The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported today that Col. Januario Caringal, former deputy commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, is in a critical condition after falling ill while in detention at Fort San Felipe in Cavite City.
Marine Spokesman Ariel Caculitan said Caringal was rushed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (former V. Luna Hospital ) in Quezon City on Nov. 3 and transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit on Nov. 6. Doctors found him to be suffering from acute hepatitis B and hypertension.
Caringal with five other marine officers namely Col. Ariel Querubin, Col. Orlando de Leon, Lt. Col. Armando Bañez ,Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon, and Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian were transferred to Fort San Felipe from the Marine Custodial Center in Fort Bonifacio past midnight of Oct. 29 upon orders of AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon who cited intelligence reports of a plan to spring Querubin from prison.
Querubin and Parcon are medal of valor awardees.
The six officers are being implicated for their alleged participation in the aborted withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo’s fake presidency last February together with Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who is being detained in Tanay, Rizal under harsher conditions.
Other Marine officers implicated in the same case and are in detention in Fort Bonifacio are Gen. Renato Miranda, Lt. Col. Martin Villasan, Lt. Col. Rey Ocsan, Lt. Col. Valentin Hizon, Lt. Col. Romeo Gualdrapa, Major Domingo Fernandez, and Lt. Belinda Ferrer.
No charges has yet been filed against them. Preliminary hearing Nov. 13, Nov, 20 and Nov. 27 at the third floor Multi-purpose building of the Department of Justice at 10 in the morning.
A source who had been to Fort San Felipe said even while they are still being investigated, the officers have been stripped of their rights. He said, “monitoring devides were placed at the main entrance of Magdalo building facing the gate and at the end of the building looking at the back. The officers are not allowed cellphone and internet.Use of the military line which is bugged is prohibited.”
We just don’t know what’s happening to these jailed officers. They might be experiencing extreme physical and psychological tortures under the hands of GMA’s military. Human Rights Commission and other groups must now check and monitor the conditions of these men whose safety and lives could be in great risk.
E-mail from a marine officer:
ang ginagawa ni asoperon ay isang maliwanag na pagpapakita ng karuwagan sa kanyang mga pananagutan kung saan ang lahat nang dapat niyang sagutin ay ipinapasa sa mga opisyal na higit ang karangalan kaysa kanya. sa takot niyang magkaroon ng mas malalim na pagkalkal sa kanyang mga pang-aabuso, pagiging kasangkapan ng ganid sa malakanyang sa panloloko sa taong bayan at kawalang kakayahan upang maging isang huwarang pinuno, ayaw niyang bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga sinasabing “mga akusado” sa pagtatangkang patalsikin ang pekeng presidente upang maipagtanggol ang kanilang panig. isang maliwanag na paglabag sa karapatang pantao at pag-abuso sa tungkulin bilang CSAFP.
How poignant the title of the letter of the marine to you, Ellen. Nakakaawa! Sobrang demoralized sila. Point is, kelan sila lalaban.
Bagay, mahirap gawin iyong ginagawa ng mga Venezuelan to save Hugo. Iisa ang mga mahirap. Walang bumalimbing kasi kilala nila si Hugo. Kaya nakabalik despite the US-backed middle class. Ganyan sana sa Pilipinas!
Who was that marine who cried for help in February? Covered namin dito ang kaguluhan na iyon, and I was hoping marami ang pupunta doon para matuloy na. Si Cory and her barkada lang ang nakita ko. Natakot iyong mga tao na pumunta nang makita ang mga checkpoints. Sabi ko duwag din pala. Puro dada lang! Magdamag ako sa TV studio watching how that incident would end. Walang nangyari. Nanlumo ako!
Tawa ng tawa ang mga kasama kong hapon at nagtataka kung bakit gusto kong matanggal si Bansot. Hindi kasi nila alam na galing ako sa Pilipinas. Akala nila purong hapon din ako!
Tama si Anna, nakakabuwisit ang mga duwag!
Moral of the above story: Mahirap talaga ang mandaya. Apektado lahat hindi man maramdaman ng gumagawa. Honesty, after all, is the best policy.
While we celebrate Remembrance Day today for the sacrifices of men and uniform who fought bravely against oppressors, our military leadership see it fitting to punish Philippine officers like Brig General Lim and Colonel Ariel Querubin who have devoted their lives to keep the nation intact for standing up to the oppressors of their own people.
Extraordinary mentality. Esperon should be shot for treason!
After re-reading the above article, I felt extreme anger for what these administrations, especially the bogus one, have done to destroy the spirits of these men in uniform who are worthy of being called heroes. On the other hand, I cannot help admiring these men who, no doubt, would still be standing there to defend their country, right or wrong. It is just too bad that they are being eliminated one by one, and what are left are the spoils, or better, the spoiled and the rotten lot.
Do majority of Filipinos see this? Why then are they not moving to remove the cheat and liar from the palace by the murky river? Are they waiting for nature to do it in the manner of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption that buried the US bases with volcanic because the Filipinos could not make up their minds as to what to do with them despite the then just approved rule against foreign bases in the Philippines?
I bet you the heroes in incarceration are praying for deliverance, but how is the big question!
How about praying for the typhoon to weaken the roof of the building where the Bansot and her husband would be present? Maybe, that will help? Wishful thinking?! Can’t help it! 😛
when the military cannot save the people its time for the people to save the military.
Good point! Re: “Moreover, records bear that Col. Martir left the country on five separate occasions, in 1994, in 1997, in 1998, in 2002 and in 2003, all without the necessary travel orders required by law for Military Personnel and in violation of the Articles of War (A.W. 62). He was able to deceive the authorities Moreover, records bear that Col. Martir left the country on five separate occasions, in 1994, in 1997, in 1998, in 2002 and in 2003, all without the necessary travel orders required by law for Military Personnel and in violation of the Articles of War (A.W. 62). He was able to deceive the authorities by not declaring himself as a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines .
This is NOT new! This has been going on for more than a decade.
For starters, check the travel records of current Counter-Intel service chief (promoted to the post by Gloria prior to the retirement of CSAFP General Abu) and you will find that he’s gone going on leave without authorization the last 10 years… Favorite stop: California!
Many officers have also been visited various capitals in Europe and Asia as guests of European companies or their branches in the Far East and South Asia regions without due AFP authorization “by not declaring themselves members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
Check how many officers went to Israel and South Africa and as guests of IAI and South African defence companies on business trips travelling as private citizens.
Check the records of Philippine Air Force officials who visited Singapore as guests of Lockheed Martin maintenance subsidiary there without the benefit of travel authorization.
The list is inexhaustible….
A few officers of the military have visited, been guests at the world renown International Bourget Air Show and Bourget Naval Show under Gloria’s “mandate” without proper travel authorization as AFP military officers.
Same officers thereafter flew to London and other European capitals including in Eastern Europe (Poland and Czech Republic) as well as Turkey to visit Turkey gun (BIG guns) manufacturing installations; part of the entourage who have travel authorization often exceeded the authorized period of travel and went about visiting European capitals technically qualifying them as AWOLs.
part of the entourage who have travel authorization often exceeded the authorized period of travel and went about visiting European capitals technically qualifying them as AWOLs.
technically, yes! but considering they were part of the magnificent entourage, the leader being deeply indebted with unscrupulous senoir military commanders including those with during their “world tour”, who will or can charge them leave without authority? anyway, that is but part of their “reward” for loyalty to their commander-of-thieves.
…indebted to unscrupulous senior military commanders……
The marine officer who said, “Gusto lang namin malinis na eleksyon,” last February during the Fort Bonifacio standoff was Col. Achilles Segumalian. He is one of the six detained at Fort Felipe.
Ellen,
Unfortunately, the Philippine Marines are only a few brigades and much as they are supposed to form one of the best fighting forces of the AFP, there are few of them.
Marines troops cannot physically singlehandedly save their comrades in arms from other services. They will be a brutal force to reckon with but they need leaders of the same caliber to do something effective.
This is why Esperon is targeting the Marines. After disbanding the elite Philippine Navy Seals/SWAG, they are afraid of the blind loyalty that the ordinary Marine exudes towards Marines officers they respect – Semper Fi!
Instead of cultivating that dogged mentality of a great fighting force towards something positive, something admirable and for worthwhile military endeavours, he prefers to decimate them for the purpose of saving his queen!
Esperon’s main responsibility as as chief of the military is to fight for the officers and men in the AFP so that they could perform their Constitutional mandate effectively – to protect the Republic from its enemies.
In that respect Esperon is no more than a blightin, f****g coward!
Esperon in that respect is just as bad as his ex-boss in the PSG!
I have had the occasion to meet and work with a few top AFP major service chiefs including field commanders and I’ve never despised a military officer as badly as I do Esperon.
I knew the guy when he was with PSG. He was a dangerous SOB who pretended and insisted he knew the latest in the field of military technology but of which he ABSOLUTELY KNEW NOTHING…(For starters, he never even held a real, live missile in his whole career until he discovered during his stint that Malacanang possessed them!) and worse, his grasp of professional military doctrines was hazy. Often, French, British and Norwegian military officials who met him used to shake their heads in disbelief.
He would never have made it past major rank in the British military, considered one of the few leanest but meanest professional fighting forces in the world!
Re: British military
Part of a comment I posted in a British weblog following the revelation by General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the British Army (who went public and spoke for his troops because of the raw deal the men and women in the British Army were getting from the civilian rascals in the UK Ministry of Defence):
“Remember the British military is one of the most respected in the world. British forces are looked up to by our allies and our foes. Wherever they go the UK benefits from the extraordinary professionalism of our military personnel. Our allies are heartened and our foes dispirited. Let’s not see this positive force for Britain cracked by political weakness and a miserly lack of money.”
I doubt Esperon could come close even to the aura of Sir Richard, oh no! Esperon cannot even lick the dirt on the boots of General Dannatt.
Here’s another portion of that comment I posted in the said British weblog:
“Dannatt is right. Stick by the man who has the courage to tell the politicians that they are about to have a major fiasco where the British Armed Forces will crack under the strain of operations, time away from home, lack of pay and equipment, lack of public support.”
“Hurrah for Dannatt. A General has the guts to say that this cannot go on, it is unfair to the soldiers and to the British public. Some say he should have briefed the politicians in private, but that has been going on for years. Successive Chiefs of all the armed forces and of the defence staff have warned that the end is in sight. At last one of them has put it more forcefully and brought the debate into the open. Lets hope the others support him and the military gets the support it needs from the nation, let’s hope they do not sit back and waiting for his remarks will get him fired leaving his job open for one of them. Let’s hope they too are honourable and not just seeking political advantage.”
On the 11th hour of the llth day of the llth month . . . We Remember.
To the most respected member of our society, our Men and Women in Uniform; today Canadians all over will observe a moment of Silence at llth hour to Remember and Honour those who paid the Ultimate Sacrifice in the Trenches and Beaches of Europe, in the Mountains and Valley of Korea and now in the Desert and Dusty mountains of Afghanistan.
To observe Remembrance Day with us visit http://truenorthandme.blogspot.com/ thanks…vic
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month … We Remember.
We remember the men and women of Honour who paid the Ultimate Sacrifice for the freedom that the we enjoy today.
I invite all peace loving citizens of the world to join us in obseving our Remembrance Day. thank you all..vic
a lieutenant knows something, does anything. a captain knows everything, does something. a major knows everything but does nothing and asks for something. a colonel knows nothing, does nothing, asks for everything. a general knows and does nothing, asks for everything and wants anything.
Remembrance Day? Is this being celebrated world wide? I thought it’s only in Canada. In the US, I think it’s called Memorial Day.
Anna:
Trillanes was right when he and his group rebelled. It is just unfortunate that they gave up easily because of that Filipino attitude of being subservient to elders whom they believed had words of honor like this Cimatu who was first to come and negotiate with them to put down their arms promising them that they would be heard and actions be done. God, they were tricked!
I have actually heard of the unscrupulous leaders. I have interpreted for Filipinos who have tried to smuggle guns being sold to members of Yakuza gangs in Japan. A lot many seamen or plane crews are being recruited in fact to deliver the goods to these Yakuzas, who go to Manila and talk directly to these officers who sell them supplies in the police and the military, thus, making me wonder why they are not caught, or if the supplies are well accounted for.
The sad part is there are always the middlemen, who acted a go-between, and the seamen and/or airliine crews are unable to give specific names as the alleged Brigadier General of the Navy, a seaman said was the source of the 10 guns he tried to smuggle to Japan plus 10 kgs. of marijuana that he was instructed to pick up in Mindanao.
The Japanese police report such cases to the Philippine Embassy as a matter of fact especially when some embassy staff come to visit the arrested principals, but I doubt if they would recommend investigation by Philippine police that is now under the military, and the futility of asking the very people involved in such anomaly to order any investigation and catch the culprit from among their ranks.
It is no wonder that those who can no longer tolerate these anomalies opt to quit and seek work elsewhere as those Filipinos, who have volunteered to join Blackwater for a few dollars risking their lives, legs and limbs. At least, over there, they can try to be dignified and feel that they are merely fulfilling a job that they are being paid for, nothing personal, just plain and simple job.
As one of them said, “Walang magagawa. It’s better than nothing.” And that nothing is even in terms I guess of losing one’s honor and dignity as what a number of these men of honor are being forced to discard.
Nevertheless, this should end, here and now. PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
As consolation to these valiant men of honor, I leave these quotes from the Scriptures, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”(2 Tim 2:3) “For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.” (Ezra 8:22).
Poor Filipino officers and soldiers. New PMAers are idealists and later fall victims to the system of corruption. The high ranking officers and Generals today started like the young officers today. Sometimes, it has become inevitable under the kind of government we have. It’s like Marcos who started this kind of system. Way before him but not as open as when Martial Law was declared that benefited the AFP. Today, it’s even a lot worse. The Generals are richer and more powerful. Who’s to blame?
noel, in the U.S. they call it Veterans’ Day. The celebration is the same, but a little sober for us, because of the poem that immortalized the occassion and was written by Lt-Col John McCrae-M.D. Pathologist Canadian Medical Corps-Poet, Soldier. In Flanders Fields.. to read the poem click my handle..it was a very popular poem during WWI and recited by every Canadian soldier to the day.
Let me clarify the above that although Marcos corrupted the military, it had been that way to other previous presidents but not as open as during Martial Law. Besides, only a handful benefited from Marcos…Ver, Barangan, Olivas, Dumpit. Today, there are lots of officers who benefit from this Gloria so these guys keep kissing her stingy ass.
Thanks Vic. Why are Canadians wearing those so called red poppies? And why is there a round black dot in the middle? Red is Canada’s color. The small middle round black stands for death or those who died? I heard some people have come up with white poppies that symbolize peace. These are those who oppose the troops’ presence in Afghanistan.
I join all peace -loving citizens of the world on this 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in wishing that mankind experience peace.
Noel, today we set aside all our differences and unite to pay respect for our heroes. Right now, I’m going to the mall to join the Veterans in observing a two-minute silence. thanks.. be back..
I’m also going to SM Mall to commemorate the death of our freedom and democracy since 2001 when this GMA grabbed power from a duly elected President Erap. I will also pray for her early demise from this planet or wish that she shrinks further until she disappears from this earth.
I’m back now and watching the National Broadcast of the observation by the CENOTAPH and what an Emotional and Beautiful to observe the beautiful arrangements of hundreds of flowers laid down accompanied by the Children Choir, and watching the Veterans, in their 90s still speck and spans bemedalled in their uniforms performing their hand salutes with their shaking hands. Tear rolling down their eyes, thinking of their comrades who never made it home. Not a single dry eye in the crowd.
One thing that is noticeable is that unlike in the US where it’s more diversified, 95% of the Canadian veterans are white. I see a few black veterans and soldiers; but I still have to see one Asian looking participant.
One reason is that in the old days the US has the so-called “draft” law and the white were able to dodge them, while Canadian Military have been voluntary from the start. And in the old days, very few immigrants of color volunteer for the military. and the original immigrants in Canada were mostly Caucasians. And during the second world war, where some of the asian countries were enemies, even Candians of enemies countries descendants were not admitted in the military even as volunteers, in fact the Japanese descendants were interned as pre-emptive measures. that was history ugly faces as we learned today. Most of the veterans during the ceremonies are from the WWII and very few from WWI and during those times, there were very few or maybe no Asian member on the military yet, except the Natives, (Indians).
Very well said and informative, Vic. Perhaps in the years to come or in the next generation, there would be more minorities in the Canadian Armed Forces. By the way, I came across a statistic report in the paper that the best country to live is Norway not Canada. I used to hear that Canada was the best country to live; but of course it could be just a propaganda coming from Canada herself. Anyway, Canada still ranks higher than the US to live.
Vic and Npongco,
No people of color (incl. Asians, Inuits, etc.)recognized among those honorable veterans?
What an interesting thread!
That seems to hold true in many places. USA and Canada have their own share of the “problem,” if at all. If Asians, natives and others are either unwilling to join the military or are not allowed to do so (even if they like it), it’s not their fault.
Whose war is it anyway? Whose freedom are they fighting for?
Reminds me of the Filipino soldiers who fought in World War II, and are not even recognized (until this very day)as “veterans” in America who wanted them to fight for the sake of “freedom.”
McArthur is right, soldiers don’t die, but veterans do. (Only a handful Pinoy vets are now left, 60 years after the Fall of Bataan.)
Very well, noel, for me the best country to live is where you are happy. my two brothers who decided to stay, where they both had chances to join us six here and in the US are just as happy in the Philippines, and we support both of them, as very happy of their choice and it makes us the more closer. I also heard finland and new zealand as one among the tops as to the situation and the overall quality of life.
Vic, “for me the best country to live is where you are happy.”
That’s one of the best statements I’ve ever heard why Pinoys are always on the move! I like it. Unlike others who find fault for every movement they make, especially if they happen to live in the Americas (exception: Latin America).
Npongco, your posting surprises me. You mean, you are already awake (if you’re in RP) this early? (November 12th, 2006 at 4:01 am)
hawaiianguy,
There are “First Nations” and “Inuits” veterans in our military proportionate to their population which is very low percentage of the total, but very few others ethnic nationals, because in the past, as you said, we had our share of racial problems that were only addressed not very long ago. Actually, successive governments had acknowledged most of those “past shortcomings” and apologized accordingly to the survivors and descendants of the victims. we looked back at our past and correct our mistakes and look forward for our future with a brighter outlook.
Hawaiianguy:
One reason why a lot many Filipino veterans are not recognized for benefits due former soldiers, I think, was because they were actually not recruited properly nor were registered as soldiers serving the US military as a lot of them joined the guerrilla movement at random.
I actually had that impression when we interviewed guerrillas last year for a special documentary on the guerrillas and the Makapilis that was aired on NHK in connection with the commemoration the end of the war last year. Many of them just joined out of the desire to take revenge for the death of an uncle for example, and many of them dying in the front without even being accounted for.
This is the disadvantage in fact of the poor registry system in the Philippines that it is indeed difficult to verify claims by these veterans. Otherwise, things would have been easier to convince the US government to give these veterans their dues as in the unpaid backpays that actually made Marcos popular, respected and admired for fighting for such benefits on behalf of the Philippine soldiers.
The truth is three of my uncles joined the USAFFEE prior to the outbreak of the war in 1941, and all were properly registered as members of the US military. One uncle in fact did not know that there were records in the US to prove that he was a member of the US military until my sister and I checked such files in connection with my research on my genealogy.
My uncle is dead, but we have been told that his family is entitled to some benefit that they can apply for to claim it.
Another uncle, a marcher in the infamous Bataan Death March, was privileged to be interred at the National Golden Gate Cemetery, the Arlington of SFO, when he died.
Oops, nawala ang “of” : “…. in connection with the commemoration OF the end of the war last year.”
Related topic: Just got this from a contact in the USA—
In a message dated 11/11/06 7:24:41 AM,
concernedcitizensofpandacan@yahoo.com
writes:
Bakit naputol? Let me try again the main message—
May MARTIAL LAW h, na ba sa Maynila?
Ano ang dahilan ng pagtigil ng 202th IB ng AFP sa Pandacan?
May apat na araw ng nakatigl ang 2 platoon ng 202th IB ng AFP sa 8 Baragay sa Pandacan Manila. Nakafull uniform at nakapangcombat, dala ang mahahaba at matataas na kalibre ng baril ang bitbit ng mga sundalo ng AFP. Ang 8 barangay sa Pandacan na nakadeploy ang mga nasabing sundalo ay sa Brgy 870, 871, 872, 868,866,867 at sa Baranagy Pandacan. Nagmistulang barracks at headquarters nila ang mga barangay hall? Bakit sila nasa pandacan? Bakit sa pandacan?
Ayon sa mga residente, hindi maipaliwanag ng mga sundalo ang kanilang tungkulin sa pagtigil sa Pandacan. Ayon sa kanila nais daw nilang alamin ang opinion ng mga tao sa pamamalakad ng gobyerno? At tutulong daw sila sa peace and order. Ngunit sa kanilang pagroronda at pagbahay bahay sa umaga at gabi ay itinatanong nila sa mga residente kung meron daw bang mga membro ng Partylist sa nasabing lugar.? Meron day bang mga sumasama sa rally? Meron daw mga aktibista?
Ayon pa sa mga sundalo, Sila daw ay hindi sasangkot sa gulo sa komunidad, dahil police matters daw ito, pero kung kakailanganin ay mapipilitan daw silang makealam? Ano kayang gulo ang sinsabi ng mga sundalo? Sila na ang tanod sa gabi, sila pa ang magpapatupad ng mga serbisyong kinakailangan sa komunidad.
Hinahanap nila ang mga kasapi ng BAYAN MUNA, ANAKPAWIS, GABRIELA at ANAKBAYAN, gayon sa mga sundalo. Dahil daw ang mga nasabing partylist ay madaling malapitan sa mga problema ng bayan at tumutulong daw sila h. Sa isang ordinaryong tao, madaling maunawaan na ang mga nasabing dahilan paghahanap sa mga aktibista} ang tunay na pakay ng pagtigil ng mga sundalo sa komunidad.
Pinangunahan ni Major Cabas at Lt. Col Feliciano ang mga sundalo. Sa kanilang mission order sila daw ay mananatili ng dalawang lingo sa komunidad.
Matapos daw ay may papalit na sa kanila at maaari daw na manatili hanggang enero ng isang taon? Sadarating na linggo, Nobyembre 12, nagpapatawag sila ng pagpupulong sa mga residente, sa ganap na 8 ng umaga sa bawat nasabing Barangay.
Inaanyayahan namin ang mga kapatid sa MEDIA at mga tagapagtaguyod ng karapatang pantao na puntahan ang nasabing mga Barangay sa Pandacan anumang oras mula ngayon.
“One reason why a lot many Filipino veterans are not recognized for benefits due former soldiers, I think, was because they were actually not recruited properly nor were registered as soldiers serving the US military as a lot of them joined the guerrilla movement at random.”
On the ground, many things happened beyond our expectation. I got an uncle who also fought under the USAFFE, but for some reason or another was not listed in the roster, or the list got missing somewhere. His only proof of involvement, I was told, was that somehow he got a dog tag (I didn’t see it, because he gave it to a daughter, who accidentally lost it herself.). He had died before I could details of his story.
Failing to get the needed record in the Philippines, I tried looking into those of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. I was then doing another research there some years back. I found many such lists, but his name was not in any of them. Unfortunately, some of the lists I saw contained names of Filpino guerilla commands, under legitimate guerilla leaders, but with “questionable” members. Questionable, because there are marginal notes from ranking US military officials that “these guys are out to defraud the US treasury” or something to that effect. Another problem is the fact that many World War II documents are not open to the prying eyes of researchers, because they are still “classified info” until these days. Of course, the most objectionable is, that there are also cases of anomaly since some guys learned this (i.e., “faking” guerilla records) to be an easy way to get fast bucks.
Shoud read:”He had died before I could secure details of his story.”
isang malaking pagkakamali ang ginawa at patuloy na ginagawa ni asoperon sa pagpapakulong at pagpapahirap sa mga opisyal na isinasangkot nila sa diumano’y balak na pagpapatalsik kay gloria gayung walang sapat na konkretong batayan maliban sa takot na umiiral sa kanyang pagkatao bunga ng pagiging kasangkapan sa garapalang pandaraya noong nakaraang eleksyon upang manalo at manatili sa malakanyang ang huli.
bilang pinakamataas na opisyal ng sandatahang lakas, dapat niyang bigyang halaga ang dignidad ng pagkatao ng mga ginoong pilit niyang ginagawa at itinuturing na mga kriminal sa kabila ng katotohanang nagpamalas na ng pinakamataas na antas ng kagitingan at kabayanihan patunay ang mga gawad parangal sa kanilang pakikibaka sa mga kaaway bilang bahagi ng pagtupad sa tungkulin. nakakalimutan marahil ni asoperon na habang hindi pa napapatunayang nagkasala ang isang isinasangkot o pinaghihinalaan ay itinuturing itong inosente, maliban na nga lamang sa ilalim ng uri ng kanyang pamamalakad kung saan takot at pangangayupapa ang gusto niyang itanim sa isipan ng lahat ng kagawad ng sandatahang lakas, opisyal man o pangkaraniwang kawal. at bunga nito, sa halip na paggalang ang madama ng kanyang nasasakupan, maging ng kanilang mga kaanak, kaibigan at kakilala, galit ang namamayani sa mga damdamin at namamahay sa kanilang dibdib.
at, kung walang kinalaman ang malakanyang o hindi utos ni gloria ang mga kalupitang ito, magkakalakas kaya ng loob ang isang traydor, animo’y de susi at oportunistang opisyal na katulad ni asoperon upang apihin ang mismong kanyang nasasakupan?
hintayin nila ang pagkahinog at pagpitas sa bunga ng kanilang kabuktutan sapagkat pagsapit ng sandaling iyon, magiging suko hanggang langit ang kanilang gagawing pagsisisi.
“One reason why a lot many Filipino veterans are not recognized for benefits due former soldiers, I think, was because they were actually not recruited properly nor were registered as soldiers serving the US military as a lot of them joined the guerrilla movement at random.”
hg, ganyan din ang kaso ng tatay ko. kumpleto ang mga papeles niyang kumpirmado at pirmado ni late general marking, pero sa dami ng mga buwayang peddlers sa veterans office, awa ng diyos, kinamatayan din ng tatay ko ang paghihintay sa kanyang recognition. panahon pa ni diosdado macapagal at inabot pa ng administrasyon ng anak na mas gahaman.
mula noon hanggang ngayon ganito pa rin ang sistema. AT MAS TALAMAK PA! MGA BUSET!!!!!!!!!
Georgia: South Ossetia To Vote In Independence Referendum
PRAGUE, November 10, 2006 (RFE/RL) — Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia is set to hold a referendum this weekend on whether to proclaim itself — again — an independent state.
The referendum, like a similar vote last month in Moldova’s separatist region of Transdniester, is likely to receive no legal recognition from the international community. But it is likely to exacerbate existing tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow, which openly supports South Ossetia’s separatist bid.
Likely ‘Yes’ Vote
Few expect anything but a massive “yes” vote for independence on November 12.
One resident of the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, says the vote is only an affirmation of an earlier referendum in the breakaway region. “I think we don’t even need to urge people to vote. We all can see that everybody is full of enthusiasm and therefore, I have no doubt at all that every rationally thinking person on the 12th of November will vote for the independence of the South Ossetian republic, for the path which was already determined by the people on January 19, 1992.”
In that referendum, 98 percent of voters opted for independence.
South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity, who will run for reelection the same day, says the new exercise gives younger Ossetians a chance to have their voices heard.
“We have a new generation now. The citizens of the republic of South Ossetia who were just 3 or 4 years old at the time haven’t had the opportunity to vote on the future of their people,” Kokoity said. “We simply want to demonstrate that is our will; an announcement by all the people of South Ossetia. It’s the highest form of democracy. It’s a response by the people of South Ossetia to the aggressive policy of the Georgian government — and, if you like, to the double standard forced on us by countries in the West.”
Kosovo Example
The timing of the vote is not entirely random.
Ambassador Ron Reeve, who heads the Georgia mission for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), calls the South Ossetian plebiscite a “home-grown initiative” by Kokoity and the local leadership.
But he also sees the issue tied to other independence drives in Europe, particularly in Kosovo, whose final status may be resolved early next year.
Russia has suggested that “universal principles” should be drawn from the Kosovo example — especially, Reeve notes, when applied to South Ossetia and other frozen conflicts in the former Soviet Union.
“It fits in particularly with the moves on Kosovo independence now because of the Russian position on the quote, “universality” of the Kosovo example. But this, I think, has been seized upon by the local leadership — Kokoity and company — as a way of sort of riding in on what they hope will be Russian support for, or even recognition at some point, of the referendum they’re taking,” Reeve said.
There have been suggestions in Moscow that Russia will not agree in the UN Security Council to independence for Kosovo unless it receives concessions on some of the frozen conflicts, which include Nagorno-Karabakh, Moldova’s Transdniester region, and a second breakaway region in Georgia, Abkhazia
Passport To Vote
The vote will have some new twists. For example, only residents possessing South Ossetian passports can vote in the referendum.
Most South Ossetians hold Russian passports. As a result, many have been standing in long lines to receive new identity papers.
Officials say 40,000 people have been given the new papers, which they will be able to retain along with their Russian passports.
But Georgians, who make up approximately 30-40 percent of South Ossetia’s estimated population of 70,000, cannot obtain the new papers unless they relinquish their Georgian citizenship.
Many of these residents may choose instead to participate in an alternative election, also on November 12, to elect an alternate, pro-Tbilisi president. Tskhinvali has dismissed the parallel vote as a “farce.”
Reeve of the OSCE calls the entire exercise “unhelpful” and likely to only make it harder to eventually reach a peaceful solution to the standoff over South Ossetia.
“The situation on the ground since the direct hostilities of 2004 has been inherently tense, unstable; we have daily incidents of firings, shootings, occasionally people getting blown up by mines; there are murders, disappearances,” Reeve said. “So on the ground, it’s not the most stable of environments. And I think anything which then tends to focus attention and polarize the communities around an issue such as the referendum doesn’t help.”
For its part, Georgia has called the referendum “devoid of legitimacy and directed against the peace process.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Georgia should not fear the poll, saying “the right to self-determination is part of international law.”
However, Svante Cornell of Johns Hopkins University believes Russia — which does not want to encourage the independence drives of its own restive republics, like Chechnya and Tatarstan — is unlikely to recognize the results of the referendum.
“Russia will threaten to recognize it and Russia will use this as leverage in its relationship with [Georgia]. At the same time, I think, Russia would not benefit from recognizing this,” Cornell says. “Russia benefits from the status quo, the status quo being the unrecognized territories that are pretty much dependent on Russia for their survival. And I think Russia wants to keep things exactly as they are. From a Western perspective, this [referendum] does not increase the legitimacy of the local leadership in any sense.”
No International Recognition
For their part, South Ossetians don’t expect the international community to recognize the results but they argue it is important to voice their desire to be separate from Georgia.
South Ossetians, who are descended from ancient Asian tribes and speak a language remotely related to Farsi, have traditionally warm ties with Moscow but no ethnic links.
Still, as Kokoity says, their ultimate goal is to reunite with their ethnic kin in North Ossetia — which lies just across the Caucasus Mountains, in southern Russia.
“For now, we just want to achieve independence. But of course we’re going to aim toward unification, of course that’s the dream of every Ossetian, both in the South and in the North,” Kokoity says. “I think that in order for an ethnic minority like us to preserve our culture and our language, we have to join forces.”
(RFE/RL’s Georgian and North Caucasus services contributed to this report.)
Hawaiianguy:
I remember that when I was a little girl, one of the hot issues then was the backpay due the Filipinos who served as scouts, constables and foot soldiers during the war. Marcos was one of them who worked hard to get those backpays, and reason why he got his seat in the Philippine Congress when he succeeded in getting not just his own backpays but those of his fellow Ilocanos especially those who served in the same unit as his.
There were just too many at the end of the war, I suppose, who tried to swindle the US government for such backpays that the US gave an ultimatum or deadline for submission of claims. My father and his brothers were able to submit their names on time, and were even granted US citizenship when asked if they would like to do so especially my uncle who was a death marcher at Bataan despite their being Japanese mestisos. My father’s younger brother left for the US in 1947 only to become a victim of an irrate lover in 1962. Nevertheless, he was interred in the Arlington Cemetery of San Francisco called “Golden Gate National Cemetery.”
With proofs in fact, your uncle can have the same privilege I know regardless of whether or not he is a US citizen.
Moral of the story: Mahirap talaga ang mandaraya. Maraming napapahamak sa mga kalokohan ng maraming pilipino. Mahirap daw kasi ang buhay, but poverty for me should not be an excuse for estafa!
Mrivera:
Di nag-iisa ang tatay mo. Iyong mga nakausap naming mga dating guerrilla ganyan din ang sinabi kaya nagtayo sila ng samahan nila at sila-sila ang gumawa ng kanilang mga affidavit and proof na magkakasama sila. Narecognize naman sila ng Veterans sa Pilipinas pero ang liit ng pension nila. 900 pesos lang last year. Kulang pang pangpagamot!
paanong hindi liliit ang pensyon, kinakatay ng mga matador sa PVAO, mga klase ng taong nabubuhay sa katas ng laman ng iba. mga hayup na mas masahol pa sa lintang sasabog na sa kabundatan ay ayaw pang kumalas sa biktimang sinisipsipan ng dugo.
Ystakei, Mrivera, hawiianguy:
Ang aking ama ay isang tunay na guerilla at age 16. Ang kapatid na piloto ay binayuneta at nilaslas ng mga kaaway ang leeg. Hindi siya namatay kaagad. Dinala ng tatay ko sa isang liblib na lugar sa bundok at tinahi ng aking ama ng sinulid na kuha sa lubid ang leeg ng kapatid. Sa loob ng isang linggo, namatay ang kapatid sa kandungan ng kanyang 16 taong anyos na kapatid. It’s all chronicled in a family book written by another sibling, a journalist, for us younger generation to remember.
After the war, marami sa mga tunay na bayani ay hindi napasama sa mga listahan ng mga beterano. Alam na natin ang nangyaring raket.
At Mrivera, bukod sa katay ang kanilang pensyon ng PVAO matadors, ang walanghiyang pekeng administrasyon na ito ang tanging administrasyon (sabagay ay peke nga) na hindi nagbibigay pugay sa ating mga bayani, kung dumalo man sa kanilang okasyon ay halata-halata na nandidiring makipag-kamay sa mga pagod na palad ng ating mga minamahal na “maliliit na bayani.” Ang ama ko ay tumigil umatend ng selebrasyon buhat ng maluklok ang “lamang-lupa” sa kanyang tronong ubod ng baho.
“Narecognize naman sila ng Veterans sa Pilipinas pero ang liit ng pension nila. 900 pesos lang last year. Kulang pang pangpagamot!”
Same story here in the US. Those Fil vets who were recognized receive only half the amount ($400-600/month) that their caucasian counterparts are enjoying. Just enough to pay the rent of a low-rate studio in SFO or Honolulu.
That’s why this “Full Equity bill for Vets” came into place. The sad part of it is, that it has been a lingering solution whose utility may not be demonstrated at all. (“Aanhin pa ang damo kung pataya na ang kabayo?”) I can’t even remember now how long it has been floating around in the US Congress. It just mutates from one bill to another, and another, as people say “yeah, why don’t we commiserate with our little brown brothers over there in P.I.?”
“After the war, marami sa mga tunay na bayani ay hindi napasama sa mga listahan ng mga beterano. Alam na natin ang nangyaring raket.”
“ganyan din ang kaso ng tatay ko. kumpleto ang mga papeles niyang kumpirmado at pirmado ni late general marking, pero sa dami ng mga buwayang peddlers sa veterans office, awa ng diyos, kinamatayan din ng tatay ko ang paghihintay…”
That’s probably one reason why recognition continues to be a problem, and the Full Equity bill remains a bill. Funny, realities like what you pointed out NEVER matertialize in public discussions. Policy makers avoid talking about such things, and those that survive in the deliberations are finally expunged from the proceedings. I think, they consider them “inane,” not useful in rational debates.
International Herald Tribune | November 12, 2006
A look at South Ossetia, the breakaway region in Georgia which is holding a referendum vote
GEOGRAPHY: About 3,900 square kilometers (1500 square miles) located in northern Georgia. The mountainous province, whose regional center is Tskhinvali, shares its northern border with the Russian republic of North Ossetia.
POPULATION: Estimated at 70,000 people, who are overwhelmingly ethnic Ossetians. An estimated 14,000 ethnic Georgians live in several villages in the region.
ECONOMY: Primarily agricultural, though just a small percentage of its land area is cultivated; some industrial facilities exist around Tskhinvali, but most have been idle since the 1991-1992 war. Unemployment is high, arms smuggling is rampant and the illegal drug trade is also rumored to be common. The regional government is reported to get much of its budget revenues from levies on truck traffic into Russia, via the strategic Roksky tunnel.
POLITICS: South Ossetia enjoyed broad autonomy within Soviet Georgia and first claimed independence in 1989. It has run its own affairs without international recognition since breaking away from the Tbilisi-based Georgian government in the bloody 1991-92 conflict that killed more than 1,000 people and displaced tens of thousands. Authorities held a referendum in 1992 proclaiming the province’s independence, but it went unnoticed by the international community, leaving the region in limbo. A 1,500-member peacekeeping force consisting of Russia, Georgian and Ossetians troops patrols the region, but Tbilisi accuses Russian troops of regularly siding with separatists and turning a blind eye to rampant smuggling.
Since coming to power in 2004, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed to bring South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, back under Georgian control and tensions have spiked in recent months with sporadic clashes between Georgian police and South Ossetian security forces.
Russia formally recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia as parts of Georgia, but it sides with their separatist leaders in disputes with the Georgian government and has granted many of their residents Russian citizenship.
REFERENDUM: Voters were being asked to answer the following question: “Do you agree that the republic of South Ossetia should preserve its status of an independent state and be recognized by the international community?”
* * * * *
Interfax | Nov 12 2006 1:05PM
Moldova condemns South Ossetian referendum
CHISINAU. Nov 12 (Interfax) – Moldova’s Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry has condemned South Ossetia’s independence referendum, calling it a “manifestation of separatism” in a statement released on Sunday.
“We declare that this unilateral and counterproductive measure by the South Ossetian regime will only raise a new wave of political tensions. The pseudo-referendum, held in the Republic of Moldova’s Transdniestrian region on September 17 2006, and South Ossetia’s current illegitimate referendum represent a concerted attempt to undermine the world community’s efforts to settle conflicts in the post-Soviet space, the ministry said.
The Moldovan authorities consider the November 12, 2006, referendum to be “a destabilizing step and an apparent manifestation of separatism, which must be strongly condemned by the world community,” it said.
“The Moldovan Foreign Ministry shares the European Union and the United States’ position that the so-called referendum is anti- constitutional in nature and urges countries and international organizations to condemn it,” the ministry said.
“Nor does the Republic of Moldova recognize the so-called presidential election in South Ossetia being held on the same day. The Foreign Ministry believes that the conflicts in Georgia can only be settled in a constructive dialogue, based on the observance of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement says. sd la
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Euronews | 12 November 2006
South Ossetia votes on independence
The breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia has been holding a referendum on independence and a presidential election. The current leader, Eduard Kokoity, was out early to cast his vote in the contest he is easily expected to win. However, the vote and its self-declared independence are only backed by Russia and not at all recognised by the rest of the international community.
South Ossetia declared independence after a civil war ended in 1992. But amid increased tensions within Georgia and its giant neighbour Russia, many South Ossetians see the poll as a chance to once again declare their breaking away from Tbilisi and elect a regional leader.
Most people here have both South Ossetian and Russian passports. But not all would like to join North Ossetia and become part of the Russian Federation. South Ossetia has many villages populated by ethnic Georgians and not all want to live in a separatist state. Many ethnic Georgians loyal to the central government have rejected the vote called by separatists and are running their own poll to elect a rival leader for South Ossetia.
Dapat talagang ayusin ang mga records ng mga veterans. Problem is patay na ang marami sa kanila. Dapat maaga pa lang naayos na. Problem is kahit may notice kasi na dumating sa kanila to confirm their services prior to the granting of independence for instance, marami sa kanila ang hindi nakaalam ng privileges and rights that were part and parcel of serving with the US military.
My father and his brothers were able to register on time in fact, and their records were verifiable with records kept by the US military. Thus, my uncle was able to leave the Philippines in 1947, and my family followed suit in the 60’s. A cousin of mine, left in the Philippines, in fact, still receives pension from the US government. The last time I checked it, she was receiving 900 dollars annually. she never married, while her other sister lost her pension when she did.
When I told the veteran we talked to about it, sabi niya, “Swerte sila!” But this is not a matter of just “swertehan lang!” for a lot of lives were risked. Problema siguro e kung USAFFEE or just someone who joined the guerrilla without being properly accredited as Mrivera’s father.
Yup, I heard of this Gen. Marking from the interviews with the guerrillas we did. Maraming sumama sa kaniya after MacArthur left. But I am afraid he failed to do the same kind of help and assistance to get what they should have as the help and assistance Francis Escudero’s grandfather extended to the guerrillas from his home provice, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal, a lot of whom were encouraged to continue their military career when independence was granted and why they are able to get even 900 pesos as pension for their services to the country that they have loved.
Mahirap talaga ang pawarde-warde ang mga records. Kaya nga sa simbahan namin we are encouraged to keep a 5-generation genealogy and file our papers in order. My father who was a teacher and a journalist by profession was very good at record keeping. When he died, we filed all the papers he kept in his possession including his love letters to my mother!
chi, salamat. hindi ko naman hinahabol (kahit noon pang buhay ang tatay) na ma-recognize at makakuha ng pensiyon dahil naniniwala akong hindi mababayaran ng kahit anong halaga ang sakripisyong ginawa ng sinumang nagtanggol nang buong kagitingan para sa bayan. galing din ako sa serbisyo at aaminin kong wala sa kalingkingan nang nagawa ng tatay ko ang ipinaglingkod ko. baka kahit tuldok, hindi pa umabot.
Ooops, this should read: The last time I checked it, she was receiving 900 dollars MONTHLY. Ang laki di ba? Tapos walang asawa kaya kanya lang ang pera niya. I think it is the same amount being received by Filipinos who have immigrated to the US and automatically gets pension monthly as soon as they reach the age of 65 regardless of whether or not they have worked in the US until the rule was changed to apply only to US citizens.
Mrivera,
Alam ko iyong raket tungkol sa backpay because my father also fought to receive such. Maliit pa ako noon. Hindi pa nga ako nag-aaral pero nakakaintindi na ako. Hanggang mag-grade I nga ako iyong pa rin ang usapan ng mga tao. Tapos, kukulo ang dugo mo kapag nalaman mong ang dami palang ibinigay na pera ang America for such settlement sa gobyerno noon panahon mula kay Roxas hanggang kay Macapagal.
Iyong pera namang na sinabing kinurakot ni Marcos, mga bago nang utang at grants ang mga iyon maliban na lang siguro doon sa final payments ng Japan na ginamit naman niya sa pagpapagawa ng Japan-Philippine Friendship Highway mula Aparri hanggang Mindanao. Ang kaso nga lang ang dami ring anomalya sa pagpapagawa ng highway na iyan dahil sa mga lagay-lagay. Napapakamot na na lang ang mga hapon na hindi naman kasing-garapal ng mga namahala sa pagpapagawa ng mga kalyeng binayaran ng Reparations Payments ng Japan.
Tamang-tamang nasa Japan na ako noon. Ibang papeles nga, nahilingan akong tumulong na magtranslate sa wikang hapon. Wala pa kasing computer noon o maski word processor kaya hindi naman ako nakapagtago ng kopya ng mga itina-translate ko. Sulat kamay pa nga. Copy machine meron pero bawal kasing magtago ng document na hindi naman iyo, kaya no dice.
When I think of it, nanghinayang ako kahit man lamang record ko lang for my own personal reference. Pero grabe ang kawatan din noon. Kilalang-kilala ang mga taga-Philippine Embassy noon na mga kurakot sa totoo lang. Nakakahiya nga e. At talaga namang mga arogante, colonial mentality pa ang dating!
EURASIA INSIGHT
GEORGIA’S SOUTH OSSETIA: ONE UNRECOGNIZED STATE, TWO UNRECOGNIZED GOVERNMENTS
Molly Corso and Elizabeth Owen 11/13/06
Two separate presidential elections and two separate referenda on the future of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia were held on November 12, but the outcome depends on your point of view. No agreement exists about which candidate is now the legitimate leader of this separatist territory.
In one vote, Eduard Kokoiti, the de facto president of the self-declared Republic of South Ossetia since 2001, has been declared the winner with a sweeping 95 percent of the vote, based on preliminary results. In a so-called “alternative” poll organized on Georgian-controlled territory in South Ossetia, Dmitri Sanakoyev — a former prime minister of the de facto South Ossetian republic who Tskhinvali officials claim is bankrolled by Tbilisi — has been declared the president-elect, with more than 80 percent of the vote.
The referenda differ as well. In the election organized by officials in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, voters were asked whether or not they agreed with keeping South Ossetia’s “current status as an independent state” and whether or not the Republic of South Ossetia should be internationally recognized; an earlier, unrecognized referendum on this question was held in 1992. In the “alternative” referendum, voters were asked to say whether they want to begin negotiations with Tbilisi about a federal system of government.
The Tskhinvali-organized referendum passed with a reported 99 percent of the vote, according to preliminary figures. The referendum, Kokoiti asserted at a November 13 press conference, is “a very weighty argument, even for those who today refuse to recognize its results. We can say that South Ossetia has been recognized.”
No information was available about results for the so-called alternative referendum.
While the final vote count for both elections will not be ready until later this week, both sides claim high voter turnout in their respective elections and accuse the other of high levels of falsification and violations.
In a statement issued November 12, the head of the Tskhinvali-based election committee, Bella Pliyeva, announced that nearly 95 percent of voters participated in the elections; a little over 52,000 of the reported 55,000 registered voters. Kokoiti faced three other candidates in the Tskhinvali-organized poll: Oleg Gabodze, an unemployed former advisor to the head of the South Ossetian government; Inal Pukhayev, the administrative chief of Tskhinval Region; and Leonid Tbilov, a special envoy for talks on resolution of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. Candidates were not allowed to meet with the press on the eve of the election, but government spokesperson Irina Gagloyeva stated that the challengers themselves knew that Kokoiti would win reelection. “They know they won’t win, but they want to have the experience of a political campaign,” she said.
Kokoiti has promised South Ossetian voters a series of improvements, including salary increases and the construction of a Russian gas pipeline to improve heating supplies in the disputed territory. In official campaign materials, he termed the referendum “a call for peace” and condemned the United States for arming Georgia “and preparing it for aggression.”
In the second presidential election, Sanakoyev, whose campaign posters were prominently posted on walls outside polling stations in Georgian-controlled villages, benefited from extensive media coverage in the Georgian press. The 37-year-old has largely eschewed details about his policy ideas, though, saying only that “a decisive step” should be taken to elect a “force” that can “conduct a measured policy of strengthening the republic’s independence,” revive the economy, stamp out corruption and restore hope for the future. Four other candidates contested the alternative election.
The alternative election commission, based in the Georgian-controlled village of Eredvi, did not announce the number of registered voters for its vote. However, it did report that 42,000 voters had cast their ballots at polling stations located throughout the de facto republic by 8 p.m. November 12.
Along with two rival elections, a dispute also persists about where the elections were actually held. According to Uruzmag Karkusov, head of the alternative election commission, voting stations were placed in both Georgian and Ossetian-controlled villages – although some ballot boxes, Georgian television news reported, had to be delivered by horseback to avoid Ossetian-controlled roads. Karkusov claimed that voting would take place in the Ossetian-controlled villages of Kvaisa, Sinakuri, Znauri and in Tskhinvali.
Ossetian officials in Tskhinvali, however, strongly denied that the alternative elections occurred in Ossetian-controlled villages. At the same time, Gagloyeva, the Tskhinvali spokesperson, told reporters that six ethnic Georgian villages on Ossetian-controlled territory had expressed a desire to hold the Tskhinvali-based government’s presidential elections and referendum.
In Tskhinvali, roughly 30 observers from countries ranging from Venezuela and Jordan to Latvia and Ukraine were on hand as of late November 11 to monitor the voting, according to Gagloyeva. The observers also included representatives from the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia and the disputed Moldovan territory of Transdnestr. There were no registered voting irregularities, according to official announcements. No international monitoring of the alternative elections is known to have occurred.
The Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United States have all criticized the dual elections in the breakaway region. The criticism, however, did not appear to faze officials in Tskhinvali. “Who are they to shut our mouths?” Gagloyeva asked rhetorically in an interview on November 11. “Their own political interests in the Caucasus are more important [for them] than our fate.”
While some observers in Tbilisi had believed that the elections could provide an avenue for reconciliation in South Ossetia, so far, the exact opposite appears to be the result. At his November 13 press conference, Kokoiti termed Sanakoyev and Karkusov, head of the alternative election commission and a former advisor to Kokoiti, “traitors to their homeland and traitors to the South Ossetian people.” Kokoiti stated that he would demand that Tbilisi extradite both men to Tskhinvali.
Whether residents of impoverished South Ossetia will take Sanakoyev’s claim to be the legitimate leader of South Ossetia seriously depends largely on economics, commented Tbilisi-based Caucasus analyst Mamuka Areshidze. “That is the biggest mistake of the Georgian government – that they have never showed the Abkhaz or Ossetians why they should be a part of Georgia. Show a person how you work, how you improve agriculture, how you help and they will [follow.]”
In Tskhinvali, though, interviewed residents expressed no desire for union with Georgia. “How can we be an autonomous region when we cannot use the name South Ossetia?” commented Khadiza Skhovubova, a 53-year-old bazaar vendor born in Tbilisi.
Whether in Tskhinvali or in Eredvi, on one point alone both sides in South Ossetia seem to agree on a need for peace. Asked what she hoped for from the referendum on independence, a Kokoiti supporter selling beer out of her home in Tskhinvali who gave her name as Lamsira, was succinct: “A normal life. We don’t need anything else.”
Editor’s Note: Molly Corso is a freelance reporter and photojournalist based in Tbilisi. Elizabeth Owen is EurasiaNet’s Caucasus news editor in Tbilisi. Kakha Jibladze contributed reporting to this story.
Posted November 13, 2006 © Eurasianet
Ang haba naman ng posting mo, nelbar. Puwede bang Tagalogin mo?
Associated Press/BRUSSELS, Belgium
By ROBERT WIELAARD
Associated Press Writer
EU signs accords with South Caucasus nations
NOV. 14 9:35 A.M. ET The European Union on Tuesday offered Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia millions of euros in economic aid and easier access to EU markets in return for the promise of political and democratic reforms.
The EU signed so-called European Neighborhood accords with the three countries, which will draw them closer to the bloc, but offers no perspective of membership.
“These agreements will boost our relationship,” EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said. The deals seek to stabilize Europe’s eastern borders as it expands to 27 members on Jan. 1, when Romania and Bulgaria join. The EU says human rights and democratic are essential elements of such deals.
The accords offers broad EU cooperation in economic and justice affairs, transport, energy, environment, research, education, health and other sectors.
They aim to craft a “ring of friends” — eventually embracing Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinians, Tunisia and Ukraine — and offer them easy access to the EU’s vast internal market if they stay the course on reforms.
The EU sees the neighborhood accords as an opportunity to help settle frozen conflicts in the south Caucasus and help nations there normalize frayed ties with Russia.
The EU is concerned about poor relations between Russia and Georgia and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbeijan.
The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh has not been worked out. Years of talks under the auspices of international mediators have brought few visible results.
On Monday, the EU said they will not recognize a weekend referendum vote result backing independence for Georgia’s breakaway province of South Ossetia. Election officials in South Ossetia said voters in the disputed region had approved independence for the tiny Caucasus Mountains province on Russia’s border, which split off from Georgian central government control in a bloody 1990s war.
India and China row over border —-BBC News
A verbal spat has broken out between India and China days before Chinese President Hu Jintao visits India to discuss trade and bilateral ties.
China’s ambassador to India reiterated his country’s claim to a large area of north-eastern India.
But India’s Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected the claim, saying Arunachal Pradesh was an “integral part of India”.
The border dispute dates to a conflict in 1962.
The Chinese ambassador, Sun Yuxi, told an Indian TV channel the state was “Chinese territory”.
India says Beijing is occupying 38,000 square kilometres of its territory in Kashmir, while China claims the whole of Arunachal Pradesh as its own.
In April, 2005, India and China signed an agreement aimed at resolving disputes over their Himalayan border.
India’s national security adviser said it was “one of the most significant documents” signed by the two countries.
China formally gave up its claim to the state of Sikkim.
On other areas of dispute, the two sides agreed that “special representatives” would negotiate the issues.
“Both sides are convinced that an early settlement of the boundary question will advance the basic interests of the two countries,” a joint statement said.
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Hi artsee,
sana mabigyan mo ng pansin ang North East Frontier Agency , McMahon Line at itong Kumning Initiative.
Pero kahit na anong gawin mo, hindi na mapapantayan pa ang katapangan at kagitingan ni Subedar Joginder Singh.
Sa ipinapakita ng “China-India rivalry” ipinapakita lamang nito na kapapansin-pansin ito sa “Trans-Atlantic powers”.
Hindi lamang sa teknolohiya, human resources at pati na rin sa sibilisasyon na kung saan kaaya-ayang pag-aralan.
Ipinapakita ng dalawang bansa hindi lamang ang kahinaan ng Asya pati na rin na kung ano ang lakas nito.
Law # 11
Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
Law # 23
Concentrate Your Forces
To the marine officer who is one of the few but has nothing to be proud of, yes it is col martir and his boss who make the phillipine marines nothing to be proud of today. They prevented the unit from discharging it’s sacred duty- defend the country from foreign invaders. Let us check documents such as that of e. san juan and his bulatlat website, luzviminda francisco and her writings on the filipino-american war, the book “in our image” by stanley karnow, writings of renato constantino, writings about gen artemio ricarte from the book “a question of heroes” by nick joaquin, websites on the filipino american war by mark twain and others who have documented or researched on what the americans have been doing overtly and covertly to our country.
Those documents show that around 250,000 to 900,000 Filipinos died in the American invasion of the Philippines in the 1900s. They show that after the very big reduction of Filipino Resistance against these alien invasion, the Americans transmitted to us a rare infectious disease which spread only in the Philippines. They injected to us the Perpetuation of American Colonization Virus. The instruments they used were the education, economic, political, defense and legal system.
They also provided protection to the Chinese whom we have been trying to resist their control of our economy. That is why until now our local supply of food is decreasing but the imported supply is increasing because the distribution system is controlled by the Chinese. That is why our countrymen do not have access to our vast resources because it is these chinese and Americans who are in control of them. That is why there is an exodus of Filipinos to foreign lands and use their skills to serve foreigners.
They have created a set-up where our government up to now is their puppet government. That is why our government from the commonwealth period up to Erap then followed by Gloria has been protecting these foreigners, many of whom have already acquired documents of being filipino citizens. That is why on paper Philippine Economy have been filipinized but in reality, the same people still control our economic resources and the same original Filipinos still do not have access to the economic resources of our forefathers. That is the reason why even if it is bad for our security to allow foreigners to set foot in our jungles in Zamboanga, Basilan and Jolo since those are our tactical assets, American soldiers continue to conduct terrain familiarization there. That is the reason why our soldiers are so dependent and subservient operationally, logistically and doctrinally to the americans.
That is why many Filipinos have the vision to be like the americans because we have lost our national identity. Our national identity was born when we became independent from Spain. It was corrupted by the Americans when they invaded us.
Today, we are independent but, BUT ONLY ON PAPER! Evidence cited shows America still controls us. GMA government is a puppet government of the Americans and the Chinese.
What is the Filipino soldier doing about this? What has the constitution the government is invoking got to do with our being controlled by the Americans and the Chinese. The Chinese here refers to Chinese in the Philippines with manipulated Filipino citizenship to facilitate their control of our economy. This does not refer to Gen Danilo Lim, Atty Tiu, Alejandro Lichauco and many of their kind who are more Filipinos than Gloria, Erap, Atienza- all collaborators of Alien Rule. What has the Filipino soldier done with the vision started by Bonifacio, Mabini, Malvar, Ricarte, Claro M. Recto, the late Renato Constantino?
Filipino Soldiers, you are soldiers with a duty to defend the Filipino People. The National Identity has been under attack by foreigners. It is being corrupted. If we lost our identity, how else can we live or even exist as a nation?
Filipino Soldiers, the nation beg for your answer!
An option as of now is a link-up to communicate, consolidate, organize to synthesize and synergize.