Philippines: Arroyo Visit Reinvigorates 400-Year Ties With Spain

President Arroyo, escorted by Spanish King Juan Carlos I, troops the line of the Royal Honor Guards during the arrival honors and welcome ceremony for the President at the Palacio Real de el Pardo Front Courtyard

Mike Cohen, Pacific News Center Correspondent 05.DEC.07
5:19 p.m. Manila - Philippine-Spanish relations have moved forward in the wake of a four-day state visit to Madrid by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Spain has always defended my government, and once again, we are seeking the support of the Spanish government and business community to help us realize our vision of a modern Philippines in 20 years," the President said during a meeting with the leaders of Spain's Senate at the Plaza
de la Marina Espanola.

Escorted through Madrid's traffic-heavy streets by a contingent of Palace guards, national security officers and members of the municipal police, the President met with Spain's congressional leaders after the welcome ceremonies for her at the Palacio Real de El Pardo. The President, who speaks fluent Spanish, said "Our four-day state visit here reaffirms the deep historical, cultural, economic and
political ties between the Philippines and Spain."

She informed the Spanish legislators that she had directed government colleges and universities in the Philippines to reintegrate the Spanish language in their curricula. President Arroyo expressed her appreciation for the assistance Spain has extended to her administration in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Mindanao.

She said that now is the best time for Spanish business leaders to invest in the Philippines, particularly in renewable energy development, tourism and agriculture. President Arroyo also informed the Spanish legislators that through the initiative of Sen. Edgardo Angara, a member of her official delegation, she has declared June 30 of every year as the Fil-Hispano Day as a tribute to the shared history, values and traditions of the two nations.

Spanish Senate President Senor Don Francisco Rojo presented to President Arroyo a Senate Medal and a copy of the Atlas of the Iberian Peninsula and Spanish Overseas Territories, while Senor Manuel Marin Gonzales, president of Spain's Chamber of Deputies, presented her a Congressional Medal and a copy of the Spanish Constitution of 1812.

Rojo said the Philippines is a country to which the Spanish people "feel so much sentiment."

He echoed the President's previous statement that economic prosperity can only be achieved in a peaceful and stable environment, citing Spain's own experience with terrorism.

The Spanish Senate leader also expressed gratitude to the Philippine Senate's ratification of the Treaty on the Exchange of Sentenced Prisoners (TESP) between the two countries.

From the Senate, the President proceeded to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Plaza de Lealtad to lay a wreath before her private lunch with their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, the official residence of the King and Queen.

Spain: "Bullish on RP investments"

"The business community in is bullish on the Philippines as some companies here have already signified their interests in investing in the country," according to Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila.

Favila, who is among those accompanying Arroyo in her four-day state visit to Spain, said he had talked with executives of two business groups here who are planning to invest in shipping, food and beverage industries in the Philippines. "It's still exploratory but they have signified their interests," Favila said.

The San Miguel Corp. in Spain said they are interested to develop with San Miguel Philippines its new non-alcoholic beer. Another venture, the CMA-CGM, the world's third largest container shipping line, is keen on pouring its money into the Batangas Port. The full development of Batangas Port is needed to carry out the President's super regions economic grouping, as it plays a critical role in the economic and social development of the forelands such as Mindoro. Also, it is the primary port in the area used in the transfer of goods such as agricultural produce that includes copra, cement and logs to the market. The Batangas Port is also an important link in the President's Nautical Highway project. Favila said more meetings are scheduled with Spanish business leaders in a move to lure more investments.

Royal Honors for Arroyo

President Arroyo had a taste of the pomp and pageantry of royalty during the arrival ceremony given in her honor by Spanish King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia on Monday at the sprawling courtyard of the Palacio Real del El Pardo.

The President, dressed in a red coat paired with beige pump shoes, and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo were met by the King and Queen at the entrance to the Royal Palace.

Alighting from a vintage Rolls Royce, the President, the First Gentleman and the Royal Couple engaged in an animated conversation before trooping the line of the Palace guardsmen.

The band then played the national anthem of the Philippines, followed by the national anthem of Spain and the traditional 21-gun salute accorded to visiting heads of state.

After the introduction of her delegation to the King and Queen, the President and the First Gentleman were ushered to the Tribune of Honor where they viewed the parade of the Royal Honor Guards.

The welcome ceremony for the President and the First Gentleman, which lasted 40 minutes, followed the tradition of the royalties in honoring their guests, complete with guardsmen in elaborate costumes and horse-riding Palace guards.

The President arrived in Madrid Sunday afternoon for a four-day state visit to Spain upon the invitation of the King and Queen.

The President and the First Gentleman are staying at the Palacio Real de El Pardo, an old royal hunting lodge dating back to the period of the Hapsburgs and Franceso Sabatini in the 18th century.

Richly decorated with frescoes and tapestries, the Royal Palace is located in a 15-kilometer square wooded parkland known as the Monte de el Pardo, one of the largest natural areas north of Madrid.

King Juan Carlos: Praise for end of death penalty

President Arroyo on Monday night earned the praises of His Majesty King Juan Carlos I for the abolition of the death penalty in the Philippines last year.

"The Philippines returned on 24 June last year to the forefront of liberties and the defense of human rights with the abolition of the death penalty, a gesture which gave us great satisfaction," his
Majesty said in his speech at the gala dinner in honor of the President who is on a four-day state visit to Spain from Dec. 2 to 5.

His Majesty noted that the repeal of the capital punishment in the Philippines was one of the reasons the President would "deservedly" receive the University of Alcala de Henares Gold Medal Tuesday.

"The move was applauded by the international community and by Spain in particular, and for which you will tomorrow, and deservedly, receive the University of Alcala de Henares Gold Medal," he said.

At the same time, the King mentioned the estimated 50,000 Filipinos living and working in Spain. "May I address all our affection and gratitude to the large Philippine community living in Spain and contributing to our well-being," he said.

His Majesty said Spain was committed to help the Philippines achieve peace and progress.

"Your country has been and will continue to be a target of special attention by Spanish Cooperation in Asia…We wish to reiterate to you our willingness to actively back the peace processes you have begun," he said.

Quoting Filipino national hero Jose Rizal, who said that the Philippines was "the Pearl of the Orient Sea," His Majesty noted that his country's former colony was "privileged by nature."

He said the Philippines' "prudent and intelligent use" of its natural resources would guarantee sustainable development.

King Juan Carlos I toasted the President's "personal venture, and that of your husband, and the fraternal ties linking the Philippines and Spain."

In response, the President thanked King Juan Carlos I and his wife, Queen Sofia de Grecia, for the warm welcome she and her delegation received from the Spanish government and the Spanish people.

The President also spoke in fluent Spanish when she thanked the Spanish government for its continued support of her administration, which "represents constitutional order."

"My government has overcome the attempts of undemocratic [forces]. Ihope that Spain always continues to support my government," she added.

The President also said the relationship between the two countries was further enhanced by the presence of a large Filipino community in Spain.

"We are proud of their contributions to this country," she said.

Like King Juan Carlos I, the President quoted Rizal. "Espana esta allí, alli donde deja sentir su influencia bienhechora, y aunque desapareciese su bandera, quedaría su recuerdo, eterno, imperecedero. (Spain is there, there where she lets us feel her beneficent influence, and although her flag has disappeared, she would be left in our eternal memory)," she said, citing this quote from the Filipino Renaissance man whose works inspired the 1896 revolution against Spain.

The President also offered her condolences to the Spanish people for the death of a "guardia civil" (policeman) in the hands of the Basque separatist group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or Basque for "Basque Homeland and Freedom"). ETA has been banned as a terrorist organization by both the Spanish and French authorities as well as the European Union, the United States, and the United Nations.

The President also mentioned the Philippines’ ratification of the Treaty for the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and her directive ordering the promotion of the Spanish language throughout the country. She talked of the various opportunities for trade and investments in the
Philippines. The President toasted to Their Majesties' "health, well-being, and happiness."

The menu at the gala dinner included potato cream with mild olive oil, medley of vegetables with cured beef, hake (a kind of fish) in two wines with fried spinach leaf, and chocolate brownie to be washed down with aged dry sherry, Vina Mein 2006, Hacienda Monasterio 2001 Reserve, and Gran Juve y Camps Grand Reserve. Music at the gala dinner was provided by the Royal Guard, led by its
director, Music Colonel Francisco Grau Vegara. Their pieces included 1492, Filipinas y Espana, Gigantes y Cabezudos, Musicales en Madrid, Serenata Filipina, Pepita Jimenez, Los Ultimos de Filipinas, and Aida.
- Pacific News Center International

Remembering other ‘Makati Bombings’

The Makati Bombing Inquiry continues; I chose to call it still a bombing as theory’s of a accidental explosion may yet prove to be part of the overall impact of destruction in the area. - this was originally a comment on ‘Coffee with Amee’ -but I decide to make it a post of my own.
Meaning, […]

[Read more →]

Remembering other ‘Makati Bombings’

The Makati Bombing Inquiry continues; I chose to call it still a bombing as theory’s of a accidental explosion may yet prove to be part of the overall impact of destruction in the area. - this was originally a comment on ‘Coffee with Amee’ -but I decide to make it a post of my own.
Meaning, […]

[Read more →]

Philippines: 'Fear, Not Bombs, Terror's Worst Weapon'
Mike Cohen, Pacific News Center Correspondent 22.OCT.07
8:25 p.m. Philippine National Police, in a counter-terrorism primer emailed to journalists today, written by Chief Superintendent Augusto P Angcanan, Jr., say that speculation and political discord after a terror attack works to help those who seek to create chaos in the Philippines." It is very important for all of us, including the public, to have a clear understanding of what terrorism is and how it works." [more]

If ABC - Capitol Cities -Disney, had it's taste of Pinoy anger and petitions over the 'treatment' of Philippine Doctors.

AOL - Time Warner and its outfit Comedy Central are about to get a bit 'whacked ' I predict, for a slur versus three women world leaders.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jc4RhBBw0b8

So, no not once but twice fil-am's are upset over TV shows in the U.S.A., and perhaps even in two other countries - as a comedy central report on the daily show, bashed three of the worlds leading Woman Leaders.

Comedy Central is after-all a Joke - patterned on a newscast - it is filled with Saturday Night Live - like skits - passed off as news. It has had spin-off's and some success.

The show has been also sued, numerous times and had to apologize a lot went they go too far.

I think 'all in good fun is via bad taste - the motto - or show mantra.

Names of those hit this time, were Golda Mier, Margarette Thatcher, and yes, the Philippines own Corazon Aquino.

John Stewart, the daily show's host did seem to flinch at the end of the segment - there was no side comment or wisecrack - where in a comedian - portraying a brainless reporter - in a segment produced by Lindsey Crystal - and edited by - Einer Westerlund, or at least thats what is says on the skit graphics - which is adult comedy and irreverent about everything - but in my opinion it went way too far.

There are people in this world who have earned respect and done things for humanity that inspire, stand up for something decent, and show producers, its hots, editors, and writers, they do not like that.

They live to demean, destroy, dehumanize - all in the name of humor. They know not themselves how to be soemthing better than they are - so to make up for thier lously lives. They try and pull down the world with them into the pig-pen of despair, they call thier lives.

To people like this, hat sometimes things can be made better if one has, the will to work for it, and ability to strive and even in the face of great odds, succeed.

Is to them, unacceptable, that is why they are a joke themselves. brainless, remorseless, uncaring and insensitive.

They tell the world - don't have hero's we will destroy them - Don't have faith, be like John Stewart and be a Godless mud-sucker who spits out filth for all the world to laugh at.

Yes, they can be like John Stewart, and burn down all that is good in the name of humor and wit and make no other purpose in this world than to enrich themselves at the expense of making fun and ridiculing others.

It perhaps its because Stewart, has never done anything in this world in the name of human suffering. He laugh or makes jokes about Buirma's plight, He makes jest at killings of scores by blackwater, he does nothing but try and pass off all that is bad in the world with a lught. Why? because he and his cast of crazies, can't take it upon themselves to do anything that might make reality to real for themselves to see, feel, smell, taste, and view what really happens.

Because of the world did that- they would see that all he is making fun off - is the people themselves - one laugh at a time for all the misery that is there.

And 'Good people' and God and Country -never mind whose country - or what religion, its all fair game - to demean and destroy. Why? Because it make him and his producers feel good.

Yes, He is the happy global village idiot, who hopes people will be - silly enough - to laugh at his jokes-

When he and his team are rendering anyone or anything he and his staff can produce to be laughed, shamed, and brought dishonor upon. They are happiest.
Honor, that perhaps is not a word Mr. Stewart and his crew no nothing about, dignity, the human condition that so makes them nothing more than a bunch of heckling jackals that laugh and snicker to know they are alive.

There are great comedians, Mr. Stewart, is no longer one of them. He is like a fool who cannot see people are not laughing with him - but slowly- at him.

There are those who make fun of others and do it in good taste, there are those who take some time and think out what the impact of the actions they do will mean after they have written it.

And then, there is the daily show. In this particular segment, they malign three women of substance, for what?

Because perhaps their own lives are so full of nothing but the THT and Prozac in their veins to function.

They have never fought a battle, never sought to make a people free, never stood up for anything they could not piss down on except there brand of gutter humor that is only lughed at because of canned laughter - and - cued crowds by signs in the audiance can be cued along to what they think is fun. Kind of like the Nazi brownshirts tactics of using sick laughter to demean and destroy all those they wanted to - in - order to make sure no one knew that they were really evil.

Is the show Evil? No, maybe not, it has a evil intent though - like so many - to dehumanize people, to ridicule and render all but their own as the path and way.

Stewart's show, I actually found out, when I was watching this particular skit, and trying to be objective, that a young child looked at it and asked me.

'Why are those people laughing? its not funny?,' and, he walked away - I had written a blog in the hopes of trying to at least show- hey - look another jerk on American TV hates the rest of the world so badly he'll destroy all the icons of those who have been leaders- perhaps- because guys like Stewart and his people themselves cannot lead.

But only follow the dictates of whatever sick drug induced perversion filled brain wrote for them and created them to be. Sad, no hopes? No feeling of having seen the real world.

Stewart's a joke filled showbiz view of the world, is a dangerous one - it makes fun of the world so he and his producers can destroy anything good, decent, and well meaning?

And why? Not for some notion that it is humor, no it is subversion in its worst form. He destroys peoples hero's, Nations hero's, why because he hates his own country so much.

Now, the portion in questions happens, when the 'comedian' while getting a pap smear - the host of the segment proceeds to read of the names of the list of 'girl' leaders, her temr not mine - and talking about their work Golda for standing up to Egypt's armies, Thacher for facing down communists, and Aquino - for standing up to dictators.

But on the screen as pictures roll down on the reports laptop, is where it get way below the belt, literally - Mier had a derogatory word, a insult scrawled above her face, Baroness Thatcher, had her head put on the body 'cut and pasted' over a panty less pop tart star -

The Philippines former President Aquino was labeled as is pictured below.

All of this deserves a apology!

This one while distateful, perhaps in the name of comedy might too bad, but all the images that came before it in the 'comedy' showed nothing worth really seeing:

I debated about putting the image of what they did to Mrs. Thatcher - but just don't have the heart to do it. Why, because I have one.

Because I believe in something, because I will not try and make a point by stooping so low as to attempt to demean a woman honored so many times by a libelous image.

I am not British, but I must say, any leader who did even half of what Baroness Thacher did for England deserves better. They should fire whoever did this segment!

Not an apology - This goes too far if wardrobe malfunctions that got a fine from the FCC - perhaps even a suspension might be the case here.

But, we all know it won't happen, the networks make too much money and Stewarts show which is the best propaganda show, the opposition democrats have will never be axed while it is 'popular.'

But total irreverence - total disregard for all decency is what the show is built on.

They did spare Indira Ghandi and Benzanir Bhuto, perhaps because they know Pakistani's and Indian's have Nukes.

In the case of Mrs. Aquino, the comment of the four letter word written so calously across he picture could only have come from an ignorant writer who - just does not know what happened here in the Philippines 25 years on now.

But, I nominate the writers of this segment and even John Stewart - to the hall of the international shame if one existed.

You were not funny here. It was insulting. It went too far - this segment Mr. Stewart was not funny at all.

I used to like the show - I will not be watching anymore.

Hey, like they care, I'm just one viewer... yet I hope a few others do the same.

On another note - I remember the first time CNN International aired the daily show of comedy central - I was on duty at the desk of ABS-CBN in Manila - and - I actually had to call CNN in Atlanta to let them know that night many years ago - I had received a few dozen phone calls complaining about the show then.

Some people went to CNN that night only to find Stewarts show instead of news - and felt slighted or even angry.

The humor then, was a little too much for an International audience that didn't 'get it' right away.

Since then i hear they have improved but still it get a few hundred complaints - but - they are trained to be insensitive, heartless, and , to think everything in life is joke.

Yet, someday, the laughing will stop. Til then they'll make loads of money making fun of everything - and everyone.

Desperate Housewives was harmless compared to this - I suggest fil-am's and others dust of the petition for ABC and do another one perhaps?

If you want to complain - not that it will mean much - the link is below.

http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml

But, better yet, perhaps someone can write the MTRCB and just ban the show from Philippine airwaves and cable for a month.

Perhaps it'll be meaningless in overall world of the likes of Comedy Central, perhaps they'll even make a joke about or two.

But many will not be laughing, all those people they have hurt all these years - all those twisted lies and inuendo of making the worlds mot horrible disasters, atrocities, and destruction into something to make a little less serrious the thoughts of a world - when it really needs the ideals and dreams and inspiration of the women they so badl demeaned.

John, you are not funny, you are inhuman.

RP Gaming Industry: Are Some Malls becoming Casino’s?

October 3rd, 2007 · No Comments

Gambling, albeit legal in many places in person and on-line in some countries - is still a vice. Yet, one need not go too far to find it. Most of the Malls in the capital boast now of ‘real time’ slot machine like - Computer based bingo machine parlors - some are quite packed - licensed by PAGCOR - the twenty or thirty machines boast of large progressive jackpots in the hundreds of thousands of pesos. It’s legal, legit, and, often well run. Major mall chains have them, and they seem to do quite well - the owners - players of any game of chance learn the house wins most of the time - the hard-way!

It can be an addiction and can and should have support groups for those who want to stop or control the urge to ‘go for broke’: most who gamble heavily I’ve seen end up that way - broke.

Gambling in the Philippines is a huge business - both the legal and illicit.

Aside from lottery, casino, slot machine and poker machine parlors and ‘membership club’ casinos. Now, the linked bingo halls and bingo machine parlors that are in nearly every major shopping mall in the Philippine capital rake in large amount for PAGCOR . The state run gaming company.

So, the wild days of illegal ‘video carera’ machines and illegal gaming parlors are long gone really - they can’t compete- but they do still exist - but- mostly with 18 gaming casino’s in metro manila scores of venues from off track betting, to on-line ’sabong ‘ cockfighting gaming. Manila and other major cities like Cebu and Angeles and Olongapo and Subic -

A recent study I saw shows that the Philippines boasts of more gaming machines than Macao. Which is supposed to be Asia’s gambling capitol.

But, resources for problem gaming are rare - there is no local chapters for example of Gamblers Anonymous - Anyhow for those interested here’s a link:

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page

A fellowship support group for compulsive gamblers.
www.gamblersanonymous.org/ - 4k - Cached - Similar pages
20 Questions - www.gamblersanonymous.org/20questions.html
Recovery Program - www.gamblersanonymous.org/recovery.html
Gamblers Anonymous … - www.gamblersanonymous.org/mtgdirTOP.html
Q and A - www.gamblersanonymous.org/qna.html
More results from www.gamblersanonymous.org »

Well, its no strange thought that the number one group fighting versus on-line gaming is based in Las Vegas - if there’s anything casino’s hated the prospect of as well as the US government was the idea that gambling could be done at home and nearly untaxed on the Internet.

A RICO case has been filed by the US Attorneys office in Utah - versus a group based in ironically in Nevada and Utah- engaged in web based gaming- with ties to the Philippines has been allegedly busted in the US state of Utah - the crime was engaging in internet based gambling.

[]”..Las Vegas Residents, Utah Companies Tied To Internet Gambling
MyFox Utah, Ut - Defendants also channeled Western Union wire transfers through the Philippines. The 34-count indictment includes charges of racketeering conspiracy, … ” []

The USA banned Internet gambling for very good reasons - aside from it does not like the competition - legal casinos pour hefty tax revenue for the Federal Government - primarily the concern was that kids and teenagers were heavy into the on-line games.

Credit card companies also were very happy to see the sites go banned and be able to stem unpaid charges often denied to those of card holders who often claimed they had been ID grabbed. Unless they won… Also in the mix is the very problematic situation of underage gaming.

Tags: asia · mikeinmanila · philippines

Philippines: Corruption Scandal Ends National Broadband Project
Mike Cohen, PNC Correspondent 03.OCT.07
4:00a.m. Manila-- Announced from China, while on a state visit, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, canceled a $330 million dollar project between Beijing and Manila. The 'ZTE-NBN Deal,' had been the subject of a prolonged opposition instigated investigation, amidst allegations of corruption, bribery, and alleged kickbacks. The Philippine President formally has 'shelved' the project. [more]

'China-Philippine ties strong' Chinese President Hu Jintao ' China Wants Joint Corruption Probe'

Filipino Activist angry over 'Desperate line'

Fil-Am Anger: Desperate Housewives’ Slur vs. Filipino Medical Schools

October 2nd, 2007 · No Comments

Kevin Nadal, who lists himself as a ‘Filipino Performance Artist/ Activist,” is upset it seems over ‘a line’ in the TV show ABC TV show desperate housewives. about Philippine Medical Schools - obviously he hasn’t been to Manila recently, nor maybe heard about the last nursing exams which led perhaps to this unkind of comment […]

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Summary of posts on mikeinmanila.info

Tropical Storm ‘Hanna’: Floods and Landslides kill 8

12:35 p.m. Eight Filipino villagers are missing and feared dead, after a landslide triggered by tropical storm ‘Hanna’ struck a group of homes in a small northern Philippine Village. Rescuers are digging for the remains of two families in a Ifugao village in the Mountainous region of the country north of Manila. […]

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Guam & Iwo Jima: Twin Quakes hit Pacific Islands

Twin Quakes Rock Pacific Islands:’ Near Guam and Iwo Jima’

Twin Quakes hit Western Pacific

Mike Cohen, PNC Correspondent 30.SEP.07
6:20p.m.‘Not on but two quakes hit the western pacific area,’ News Agencies based in Tokyo looking at scientific data say ‘Twin Earthquakes,’ shook near Guam and Iwo Jima not just one. Recorded by monitoring equipment in Tokyo, Hawaii, […]

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Tags: Uncategorized

Guam Earthquake: News Reports

The Earthquake reports seem to suggest that the islands infrastructure is secure and mostly residents were affected but no reports of major damage so far.

GameSHOUTQuake near Guam sways buildings -

GUAM (Reuters) - A strong earthquake swayed buildings on the Pacific island of Guam on Sunday but there were no immediate reports of damage and […]

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Burma Crisis: Drug flood fears across region

PNC Special Report: Myanmar Crisis Could Mean ‘Burma Drug Flood’ On Guam
Mike Cohen, PNC Correspondent 27.SEP.07
11:58 a.m. The U.S. State Department released its International Narcotics report for 2008, which warns that the political problems in Burma are leaving drug production centers unchecked, and corruption problems in government mean that it has become Asia’s central distribution […]

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Arroyo pitches the Philippines in NYC

September 28th, 2007 · No Comments

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo beams as she is introduced by former Georgetown Univ..classmateUS President Bill Clinton (extreme left) at the
Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Opening Plenary at the Sheraton New York Hotel
(Benjamin Basug/OPS-NIB Photo)
[…]

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Philippine Government statement on Myanmar

Philippine President Arroyo who is with other world leaders in New York attending the annual general assembly meeting has come out with what is one of the few statements by leaders in ASEAN versus the repression in Myanmar.

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Basketball, Broadband, and, Beyond

Basketball, Broadband, and, Beyond

September 30th, 2007 ·

As I watched the U.A.A.P. coverage between Ateneo vs. DLSU, in the games on TV’s Studio 23, I couldn’t help but think of the comparison of the two deals of ZTE and ‘the Joey’ one, both moving down to the wire and both ending in close fights. But unlike in the Basketball fight, the broadband […]

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A story I rote for a Guam based website that i think is what may from the sources I interviewed a likely outcome of the crisis in Burma.

Pacific News Center

Burma's narcotics labs produce a blended pill form of crystal methamphetamine – Yaba, Ecstasy, and other street terms - and continues to be a major source ...
. -##M:[more]##

Burma Crisis: Drug flood fears across region

PNC Special Report: Myanmar Crisis

The U.S. State Department released its International Narcotics report for 2008, which warns that the political problems in Burma are leaving drug production centers unchecked, and corruption problems in government mean that it has become Asia’s central distribution area for meth pills and production point for many criminal trafficking groups. Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. West Coast could feel the impact

“Burma’s military regime has not made the necessary efforts to curb production and has also been very lackluster in the areas of demand reduction,” Christy McCampbell , Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs told reporters at a briefing.
Worse, even prior to the crisis, there seemed to be little effort to stem the trade and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) believes this may indicate large scale participation of security forces in the protection of the production center, “We think these are important, interdiction that’s very important and combating corruption. ” McCampbell added.

CRISIS DEEPENING TENSION RISING

On the streets of what the military junta calls, Yangoon, Myanmar, there is fear. Last Thursday night, reports of arrests and deaths surfaced, as a crackdown began against over 100,000 people who had been filling the streets daily in protest. Led by Buddhist monks, the brave marched in over violent dispersals from an earlier smaller march. There is mass anger over fuel price increases that have hit the poor, and most Burmese, hard.

The marches in Yangoon were seeking a formal apology from the country’s military rulers, as earlier protests had been met by military force. It all started on August 15th when the Myanmar government raised the price of fuel by 500%, taking away subsidies that had kept life liveable for the poorest of the people once called Burmese.

“This sparked a series of peaceful demonstrations all over the country, beginning with demonstrations in Rangoon, now called Yangon, the former capital of the country. They have since spread to Pakokku and Mandalay in Northern Burma.” Free Foreign Policy center reported Thursday, “In Pakokku, Buddhist monks reportedly took army officers hostage for a few hours, then in Mandalay, where traditionally monks have been highly politicized and aware, the army has units surrounding the city in readiness for an inevitable clampdown.”

The US government and European Union have warned Myanmar’s military rulers to respect human rights, allow the will of the people and free elected leaders it has kept under house arrest for nearly two decades. Burma’s government had earlier been hit hard by the United States a week ago when it was named a major narcotics producer.

‘MAJOR’ NARCOTICS PRODUCING COUNTRY

Burma’s narcotics labs produce a blended pill form of crystal methamphetamine – Yaba, Ecstasy, and other street terms - and continues to be a major source of problems for the Asia Pacific region, so reports the U.S. DEA.

In the recent briefing held in Washington D.C., Burma’s drugs are trans-shipped though other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia, and onto Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). The State Department says it continues to be a threat to the people of Guam, Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States.

“Burma is the largest source of methamphetamine pills in Asia and pill production continues to grow.” McCampbell pointed to a marked shift in Burma from opium to ‘meth pills’ and ‘ice’ production, “The country’s declining poppy cultivation has been matched by a sharp increase in methamphetamine production.”

Burma was singled out in the report along with Venezuela, but the Burmese problem is more directly effecting Americans living in the Pacific Rim, with drug trafficking organizations believed using the American Pacific islands, Guam, the CNMI, and Hawaii as larger dollar earning markets for the products they make. Pill form methamphetamine, is often considered by drug enforcement agencies as the most deadly, often causing severe mental side effects and instant addiction. Burma’s continued failure to act on its growing role as a narcotics trade center will lead to the imposition of trade and economic penalties under U.S. law.

DEA Issues warning to Law Enforcement to expect more ‘Burma pills’

The DEA reports, “Methamphetamine tablets are produced primarily in Burma and usually contain a combination of powder methamphetamine and caffeine.” Description and types of pills seized over the years vary, “Methamphetamine tablets found in the United States typically are green or orange-red in color, imprinted with a variety of symbols, most commonly WY or R.

“The pills are approximately the size of a pencil eraser.” The use often varies. “Methamphetamine tablets typically are ingested orally and often are flavored and scented like candy grape, orange, or vanilla.” Tablets also are smoked by placing the tablet on a piece of aluminum foil and passing a heat source underneath the foil until the tablet melts and vapors - which are inhaled -are released.

Regional narcotics experts fear that with the Burmese military engaged in a crackdown on dissidents, there may be a rise in the smuggling operations of pill-based and more traditional opium deliveries along the ‘Golden Triangle’. - PNC International

Cell Phone Stuff i never knew..well sorta didn't know...

Emergency

THE CLAIM: The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.

THE FACTS: Calling 112 on your cell phone will (in some parts of the world, primarily Europe) connect you to local emergency services, even if you are outside your provider's service area (i.e., even if you are not authorized to relay signals through the cell tower that handles your call), and many cell phones allow the user to place 112 calls even if the phone lacks a SIM card or its keypad is locked. However, the 112 number does not have (as is sometimes claimed) special properties that enable callers to use it in areas where all cellular signals are blocked (or otherwise unavailable).


Have you locked your keys in the car?

THE CLAIM: Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday.

Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

THE FACTS: Cars with remote keyless entry (RKE) systems cannot be unlocked by relaying a key fob transmitter signal via a cellular telephone. RKE systems and cell phones utilize different types of signals and transmit them at different frequencies.


Hidden Battery Power

THE CLAIM: Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#

Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.


THE FACTS: The claim that pressing the sequence *3370# will unleash "hidden battery power" in a cell phone seems to be a misunderstanding of an option available on some brands of cell phone (such as Nokia) for Half Rate Codec, which provides about 30% more talk time on a battery charge at the expense of lower sound quality. However, this option is enabled by pressing the sequence *#4720# — the sequence *3370# actually enables Enhanced Full Rate Codec, which provides better sound quality at the expense of shorter battery life.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Speech at the Sixty-Second Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, 28 September 2007, New York

September 29th, 2007 · No Comments

The Philippines in the UN: 
Building Bridges in the 21st Century

Mr. President,

Congratulations on your election to the UN General Assembly. Congratulations also to our Secretary-General, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, who was such a good friend of the Philippines when he was Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. We embrace his vow to focus on strengthening the three pillars of the United Nations (development, security and human rights).

THE UN IS A PILLAR OF DEVELOPMENT.

It plays a major large role for the Philippines. Poverty alleviation is the most important part of our agenda and our vision to lift the Philippines into a modernized nation in twenty years. We want to be actively engaged in local, regional and global affairs because that is the future.

We believe in the power of the global trading system to alleviate poverty and modernize nations through market forces. That does not mean we believe that countries like the Philippines are ready to compete head-to-head today in every sector, but it does mean that we cannot afford to be afraid of globalization.

By being increasingly connected to the world, the Philippine economy has reached a new level of maturity and stability with some of the strongest macroeconomic fundamentals in 20 years.

Six years ago, no one thought we could get more revenues, cut down on tax cheats, strengthen the peso and move the stock market.

And no one thought we could bring our budget into balance, which we did last month, pre-pay our debts and raise employment, but we have. We must both grow our economy and sustain our natural environment at the same time. We are developing and promoting our Green Philippines agenda. It emphasizes a sustainable economic model that brings economic opportunity and a concern for our environment.

At the Secretary General’s High Level Meeting on Climate Change earlier this week, UN member nations focused on what the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol meetings in Bali this December should do.

The Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol has allowed developing countries like the Philippines to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through private sector initiatives. But there is a need to expand the carbon market and to expand international cooperation and financial support to promote strategies to adapt to climate change.

Too many nations, developed and developing, believe the environment must be sacrificed at the altar of growth.

We believe otherwise. We believe that we have a unique opportunity to get it right from day one: to introduce new industries that are clean and profitable. This includes a biofuels industry that helps our energy independence, creates jobs and keeps our nation clean for future generations.

We are further developing our geothermal power which is one of the two largest in the world.

We reiterate our commitment to the global trading system and when that fails us, to strengthening ASEAN, APEC and regional relations to bolster our economy.

The multilateral trading system, through the Doha Round, remains the best option to address poverty and improve standards of living around the world through an agreed set of international trade rules.

The Doha Development Agenda was launched with an emphasis on integrating a developmental dimension into all elements of the negotiations.

To make the Doha Round truly a Development Round, there must be greater coherence of policies among international development institutions (e.g. World Bank, IMF, UNDP and WTO) so that trade is mainstreamed in the development agenda and therefore capacity building can be focused on trade competitiveness.

As part of capacity-building, we call on the UN and our partners among developed nations to strengthen South-South cooperation wherein developing nations with specific strengths can share with other developing nations in need of their strength, funded by developed nations or multilaterals like the UNDP.

The developed nations were the prime movers behind global trade when it suited them; now some countries are slowing things down. That is not right nor good for our respective economies.

There has been a ray of hope with the developed countries declaring that they are willing to maximize flexibilities, in exchange for greater market access.

On the sidelines of the UN session, we hope the contending countries can continue consulting to find the right formula of subsidy cuts and market access that will break the Doha impasse.

But let me be clear: even as the Philippines works tirelessly to move the talks forward, we are not going to stand by and do nothing. For us, it is full speed ahead, preferably with Doha, but full speed nevertheless.

We recognize that if the multilateral trading system is fragmented into trading blocs, it will result in a more complex set of trade rules. That could be incompatible and detrimental to the interests of developing countries. In the meantime, while we are hoping for a successful conclusion to the Doha Round, we have to maximize the economic opportunities provided under bilateral and regional free trade agreements. This will complement efforts under the multilateral trading system.

At a time of uncertainty when the Doha Round is faltering, ASEAN took a bold step forward by drafting its Charter.

This is our first step to creating a permanent sense of security.

We are working towards a single market with free movement of goods, ideas and skilled talent.

In APEC, the world’s largest economy, the United States, and the world’s fastest growing economy, China, are active participants.

We have a strong alliance with the US, who remains our largest trading partner as well as our strongest strategic ally. We have stood shoulder to shoulder for many generations. We expect to continue building on our mature relationship with the US.

We have also forged a strong relationship with China. We see China’s rise as a significant opportunity for the Philippines. Our overall relations are now more confident and comprehensive.

Relations are not just about trade. They are also about people. And this includes migration, a world-side reality.

We thank the Secretary General for supporting the Philippines’ hosting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development next year, to which we invite all Member States to participate.

Overseas Filipino Workers are honored by the government and the people for their sacrifice and dedication to their work, their family and their nation. We welcome their contribution. But we are working towards the day when Filipinos no longer need to go abroad for a job, the day that overseas work is just another career option.

We believe that our ambitious economic reforms will increasingly be keeping our best and brightest right in the Philippines, closer to friends and families, helping to build our communities and provide the next generation of leadership.

THE UN IS A PILLAR OF SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

It remains the central pillar underpinning conflict resolution.

Our country is among the largest, if not the largest, contributor of police officers to UN peacekeeping missions.

The Philippines has peacekeepers, both police and military, in Afghanistan, Cote D’Ivoire, Georgia, Haiti , Kosovo , Liberia , Sudan and Timor Leste.

We will continue our participation to safeguard communities so that they may overcome conflict and regain the peace needed to pursue development.

Closer to home, I have personally advanced the process of peace in Muslim and Christian Mindanao to a new level of engagement, focused on interfaith dialogue, economic development and mutual security. We have done so with the largest possible international involvement, including the UN. Peace there is very much an issue of human rights, just as alleviating poverty is, which is our number one issue.

The Philippines is the most democratic country in our region. We have no tolerance for human rights violations at home or abroad.

We support the effort to revitalize and refocus the work of the UN in human rights. It is for this reason that the Philippines sought and won a seat in the Human Rights Council.

The attention of the international community has been drawn, with great reason and justification, to the current situation in Myanmar.

Ladies and gentlemen:

This is the time for Myanmar to return to the path of democracy and to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi – now – and to involve all the parties including the National League for Democracy in the democratization and the constitutional process.

IN CONCLUSION

Mr. President.

The number of globe-size issues we will face in the 21st century will require globe-size cooperation. We must build bridges of peace and prosperity. The place to start is building a stronger United Nations.

Tags: Pres. Arroyo · philippines

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo beams as she is introduced by former Georgetown Univ..classmate US President Bill Clinton (extreme left) at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Opening Plenary at the Sheraton New York Hotel (Benjamin Basug/OPS-NIB Photo)

These are exciting times for business and investors in the Philippines, with the country firmly on track to permanent economic growth and stability.

With this as the defining theme of her three-day investment mission here, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regaled top American leaders with the bright prospects of doing business in the Philippines.

“I believe the Philippines offers one of the best values in Asia for domestic and foreign investors,” the President told the US business executives during the Outsourcing Summit: Roadmap 2010 held at the Starlight Rooftop of Waldorf Astoria Towers Thursday evening (Sept. 27, New York time).

She pointed out that the Philippines is ranked as one of the most attractive off-shoring destinations in the world not only in terms of cost competitiveness, but more importantly the “country’s highly trainable, English-proficient management manpower.”

No less than the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its 2007 Global Sourcing Study cited the Philippines as the No. 2 “most preferred offshoring destination after India,” the President said.

The difference is that India has a billion population from which it draws its offshoring manpower compared to the Philippine population of 80 million, she added.

Now the fastest growing sector of the economy, the $3.6- billion business services industry has created 300,000 new jobs since 2000, the President said.

She pointed out that after years of sluggish if not negative growth, the Philippine economy has registered some of the strongest macroeconomic fundamentals in two decades.

“Six years ago, no one thought we could get more revenues, cut down on tax cheats, strengthen the peso and move the stock market. And no one thought we could bring our budget into balance, which we did last month, lower our debts and raise employment, but we have,” the President said.

She said that the heavy investment inflow into the Philippines has been anchored by the billion dollar plus investments by several major international corporations, among them Texas Instruments, Hanjin of South Korea, Marubeni and Tokyo Electric of Japan and AES of the US.

The upsurge of investments is taking place across a broad spectrum of the economy and her administration is working to ensure that the inflows will be sustained, she added.

“We are committed to consolidating the gains in the new revenue by making long overdue investments in human and physical infrastructure” by pouring billions of pesos into education, healthcare, skills training, new roads, bridges and ports to further raise the level of competitiveness of the Philippines, the President said.

She urged those who have invested in the Philippines to “continue to do so. And to those of you who are just getting to know the Philippines, we urge you to come and explore all that the country has to offer you and your business.”

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Philippine Government statement on Myanmar

September 27th, 2007 · No Comments

Philippine President Arroyo who is with other world leaders in New York attending the annual general assembly meeting has come out with what is one of the few statements by leaders in ASEAN versus the repression in Myanmar.

Most ASEAN leaders - like in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam are borderline countries on human rights issues. By and large while there are problems too here in the Philippines with active insurgencies and some cases of violations.

Most if not all cases that make it the courts do go through the legal process - and - widespread crackdowns like the current one in Rangoon are rare. However, Burma’s rulers often do as the rulers of any dictatorship do and do not pay heed to their own people let alone really listen intently to other leaders in the region.

Privately Philippine officials in Manila speaking on ‘Conditions of Anonymity’ say “China is the key here - and - China can stop the violence in Burma and should. So far its diplomats have been trying, one wonders how long Beijing will cover for the Yangoon Junta which of late has caused a lot of embarrassment and problems for the leaders Beijing.”

[]..Philippine President Arroyo: We call on Myanmar to act in its own best interests to avoid its further isolation and to redeem its democracy without any further delay. We have patiently but persistently advised Myanmar within ASEAN that it must make greater and faster progress toward that goal.
Recent events in Myanmar, therefore, are of concern to the Philippines and to the region as a whole. The Philippines asks the Government of Myanmar to act with the utmost restraint and to take immediate steps to preserve what advances have been made in its roadmap to democracy. Specifically, we ask the Government of Myanmar to now allow all interested parties to take full part in the effort to national reconciliation through peaceful and inclusive dialogue.
This means the release of all those who have been detained and who can contribute to the process of national renewal, including Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. In addition, we ask that the Government of Myanmar invite the UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, to visit the country as soon as possible. …[]

PGMA urges Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi, Buddhist monks

NEW YORK (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday (Sept. 27, New York time) urged the government of Myanmar to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and scores of Buddhist monks who have been rounded up for staging protests against the country’s military rulers. In a statement that she distributed personally to members of the Philippine media at the Waldorf Astoria Towers where she is billeted during her three-day official trip here, the President said freeing Suu Kyi from years of house arrest serves Myanmar’s own best interests and avoid further isolation of the country from the rest of the world’s democracies. Myanmar is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) along with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. “Recent events in Myanmar, therefore, are of concern to the Philippines and to the region as a whole,” the President said, and called on Yangon to act with “utmost restraint and to make immediate steps to preserve what advances have been made in its roadmap to democracy.” She said it was important that all stakeholders engage in a common search for a peaceful resolution of the current unrest in the country and bring about national reconciliations.. “This means,” she added, the “release of all those who have been detained and who can contribute to the process of national renewal, including Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi.” She also called on Rangoon’s military leaders to invite United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari to visit that country as soon as possible to look into the situation there. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was democratically elected prime minister of Myanmar in 1990 but the military refused to hand over power to her winning National League for Democracy Party. Suu Kyi has been under house address since 1989. The President will address the UN General Assembly before noon Friday (New York time) as she winds up her official visit to the Big Apple. She is scheduled to head back to Manila Friday afternoon, (New York time).

→ No CommentsTags: Uncategorized

Crackdown Burma: “Bullets versus Buddhist’s”

September 27th, 2007 · No Comments

A stronger presence of troops were on the streets of Rangoon overnight.

Thursdays protests has led the Myanmar Military to impose stircter means to keep control and is trying to prevent more events Friday from occurring.

[] Protesters emptied the streets of the capital around 1800 Thursday. Security forces are working systematically, block by block, alley by ally in some cases house to house through the city center to ensure that no demonstrators remain….[]

Myanmar’s government is stepping up it’s effort to disrupt internal and external communication services.

Whle Satellite phone remain the most reliable method of communication, unless diplomats or investors clearly working on government projects there have been some reports of Sat-phones seized.

The evening curfew remains in place a 1800-0600hrs or dusk to dawn curfew.

Here’s what the major embassies are reporting:

[].. Travel Advisories:.

1.The US government issued a travel advisory recommending its citizens to defer non-essential travel to Myanmar.

2. The UK government also advises against all but essential travel to Myanmar.

3. There are no current indications that airlines have added flights to Yangon to prepare for a large scale evacuation of foreigners.

4. Thai Airways has rescheduled two flights on the Bangkok-Yangon route between 27 September and 5 October to ensure passengers are able to observe the curfew …[]

Observers say “the protests are likely to continue and could turn increasingly violent, as across the country - large numbers of monks and supporters are mobilizing to protest and while the military responds more vigorously to contain the demonstrations.

Other groups such as insurgents may take advantage of the situation in the countryside.

Also criminal elements may take advantage of the situation in particular the use of current unrest to smuggle more narcotics out of Burma.

In the Cities itself, the risk of an extended confrontation over coming days and possibly weeks is high. The details so far from Thursday are grim.

[] Protesters have sustained injuries, many of them wounded by gunfire.[]

On the Government as well the injuries are reportedly rising as protesters are trying to defend themselves.

[]… Approximately 31 members of the security forces were reportedly injured. Figures on casualties are likely to rise in the next 48 hours. []

Travelers and those already in Burma should be aware of some reports of arrests over curfew violations as conflicting schedules of curfew have been issued for the countryside areas and in the Cities.

[]… Conflicting reports on the curfew hours imposed on Yangon and Mandalay; the curfew is either 2100-0500 or 1800-0600….[]

→ No CommentsTags: Burma crackdown · Myanmar · Burma · mike

‘Burma Crackdown’: 9 confirmed dead

September 27th, 2007 · No Comments

Reports continue to show increased violence in Burma/Myanmar. The center of reports are coming from Yangoon/Rangoon which has so far seen nine confirmed dead with more reports coming from sources elsewhere of increasing violence and escalation in death toll.

At least one foreign journalist has been killed deliberately targeted by troops who have been trying to find anyone with a camera or device to record the events taking place on the streets of Rangoon.

[] Eight protesters and a Japanese journalist were killed during protests at several locations in Yangon.Demonstrations have continued throughout the afternoon, Thursday, there is a noticeable increase in military forces and barricades around key locations.[]

The picture on the streets is not pretty, aid agency workers there to help the Burmese people are also reportedly being advised to leave Burma for fear of reprisals from gangs of thugs who have been let loose in a bid to stem protests. most visible are military efforts to get anyone trying to voice their dissatisfaction with the Government in Burma/Myanmaar.

[] Troops continue to surround monasteries and detain monks suspected of involvement in protest activity.The heavy-handed military action has provoked an angry public reaction, which is likely to build-up over next few days. []

Much like yesterday the reports show decline in actual people in the streets but overall there seems to be more open vocal resentment given in many places to tourists, visitors, and international agency workers in the region.

[] Most estimate the number of protesters in the range of 10,000 with more smaller groups being blocked from forming through arrest and intimidation. []

Religious and Aid organizations say there is little attempt by the Military to hide their actions.

No group of people are safe in areas of protest from reprisal and even the few tourists remaining,

There have been eyewitness and first hand accounts in many areas also of people being openly targeted thier belongings searched and any cameras seized.

[].. Military units are targeting and harassing westerners seen near areas of protests. Even diplomatic staff of international agencies. There is a large number of what seem to be ‘battle hardened’ troops in areas not traditionally where these units are deployed. ..[]

For the third day in a row the ‘hot spots’ in Yangoon/Rangoon are:

1. Shwedagon and Sule Pagodas

2. Main roads connecting these two locations

3. checkpoints

4. Mandalay

SITUATION REPORT:

1. Military using cs gas (teargas) and fired warning shots to disperse protesters. At same time sending in thugs to beat or harass those fleeing teargas.

2. Over 100 monks were reportedly arrested in protest areas or nearby Thursday.

3. During two separate incidents, soldiers reportedly fired automatic weapons into crowds.

4. Military threatening protesters with “extreme action” given a failure to disperse.

FRANCE24-EN-EXCLUSIVE-Birman Officer
01:14

PNC Special Report: Myanmar Crisis Could Mean 'Burma Drug Flood' On Guam
Mike Cohen, PNC Correspondent 27.SEP.07
11:58 a.m. The U.S. State Department released its International Narcotics report for 2008, which warns that the political problems in Burma are leaving drug production centers unchecked, and corruption problems in government mean that it has become Asia's central distribution area for meth pills and production point for many criminal trafficking groups. Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. West Coast could feel the impact [more]

Global Corruption Survey

September 26th, 2007 · No Comments

Global Corruption Survey Results
9:39 a.m. Transparency International, the global international anti-corruption ‘watchdog,’ released its latest findings today in Germany. “The 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index looks at perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories - the greatest country coverage of any CPI to date – and is a composite index that draws on 14 expert opinion surveys.” [more]

→ No CommentsTags: Uncategorized

SOS International report on Vietnam bridge collapse

Global Terrorism: Attacks increase 25% - 20,498 killed in 2006

In a report by the US Department of State to the US congress has revealed that terrorism has increased over 25% year on year and fatalities have increased by forty per cent.

The figures put into perspective the figures and deaths that while often inder reproted in media there i a major conflict on at World War Level that many in media often chose to ignore. Some 74,543 civilians were targeted.

[]”… In the annual report to Congress includes analysis from the National Counterterrorism Center, a U.S. intelligence clearinghouse, which found only a slight increase in the overall number of civilians killed, injured or kidnapped by terrorists in 2006. But the attacks were more frequent and deadlier, with a 25 percent jump in the number of terrorist attacks and a 40 percent increase in civilian fatalities from the previous year.

In 2006, NCTC reported, there were a total of 14,338 terrorist attacks around the world. These attacks targeted 74,543 civilians and resulted in 20,498 deaths. …”[]

Iraq: Center of global terrorism action

The report clearly shows that the center of the attacks is Iraq: ” Violence in Iraq accounted for 45 percent of the overall attacks counted by NCTC and 65 percent of worldwide terrorism deaths. Terrorist incidents in Iraq nearly doubled from 3,468 in 2005 to 6,630 in 2006. “

It went on further to say : “Although kidnappings declined by 50 percent internationally, Iraq experienced a 300 percent increase, according to NCTC.” an indication as shown by experience here in the Philippines that KFR and terrorism are linked. Kidnapping for Ransom is often used by terror groups and in some cases insurgents as means to both ensure community ‘cooperation’ and also a means to raise revenue.

The Philippines: ” the ‘Success’ story in war vs. terror’

The 2006 US State Department global report on counter terrorism praises the country citing “‘the Philippines” as among others in the region who are, ” playing leading roles in confronting threats from groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf.”

[] ” Philippines
The Philippines, one of the earliest supporters of the War on Terror, continued its bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism efforts. In August, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched “Operation Ultimatum”, a concerted effort to capture or kill the top Jemaah Islamiya (JI) and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) operatives on Jolo Island in the South. The operation has been highly successful to date as a number of ASG and JI members have been captured or killed since its inception. Philippine forces recently eliminated both Khadaffy Janjalani, the nominal leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group, and ASG spokesperson, Abu Solaiman. Operation Ultimatum is one feature of a U.S.- assisted strategy to strengthen the rule of law in the Sulu archipelago. Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises know as “Balikatan” supported the Philippine government’s campaign to separate terrorists from the general population and diminish support for their cause. The Antiterrorism Task Force arrested, captured, or killed 88 suspected terrorists, and seized over 900 kilograms of explosive materials. Philippine authorities also made some progress in tracking, blocking, and seizing terrorists’ assets.

Despite some successes, major evidentiary and procedural obstacles in the Philippines continued to hinder the building of effective terrorism cases. A large and growing case backlog and the absence of consistent trials against terrorists were impediments to the prosecution of suspected terrorists. Despite plans dating back to 2001, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had yet to introduce a digitized, machine-readable passport. While the Philippines cooperated with U.S. requests for prosecutions for persons who had tampered or altered travel documents, the prosecutions carried low-level penalties for those convicted of such fraud. In addition, there was a reluctance to investigate or charge vendors or users of false documents. Under current Philippine law, the suspect must present the fraudulent document to a Philippine government authority in order for a crime to have been committed. At year’s end, a counterterrorism bill approved in April by the House of Representatives remained in the Senate.

The Philippines experienced 93 bombings, ranging from improvised explosive devices and grenades to landmines, including:

• In February, the bombing of a karaoke bar located near a Philippine military base in Jolo left one dead and 22 injured.
• In March, a bomb exploded at the Sulu Consumers Cooperative in Jolo killing nine people and injuring 20.
• In June, a roadside bombing in Shariff Aguak killed three people and injured eight.
• In August, two bombs exploded almost simultaneously in Kidapawan City injuring three people.
• In September, a bomb exploded at a public market in General Santos City killing two people and injuring six.
• In October, a bomb exploded near the headquarters of the Sulu Philippine National Police in Jolo injuring two persons.
• In a separate October attack, three bombs exploded in Tacurong, Sultan Kudurat; Makilala, North Cotabato; and Cotabato City killing eight people and injuring over 30.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) was empowered by the Philippines Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 (AMLA), as amended in 2003, to investigate and prosecute money laundering. The AMLC is the lead agency responsible for implementing the asset freeze measures called for by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. Under current law, however, the AMLC cannot take direct action against suspected terrorists or those supporting terrorism, but must apply for a court order to inquire into bank accounts and direct the freezing of assets and transactions. The AMLC sometimes needed several months to issue the relevant resolution to the Court of Appeals after receiving information about a newly-listed terrorist entity and circulating it to the financial institutions. The AMLC has 91 cases pending in various stages with the courts, including 34 for money laundering, 24 for civil forfeiture, and the rest pertaining to freeze orders and bank inquiries. The slow judicial process hindered efforts by the AMLC to see these cases through to conclusion; a trial can take up to seven years to complete. In April, a bilateral U.S.-Philippines Security Engagement Board (SEB) was inaugurated to address non-traditional security issues, including counterterrorism and maritime security. The SEB set the stage for the “Kapid Bisig” (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) counterterrorism framework that focused on civil affairs, capability upgrades, and support for AFP operations. The United States assisted the Philippines in establishing an interagency intelligence fusion center in Zamboanga City to support both maritime interdictions against transnational criminal/terrorist organizations, and the “coast watch” system in Mindanao, established with Australian assistance. ” []

AFGHANISTAN & South Asia attacks up:

The report also found a 50 percent increase in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, from 491 incidents in 2005 to 749 in 2006. To defeat the resurgent threat, the report urges the international community deliver promised assistance and continue working with Afghans to build counterinsurgency capabilities, ensure legitimate and effective governance and counter a surge in narcotics cultivation.

” NCTC reported that the majority of terrorist attacks remain centered in the Middle East and South Asia, but noted that overall attacks in South Asia declined by 10 percent. ” so says the State department press release.

Child victims of attacks increase 80% increase in casualties:

Children were increasingly the victims of terrorism in 2006, with 1,800 killed or injured in attacks, an 80 percent increase from the previous year. As in 2005, government officials, teachers and journalists remain the leading professionals targeted by terrorists, according to the report.

VENEZUELA: Hugo Chavez: possible state Sponsor?

The report also claims that Venezuela’s leader may be seen as major figure in state sponsored terrorism soon, ” President Hugo Chavez has strengthened ties with Cuba and Iran and has allowed terrorist groups and drug traffickers from neighboring Colombia to cross its borders. ” says US State Department in its press release.

However looking over the report at length it did cite the cooperation of Venezuelan police in protecting the US Embassy. ” An individual claiming to be a member of an Islamic extremist group in Venezuela placed two pipe bombs outside the American Embassy in Caracas on October 23.” But went on to say, ” Venezuelan police safely disposed of the two pipe bombs and immediately made one arrest.”

The report also cited that. “The investigation by Venezuelan authorities resulted in the additional arrest of the alleged ideological leader of the group. At year’s end, both suspects remained in jail and prosecutors were pressing terrorism charges against them.” yet in other areas of ideological conflict Venezuela still supports or so the US State Department report says - Narco Terrorism and leftist rebel groups who have engaged in terror attacks versus Americans and American companies.

[] “… President Hugo Chavez persisted in public criticism of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, deepened Venezuelan relationships with Iran and Cuba, and was unwilling to prevent Venezuelan territory from being used as a safe haven by the FARC and ELN, effectively flouting UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1540, which form part of the legal basis of international counterterrorism efforts.

Chavez’ ideological sympathy for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) limited Venezuelan cooperation with Colombia in combating terrorism. FARC and ELN units often crossed into Venezuelan territory to rest and regroup with relative impunity. Splinter groups of the FARC and another designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, the United Self- Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), operated in various parts of Venezuela and were involved in narcotrafficking.

It remained unclear to what extent the Venezuelan government provided material support to Colombian terrorists. However, limited amounts of weapons and ammunition — some from official Venezuelan stocks and facilities — have turned up in the hands of Colombian terrorist organizations. The Venezuelan government did not systematically police the 1,400-mile Venezuelan-Colombian border to prevent the movement of groups of armed terrorists or to interdict arms or the flow of narcotics.”[]

The full text of Country Reports on Terrorism 2006 is available on the State Department Web site.

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