Name (required):

  Expression ^{(Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)}

  E-mail address (required):

* Type your message here:
>Current Challenges to Democracy in Philippines >Forecast by Freedom House > >February 27, 2006 - In light of the declaration of a >state of emergency by Philippines President Gloria >Macapagal-Arroyo, Freedom House is making available >background reports on governance and the state of >political and civic freedoms in the country. > > Foreshadowing the current challenges that Arroyo's >emergency rule presents, Freedom House recently >lowered its assessment of political and civil >liberties in the Philippines from "Free," in 2004, to >"Partly Free," in 2005. Analysts for the >organization's annual survey, Freedom in the World, >noted in 2005 the existence of credible allegations of >massive electoral fraud, the government's intimidation >of the political opposition, and pervasive corruption. > >"President Arroyo's emergency decree is a major >escalation of the repression of dissenting voices >that's been growing in the Philippines over the past >two years," said Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director >of Freedom House. "The raiding of opposition >newspapers, banning of public demonstrations and >suspension of the rule of law obviously brings into >question the democratic character of the Arroyo >administration. Challenges are real, but need to be >managed with a democratic constitutional process." > >President Arroyo imposed a state of emergency on >February 24, declaring it the necessary result of an >alleged coup attempt by discontented members of the >military and opposition. The decree, which gives >Arroyo sweeping powers to make arrests without a >warrant, ban demonstrations, and take over facilities, >came on the twentieth anniversary of the "People >Power" movement that drove Ferdinand Marcos from power >and promised a new era in Philippine history. > >Freedom in the World this year gave the Philippines a >3 for political rights and a 3 for civil liberties; on >a scale of 1 to 7, 1 is ranked the highest. Another >Freedom House publication, Freedom of the Press, >ranked the Philippines as having a "Partly Free" >environment for the media and noted that the country >is one of the most dangerous places in the world for >journalists to work. > >Freedom House, an independent non-governmental >organization that supports the expansion of freedom in >the world, has monitored political rights and civil >liberties in the Philippines since 1972 and press >freedoms since 1980. > >Additional information about the Philippines is >available online at: > >Freedom in the World 2005: The Philippines > >Freedom of the Press 2005: The Philippines > >Countries at the Crossroads 2005: The Philippines > >Amanda Abrams >Communications Officer >Freedom House >1301 Connecticut Ave., NW >Washington, DC 20036 >(202) 747-7035 (w) >(919) 491-2798 (c) >www.freedomhouse.org

Note: This forum is moderated -- new posts are not visible until approved.

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.