Wednesday, March 15, 2006



Responding to pressure

Helen Clark is visiting the Philippines today, and has been under pressure all week to raise the issue of human rights abuses and the attempted arrest of opposition lawmakers in talks with Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. And according to today's Herald, she has, with the topic dominating bilateral talks between the two:

Trade and development issues were expected to hold centre stage in talks, but after the meeting Helen Clark said questions on the plot and the Philippine government's subsequent actions took up 25 minutes of the one hour meeting.

[...]

The Prime Minister said Mrs Arroyo had assured her that proper constitutional process would be followed in laying charges against the MPs and their cases would be heard in a court of law.

That remains to be seen, but it's good to see Labour doing the decent thing and remembering what it stands for.

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