American volunteer shot

[Mike J]

While tragic, this also should serve as a reminder why foreigners should not become involved in Philippine politics.

https://news.yahoo.com/american-volunteer-branded-enemy-state-084441541.html

An American human rights volunteer is reportedly in critical condition after he was shot four times in the Philippines.

Brandon Lee, 37, was attacked outside his home in Ifugao province in the northern Philippines on Tuesday after he was called an “enemy of the state” on social media, reports the Guardian.

Lee suffered cardiac arrest during a surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his jaw.

Lee is a volunteer for Ifugao Peasant Movement (IPM), a farmers’ group that actively opposes a hydropower project and the military presence in the Cordillera region, according to the Guardian. In 2008, an IPM staff member was killed in a similar attack.

Lee and other IPM staff had were labeled “enemy of the state” in posters that were put up around the province.

Another rights group, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, where Lee also volunteers, blamed authorities for the attack.

“We hold accountable the state security forces that the Duterte administration has let loose in the Cordillera region,” the group said in a statement, according to the Guardian. The group also said that Lee had been receiving threats before the attack.

A recent report by watchdog Global Witness found that the Philippines is the deadliest country in the world for environmental defenders, with 30 environmentalists murdered there in 2018.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has notoriously called land and environmental activists communist sympathizers and terrorists in an effort to silence them.

 

[scott h]

17 minutes ago, Mike J said:

this also should serve as a reminder

That we are not in Kansas anymore Toto. He could get away with this stuff in the states, but not here.

IMO he brought this on himself

 

[Ram1957]

If you are not a Filipino its best to keep your nose out of anything that concerns the Philippines!

[graham59]

I believe it (meddling in internal politics) is an offence  for which a foreigner can be deported, is it not ?

[robert k]

Global Witless.

[JDDavao II]

4 hours ago, Mike J said:

An American human rights volunteer is reportedly in critical condition after he was shot four times in the Philippines.

A tragic sentence for a tragic story. Are there no editors anymore?

"Last night, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I'll never know."

[Mike J]

3 hours ago, graham59 said:

I believe it (meddling in internal politics) is an offence  for which a foreigner can be deported, is it not ?

Yes, you can be deported and blacklisted.  This was published July 17 this year.   Perhaps Mr. Lee thought he was above the law or did not choose to educate himself about what you can and cannot do here.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/07/17/bi-warns-foreign-tourists-dont-engage-in-politics-while-in-ph/

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente reminded foreigners that they are prohibited by law to engage in any political activity while in the country.

MB FILE - Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente (Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN)
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Morente reiterated the prohibition following previous incidents of deportation and exclusion of foreign nationals who took part in protests and mass actions.

“We are sending this warning to avoid a repeat of the cases wherein we had to deport foreign protesters, especially this coming Monday when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his State of The Nation Address (SONA),” he said.

 
According to Morente, being a visitor of the country does not give foreigners the political rights and privileges of a Filipino.

“Joining political demonstrations is an utter display of disrespect to the country’s authorities and is equivalent to meddling in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation,” he added.

In 2013, Dutch citizen Thomas van Beersum was deported after being photographed joining a protest and taunting a policeman, while Canadian student Kim Chatillon-Miller was also deported for joining an anti-SONA demonstration.

In 2018, Australian nun Patricia Fox was denied renewal of her visa for violating the conditions of her stay and participating in partisan political activities. Also last year, Zimbabwean Tawanda Chandiwana, American Adam Thomas Shaw, and Malawian Miracle Osman were ordered to leave for involvement in leftist activities.

 
“Follow our laws,” said Morente. “It is very simple and clear. Foreign visitors are not allowed to participate in political demonstrations. We allowed your stay in the Philippines, please respect our government and our laws,” he added.

BI Operations Order No. SBM-2015-025 prohibits foreigners from engaging in political activities while in the country. Morente clarified that while it is within the BI’s policy to welcome foreign visitors, the BI is also duty-bound to implement the law by deporting foreign protesters. The same order prohibits aliens from “joining, supporting, contributing, or involving themselves in whatever manner in any rally, assembly, or gathering.”

“Foreigners have no business joining such activities as it is a clear violation of their conditions of stay,” Morente said.

 
He warned that alien protesters can be deported if found committing acts that constitute overthrowing the government, unlawful destruction of property, and violation of the conditions of their stay.

If found guilty, the foreigners will be blacklisted, effectively barring them from re-entering the Philippines

[hk blues]

4 hours ago, graham59 said:

I believe it (meddling in internal politics) is an offence  for which a foreigner can be deported, is it not ?

I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me.  Where I am, a foreigner isn't even allowed to sit on the HOA committee. 

[Arizona Kid]

6 hours ago, Ram1957 said:

If you are not a Filipino its best to keep your nose out of anything that concerns the Philippines!

And if you are a Filipino it's best to keep your nose out of anything that concerns the Philippines if you don't have large amounts of money in the bank, or are not a politician!

[Arizona Kid]

6 hours ago, graham59 said:

I believe it (meddling in internal politics) is an offence  for which a foreigner can be deported, is it not ?

Give it a try and let us know what happens.