New Delhi, March 1. (PTI): The Government has banned the grant of emigration clearance to women below the age of 30 years seeking employment as housemaids or domestic workers in any foreign country.

In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi admitted that it had come to the notice of the Government that several Indian women going abroad for jobs face exploitation.

He, however, said, "Though there have been general reports regarding exploitation of Indian women going abroad for employment, there has been no specific complaint."

He ruled out the possibility of any separate legislation in this regard.

Source: The Hindu

From 22-25 of February, the Filipino people celebrated the anniversary of the "EDSA People Power" in the Philippines which ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos 20 years ago. Thousands of people were o­n the streets o­n these days, living the spirit of the EDSA as they marched and called for the stepping down of yet another growing authoritarian president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In defiance of the spirit of power to the people and democracy itself, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the Philippines in "the state of emergency" with Proclamation 1017, citing a "clear and present danger" posed by the alliance between forces from the extreme left and the military. This proclamation has been challenged by members of the Philippine Senate and declared as unconstitutional by various groups of lawyers. Leaders of progressive groups and party-list members were arrested, in addition to the list of demonstrators who were picked up and detained from the various big protest actions. o­ngoing crackdown o­n people�s organisations and progressive NGOs are taking place, coming out with a list of people to be arrested for "acts of sedition." Military officials alleged to be involved in the plot to stage a coup de tat have been arrested. Demonstrations, led by progressive groups from the people�s movement, supported and joined in by thousands of ordinary citizens, have been violently dispersed; all permits for demonstrations have been revoked. A national newspaper has been raided and taken over "because it was a possible source of destabilization materials." A warning has been issued that "the police will take over news groups that will not conform to standards set by the government."

This act of desperation of Arroyo to suppress the growing movement calling for her to step down shows that it is her administration which is in "the state of emergency."

Press Statement : 28 February 2006  

The violent dispersal of peaceful rallies commemorating the 1986 People Power uprising in EDSA and President Arroyo's declaration of the State of National Emergency last Friday, 24 February , is a clear indication of her government's disregard for people's rights, according to Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP)-Philippines.

The Arroyo administration has suppressed peaceful protests, cracked down o­n independent media outfits, and issued, and in some cases implemented, "warrantless" arrests of its critics, both in parliament and civil society�Filipinos who continue to search for the truth o­n the real outcome of national elections last year and massive charges of corruption levied against the President.

" The government should put the country in red alert ," said GCAP-Philippines Coordinator Marivic Raquiza, "not because of the threats to Gloria Arroyo's leadership but because of the alarming levels of poverty among our people. Four million families live in extreme poverty and hunger: this is the real emergency situation, which has bred massive discontentment and resistance over bad policies. Our people cry out for social justice and government's immediate response is to deny the people's right to speak out."

PROCLAMATION 1017 asserts, without proof, that some members of the national media have "recklessly magnified" the "claims" of alleged conspirators. But an examination of the context in which that assertion is made shows us that what the Arroyo administration really wants is to prevent opposing views from being published or criticism from being aired. (The use of the word "claims" is telling. Given that the actual plot to seize power has been reportedly aborted, the word can o­nly refer to unflattering news and anti-Arroyo views, already published or aired). That makes Proclamation 1017 a declaration of war o­n the Bill of Rights. In the guise of saving the Republic from an unholy alliance of "authoritarians" o­n the left and "adventurists" o­n the right allegedly conspiring with opportunists from the opposition, the President has launched an assault o­n our very civil liberties.

The police filed charges o­n Monday against 16 people suspected of plotting to overthrow President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as dozens of protesters tried to storm the Philippine Legislature, officials said. Among those charged were Gregorio (Gringo) Honasan, a former opposition senator and veteran of past coup attempts in the 1990s, as well as five members of the House of Representatives, a Communist rebel leader and some soldiers. They "conspired to overthrow the Arroyo government," prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said. The charges were for rebellion, a non-bailable capital offense punishable by at least 40 years in jail.

Arroyo declared a state of emergency o­n Friday to stop what was believed to be a coup plot by the political opposition and some in military and civilian groups, officials said.

About 100 leftist protesters, yelling anti-government slogans, barged into the House of Representatives o­n Monday to denounce the decree and the arrest of a leftist lawmaker, but were pushed back by the police, officials said.

Shouting "No to martial law!" and displaying anti-Arroyo placards, the protesters ran past guards and entered the House lobby, but other guards quickly shut the main door to the plenary hall, where lawmakers had just gone into recess after opening their session. Arroyo said Monday that her government would work to avoid an economic fallout from recent political turmoil, o­ne day after disgruntled marine officers ended a standoff that was viewed as a challenge to her leadership.