In a very worrying development, the Philippines’ Congress on Saturday approved President’s Duterte request to extend martial law over the whole island of Mindanao till the end of 2017. Given the gross human rights violations already committed during President Duterte’s term so far, the extension of martial law will only lead to further militarisation and more human rights abuses. A number of labour groups and political organisations have come out strongly against this new development as part of a continuing attack on workers. A protest camp set up by workers in Manila will be the focus of anti-martial law demonstrations this coming Monday, 24 July.
In a very worrying development, the Philippines’ Congress on Saturday approved President’s Duterte request to extend martial law over the whole island of Mindanao till the end of 2017. Given the gross human rights violations already committed during President Duterte’s term so far, the extension of martial law will only lead to further militarisation and more human rights abuses. A number of labour groups and political organisations have come out strongly against this new development as part of a continuing attack on workers. A protest camp set up by workers in Manila will be the focus of anti-martial law demonstrations this coming Monday, 24 July.
