Monthly Archives: February 2010

Militias in the Philippines – take action

On 23 November 2009, 57 women and men were massacred in Maguindanao, Mindanao in the Philippines. Concepcion ‘Connie’ Brizuela of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and a human rights lawyer was among the 22 women who were massacred. Two of the women victims were pregnant. At least five women were sexually molested before being murdered. The perpetrators were members of a legalized private army of the local Ampatuan family.

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Suspended sentences and the Herald Sun

The Herald Sun has been supporting the Victorian Opposition in their call to get rid of suspended sentences. Writer Alan Howe outlined the story of a mother who allowed her child to drink alcohol to bolster this case. Most people …

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Anti-Christian Violence has increased in Indian state of Karnataka

On 17 January 2010, Hindu militants in Ullal, Mangalore Taluka, bashed Baswamma Sangappa (aged 44) after they were told she was a convert to Christianity. Police also beat her, before arresting her. She was released after a local MP intervened on her behalf. No one has been charged with her assault.

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Gao Zhisheng nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

In April 2009 the End Christian Persecution Network of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania requested supporters write to the Chinese authorities and the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs about Chinese Christian human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. Mr Gao …

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Death threats and harassment of UCCP Pastors Berlin Guerrero and Rodel Canja

On 6 May 2008, armed men abducted Pastor Rodel Canja and pressured him to provide evidence that Pastor Berlin Guerrero had links to the Communist Party in the Philippines. He was threatened with death if he did not manufacture the evidence his abductors wanted. He was held for four days and then blindfolded, put into a vehicle and dropped on a deserted road with threats of harm to him and his family if he reported what had happened to him.

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Philippines arrest of a former church official

Christian leaders around the world are distressed at Philippines arrests of a former church official and other health workers. Dr. Alexis Montes is a former health program coordinator of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP – a …

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Victoria and the $$$ for mental health

Quote of the week “Victoria has recently produced a visionary 10-year reform framework which outlines a pathway for the whole nation. However will the State be able to devote the resources needed to translate this vision into reality? I estimate …

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Arrest and alleged torture of 43 health workers in the Philippines prompts calls from churches for justice

Thursday, 11 Feb 2010 The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) expresses extreme concern over the arrest, continued detention and alleged torture of 43 health workers in the Philippines on Friday, February 6, including Dr. Alexis Montes a former …

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Just Resolutions

What will you do this year to make a difference? It’s not only the start of a new year but also the start of a new decade! The tweenies, the teens, no matter what you choose to call this decade …

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Privatisation of prisons

”Asthma attack, buzzed for help, no response”, was how the late prisoner of G4S-run Port Phillip prison Ian Westcott described his last pleas for assistance. The Uniting Church’s Synod of Victoria and Tasmania opposes the privatisation of the prison system. …

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