Philippine Election Special

30 Foreigners joining poll observer mission

by
Nonoy Espina
Inquirer.net

Manila, Philippines--Thirty observers from 13 countries
are arriving in the country to join an election observer
mission that will visit 13 areas in eight regions where voters
harassment has reportedly been intensifying and where
the probability of fraud was high, organizers said Wednesday.

Among the initiators of the International Observer Mission (IOM),
a statement from the organizers said, were Bishop Elmer Bolocon
of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines, Dr. Edelina de la Paz,
assistant professor of the College of Medicine of the University of
the Philippines; and Ms. Trixie Concepcion, secretary general of
the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People.

The mission will run from May 13 to 15.

This IOM is also supported by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
(Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance), Karapatan (Alliance for the
Advancement of People's Rights), Promotion of Church People's
Response, Health Alliance for Democracy, and the Health Alliance
for Human Rights, among others.

The mission participants are parliamentarians, lawyers, church
leaders, members of the academe and media, artists, civil
libertarians, professionals, students and human rights advocates
from Canada, the USA, Japan, Myanmar, Korea, Malaysia,
Australia, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Scotland, Venezuela,
and Columbia.

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