More than 20 Filipino American journalists attended the Philippine Consulate General’s “Pulong Bayan sa Konsulado” on Human Rights in the Philippines with deputy director General of the PNP, General Avelino Razon last Monday, March 26 at 3600 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles. But prominently absent were representatives from different Southern California Filipino American progressive organizations like the Alliance Philippines (AJLPP), Gabriela and other organizations who were also invited but who boycotted the affair.
Progressive FilAm Organizations in Los Angeles Snubbed the March 26 PNP-AFP “Pulong Bayan sa Konsulado” in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles—More than 20 Filipino American journalists attended the Philippine Consulate General’s “Pulong Bayan sa Konsulado” on Human Rights in the Philippines with deputy director General of the PNP, General Avelino Razon last Monday, March 26 at 3600 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles.
But prominently absent were representatives from different Southern California Filipino American progressive organizations like the Alliance Philippines (AJLPP), Gabriela and other organizations who were also invited but who boycotted the affair.
General Avelino Razon, formerly the Task Force USIG head that was assigned to look for the “political killings” and was sent to the United States to do some “damage control”, pointed out to the boycott of the “pulong bayan” as “disinterest of progressive organizations to a dialogue about the human rights situation in the Philippines.”
He likewise pointed out progressive organizations in the Philippines and “alleged victims family also refused to cooperate with the authorities and with the Melo Commission on their fact finding mission.”
On the other hand, Pesante-USA, a human rights advocacy group in Los Angeles explained in statement that: “ We did not come to the consulate just to listen to recycled propagandas of General Razon and his civil-relations group.”
“ We found out through our media contacts that attended the pulong bayan that Razon again stated that human rights victims comrades killed them or were killing them. That of the 840 reported victims only 200 were actual human rights violations and only seven are valid cases according to TF Usig. Such are big lies!” Pesante –USA exclaimed.
The US Senate Committee Chair Senator Barbara Boxer rebuffed Razon and his group during the March 14 hearing. They have been going around the Filipino American community to present the government side on the issues that gave the Philippine government a big black eye among the American public and the world community.
For more information contact Pesante@(213)241-0906 or email@magsasakapil@hotmail.com
Original: Progressive FilAm Organizations in Los Angeles Snubbed the March 26 PNP-AFP “Pulong Bayan