International rights advocates to probe Apeco project
July 15, 2013 | 9:59am
MANILA, Philippines - A Church-based international mission will conduct a probe on the impact of the controversial Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport project to over 5,000 indigenous families in the province, fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said on Monday.
Pamalakaya vice-chairperson Salvador France said the 50 human rights advocates from United States, Europe and Asia will be in Casiguran, Aurora starting today up to July 17 to investigate how the government project has been detrimental to the indigenous people in the area.
The fact-finding mission was organized by the International Conference on Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, the human rights alliance Karapatan and the Ecumenical Voice
for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, France said.
France said the mission will proceed to different villages covered and affected by the economic and freeport zone project.
Among the barangays to be visited by the mission include Barangay Esteves and Barangay Dibet.
France said from July 19 up to July 21, an international conference on the situation of human rights and peace in the Philippines will be held in Quezon City.
He said a particular workshop on the issue of global landgrabbing will be organized by Philippine based members of Asian Peasant Coalition and the Study Commission No. 6 of the International League of Peoples' Struggle where his group will sponsor a resolution urging around 200 foreign delegates to support the fight against Apeco.
France said he will also seek the support of foreign delegates to ICHRPP for House Bill No. 257 demanding the repeal of Republic Act No. 10083 or the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port Act of 2010.
The repeal of Apeco bill is authored by Anakpawis partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap and co-authored by Reps. Neri Javier Colmenares (Bayan Muna), Emmy de Jesus and Luzviminda Ilagan of
Gabriela Women's Party, Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and James Mark Terry Riddon of Kabataan Partylist.
"We will have a petition-signing where conference delegates will endorse HB No. 257 authored by Rep. Hicap of Anakpawis and other militant partylists under the Makabayan coalition," said France.
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