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Duterte government threatens human rights groups: NGO

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7 years ago

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Manila, March 27 (IANS) The Philippines government has indirectly threatened rights groups by linking them with drug lords in the country, NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday.

HRW was responding to a comment by Philippines Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who on Monday said that “some human rights groups have become unwitting tools of drug lords to hinder the strides of the (Rodrigo Duterte) administration”, Efe news agency reported.

In its report, HRW’s Deputy Director of Asia Division Phelim Kine said Roque’s claims were “more than just gratuitous slurs aimed at undermining the integrity of Philippines human rights activists pushing back against the Duterte government’s attack on rule of law and its instigation and incitement of possible crimes against humanity”.

The association of rights groups with drug lords stood out as a “sinister veiled threat in a country in which the government-compiled ‘watch lists’ of suspected drug users and drug dealers had been linked to many of the ‘drug war’s’ thousands of victims”, HRW said.

The Duterte government’s intimidation tactics were misguided attempts to avoid probes by the UN and the International Criminal Court (ICC) into accountability for his administration’s war on drugs, the NGO added.

The Philippines government’s criticism of NGOs came as the ICC in early February announced its intention to launch a preliminary examination into killings that occurred amid the war on drugs.

On March 14, the Philippines President responded in turn by withdrawing the government’s ratification of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC.

Despite Duterte’s popularity among most Filipinos, his brutal campaign against people linked to the drug trade is divisive and controversial.

According to Philippines government agencies, over 4,000 “drug personalities” have died in some 85,000 anti-drug operations since July 1, 2016, when Duterte assumed office.

However, HRW puts the campaign’s death toll much higher — at more than 13,000 — which includes killings by police officers and vigilante groups.

–IANS
and/soni/sac

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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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2 months ago

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September 19, 2024

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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