MARIE HILAO-ENRIQUEZ

FILIPINO HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER TOURING NZ

OCTOBER 2004

THE PHILIPPINES IN THE FIRING LINE

AMERICA’S "SECOND FRONT IN THE ‘WAR ON TERROR’"AND THE IMPACT ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Marie Hilao-Enriquez is the head of Karapatan, one of the biggest and best known human rights groups in the Philippines, and also of Selda, the organisation of former political prisoners from the 1970s and 80s martial law dictatorship of the late Ferdinand Marcos. Marie herself was a Marcos prisoner and her family suffered badly (one sister was murdered by the military, another two siblings were imprisoned). Marie has been a leading figure in the Philippine human rights movement for the past 30 years. She travels the world on its behalf. Most recently, she has done a speaking tour of the US and Canada; addressed the UN Committee on Human Rights; and is an official observer at the Oslo peace talks between the Philippine Government and the Communist-led National Democratic Front (there has been a civil war for 35 years). Marie’s CV is available upon request or can be read online at www.converge.org.nz/psna (click on Activities, then on CV).

The Bush Administration is running amok and using war as its first response in any situation it doesn’t like. In the early 1990s, a massive people’s movement ended nearly a century of US military bases in the Philippines. But Bush and his allies in the Philippines are using the "War On Terror" and the decades-old armed struggle being waged by Muslim separatists in the south as a pretext to get back in. Human rights have been trampled on. Marie Hilao-Enriquez’s tour presents an exciting opportunity to hear first hand from a leading Majority World human rights activist.

Donations are welcome, to help with costs. Please make cheques to PSNA, with a note saying that it is for the Hilao-Enriquez Tour.

Or you can make a donation directly into our bank account. If you do so, record it as a donation for the Hilao-Enriquez Tour and include your name. Send us an e-mail to tell us and let us know your name and address. Our account details:

Philippines Solidarity Network, Kiwibank, 155 The Terrace, Wellington.

Account number 389000 0792619 00

ITINERARY

Monday October 4 – Dunedin. Contact: Maureen Howard, ph (03) 4778502 (w); fax (03) 4778958 (w); e-mail: metiria@southnet.co.nz

Tuesday 5 – Christchurch. Contact: Murray Horton, ph/fax (03) 3663988 (day/night); e-mail: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

Wednesday 6 – Nelson. Contact: Anne FitzSimon, ph (03) 5390527; mobile 021 1123890; e-mail: anne.f@clear.net.nz

Thursday 7 & Friday 8 – Wellington. Contact: Lisa Beech, ph (04) 4961765 (w); fax (04) 4962519 (w); home phone (04) 5646637; e-mail: lisa@caritas.org.nz

Monday 11 – Palmerston North. Contact: Dion Martin, ph (06) 3569658 (w); fax (06) 3591333 (w); e-mail: dmartin@nduunion.org.nz

Tuesday 12 & Wednesday 13 – Auckland. Contact: Luke Coxon; ph (09) 8276059; mobile 027 2487005; e-mail: luke.coxon@finsec.org.nz

Thursday 14 – Whangarei. Contact: Tim Howard, ph (09) 4346633 (h); (09) 4307464 (w); e-mail: the-farm@ihug.co.nz

Friday 15 – Auckland, end of tour.

We thank the many organisations and individuals whose generosity has made this tour possible. Our budget is $5,000 and money is still needed. Please make cheques to PSNA, with a note saying that it is for the Hilao-Enriquez Tour. Or you can donate directly to our bank account (see above for account details).

PSNA Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa Box 2450, Christchurch, New Zealand cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/psna

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