commences as soon as possible with the Bukit Aman Police heading the investigation, as the communities affected have expressed a serious loss of confidence against the Sarawak police due to their long-standing dealings with them including in disputes with logging companies and the inaction and perpetuation of impunity in the aforesaid abuse cases.

Endorsed by:
All Women's Action Society (AWAM)
Bar Council Borneo Child Aid Society Building Workers International (BWI)
Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
Civil Rights Committee of The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM)
Group of Concerned Citizens Health Equity Initiatives (HEI)
Jaringan Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JOAS)
Kuala Lumpur Legal Aid Center Kumpulan ACTS Labor Resource Center (LRC)
Malaysia Social Research Institute (MSRI)
Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
Penang Watch Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd Pusat Komas Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
Rumah Nursalam Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
Save Ourselves (SOS!) Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Tenaganita Voice of the Children Workers Organization Malaysia Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
Youth for Change (Y4C)

Farmer Arrested After Raping Neighbor's Girl

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 13, 2008) – Police arrested a Filipino farmer who was accused of raping his neighbor’s child in the southern town of Tungawan in Mindanao island.

Police said Julio Caiz was accused of raping an eight-year daughter of a farming couple on Wednesday. Caiz’s neighbors left the girl on his custody so they can sell vegetables to the market, but they learned about rape later.

The girl complained of severe stomach pains and was rushed to a clinic by her parents only to find out that she was sexually abused, police said.

Police said the victim admitted that Caiz raped her. (Erico Rosco)

Heir To Powerful Muslim Clan Tag In Rape Of Student In Mindanao

Students march in Kabacan town in North Cotabato as a show of support to 17-year old rape victim. (Photos by Suara Bangsamoro/Mindanao Examiner)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 08, 2008) – Hundreds of students and women rights advocates condemned marched in North Cotabato province to seek justice and condemn the rape of a 17-year old student by an heir to one of the most influential clan in central Mindanao.

The protesters also appealed to the Department of Justice and local provincial officials to resolve immediately the case. They also urged the National Bureau of Investigations and the Philippine National Police to arrest the suspect and his cohorts.

They said the student was forcibly taken by three people from her dorm in Kabacan town on February 25 and returned later in the day and said she was raped at a lodging house. The victim is a student of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM).

Bai Ali Indayla, national secretary-general of Suara Bangsamoro, said that they have received reports of numerous rape cases and sexual harassments inside the USM campus, but “it is only now that a victim courageously speaks out and file a legal case against the well-known perpetrator.”

Indayla said various human rights organizations, including Gabriela Women’s Party and lawyers and North Cotabato 1st District Rep. Emmylou Mendoza have already expressed support to the victim and her family get justice.

She said USM students marched in Kabacan and lighted candles in support to the victim.

She said Kabacan Mayor George Tan and the town’s councilors, including university professors are also supporting the students.

“We dare the administration of USM to stand for justice especially for their student. The victim’s courage as well as the witnesses is commendable. We appreciate so much the bravery of the victim’s family to cope with their daughter's ordeal and took legal action to search justice and prosecute the perpetrators. We appeal to all victims of sexual violence to speak out and fight. Silence will tolerate the horrible and devilish act of these perpetrators," Indayla said in a statement. (With a report from Mark Navales)