Philippines Declares State of Emergency in Mindanao, habeas corpus suspended

The government of the Philippines has declared a state of emergency in parts of the south after a massacre of at least 46 people, including 12 journalists. Press freedom groups have condemned the attack as the worst in history and express skepticism that those responsible will be brought to justice.
As more bodies were uncovered from [...]

Philippines signs anti-torture law

President Gloria Arroyo has signed the anti-torture act of 2009 that prohibits the use of solitary confinement as well as secret detention places, blindfolding of suspects, and the use of electric shock treatment during interrogation.
The law, also known as Republic Act 9745, defines torture as an act wherein severe pain or suffering is intentionally inflicted [...]

HRW: Stop Hampering Death Squads Investigation

Courts in Davao City and Manila should cooperate fully with investigations into death squad killings, in line with recent recommendations by a UN body, instead of undermining efforts to bring killers to justice, Human Rights Watch said.Judges have delayed judicial proceedings and denied search warrants, while those leading the investigation have been required to respond [...]

Annual Report of the UN Committee against Torture – Terrorism related issues

Read the 380 pages report here.
Consideration of reports submitted by state parties under article 19 CAT.
On China
p.27: The Committee appreciates the information on the importance given by the State party to anti-terrorist work and the information on their attempts to strengthen anti-terrorism legislation and other relevant measures, including international cooperation against terrorism. Notwithstanding this information, [...]

Bombings in the Philippines jeopardize peace talks

At least six people were killed and dozens injured Tuesday in two separate bomb blasts in the southern Philippines. There have now been three attacks in as many days in a region where Muslim separatist groups are actively pursuing an independent Islamic homeland and Abu Sayyaf, a militant outfit with ties to Al Qaeda, is [...]

Philippines seizes rebel bases

Fighting across oil and gas-rich marshlands in the southern Philippines has escalated with members of the country’s largest Muslim rebel group reinforcing rogue guerrillas, an army field commander said on Monday.Soldiers have captured at least eight Muslim rebel bases in south, seizing a cache of weapons and explosives and killing nearly 100 guerrillas in 10 [...]

U.S.-Philippines partnership as a model for fighting terrorism elsewhere?

According to the LA Times, the U.S. has kept a low profile in the fight against militant group Abu Sayyaf, easing public acceptance of the campaign.
Pakistan has been reluctant to allow more than 70 American trainers into the country, worried about public reaction to a substantive U.S. troop presence. But the low profile and public [...]

New reports on Yemen and South East Asia

ICG has a new report which focuses on the conflict in the North between the Huthis and the government forces.
With only some exceptions, the international community has not recognised the Saada conflict’s destabilising potential or pressured the government to shift course. That is partly related to the West’s single-minded focus on Yemen’s struggle with al-Qaeda [...]

UN Committee against Torture finds human rights flaws in Phlippines anti-terrorism law

On 14 May, the UN Committee against Torture released its Concluding Observations on the second periodic report of the Philippines in which it expressed its concern at numerous provisions of the Human Security Act.
13. The Committee recognizes the difficult situation arising from the internal armed conflict in the Philippines and that the State party is [...]

Statement of Philippine’s chairman of the Anti-Terrorism Council

BusinessWorld (Philippines), 14 May 2009: Speaking on the PROTECT 2009 conference Mr. Ermita, chairman of the Anti-Terrorism Council under the Office of the President, said,
“We moved aggressively to challenge the Abu Sayyaf Group and have met successes, cutting their numbers significantly. We neutralized several of its key leaders [...]