Jul 13 2007
The Human Security Act of 2007
GUESTS: Crispin Beltran, Filipino Congressperson and labor leader; Kuusela Hilo, a member of Anakbayan – Los Angeles, and Deputy Secretary General of Bayan – USA; Pia Rivera, member of Anakbayan Seattle and Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue
This weekend, the Government of the Philippines will enact the so-called “Human Security Act of 2007.” The legislation, which officially attempts to increase security using tough measures against domestic terrorism, will grant newer and broader authorities to state and police forces. Despite President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s insistence that the Human Security Act will be implemented with full respect for civil liberties, human rights activists are very worried. Critics of the legislation point to its broad and vague definition of a terrorist crime. Under the act, eleven crimes are listed as terrorism so long as they attempt to create “a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace in order to coerce the government to give into an unlawful demand.” The definition fails to include crimes of state terrorism, which worries human rights activists as they see the law’s implementation within a context of hundreds of extrajudicial murders and disappearances in the past six years. Finally, under the Human Security Act, a person punished for terrorism crimes will serve a mandated prison term of forty years without the possibility of parole.
There will be an action on Monday July 23rd at 5 pm in front of the Philippines Consulate in Los Angeles to protest the Human Security Act. The Consulate is located at 3600 Wilshire Blvd. For more information, visit www.bayanusa.org, or www.myspace.com/bayan_usa.
5 Responses to “The Human Security Act of 2007”
Dear Uprising,
First we thank you for featuring the Philippines.
On the other hand, I think it was a wrong analogy for Ms. Hilo of BAYAN-USA to compare the HSA in the Philippines as a combination of HR 4437 and the Patriot Act.
First, HR 4437 that seeks to criminalize immigrants and their advocates was soundly rejected by the people. And then, the HR 4437 was discarded by the U.S Senate.
It is in a bad taste to compare the HSA with HR 4437 because the HSA is wider in scope and target the whole Filipino people. HR 4437 targets the specific population- the illegal immigrants and their advocates.
Meanwhile the PATRIOT Act was poorly copied by the Philippine government.
Thus to say that HSA was worse because if you combined the HR 4437 and the PATRIOT Act is very much a poor analogy and misses the point. ms. Hilo should review her presentation and if se learned it from her bosses, must analyze what she is saying.
To represent BAYAN Philippines and as it’s chapter is an honor but to say things just coming from your ehad is talking yourselves off your head and dishonor BAYAN’s good name.
We hope that she made it better next time.
I also hoped that they should have given Ka. Bel more time to speak more about the Philippines.
good afternoon,i am not commenting on that issue bacause i’m becoming bias with my study,im a college student from bicol university who is taking the thesis proposal entitled:awareness of the students about the human security act of 2007,pls. do help me with mt study to gather informations about the issue.
guess what? we do have the same thesis title ” awareness of ab political science students on human security act of 2007″,. Im a 4th year graduating students from WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY… PLEASE HELP US WITH OUR THESIS…GOD. BLESS
good morning, i am a student of mater salutis college seminary and i want some information and commentaries regarding human security act of 2007 because that will be use in thesis entitled, “an interplay of hobbesian sovereign in the context of leviathan and the human security act of 2007 executed by the president of the philippines. pls send your infos regarding my topic. here’s my add: tyron_sem19@yahoo.com
tnx and more power.
Good evening, I want some informations about the importance of the government of Philippines… Kindly send me some informations about it… (ASAP) if it’s alright…
Thank you very much and more power.