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About SANLAKAS
SANLAKAS National Office:
150 K-6th St.
Brgy. East Kamias
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 433-8377
(632)
Fax: (632) 426-2422
E-mail: [email protected]
The FRAPORT Case: A Sovereignty Issue; ICSID Not an Objective Forum
October 22, 2003
More than the charges of corruption and bribery, the Fraport case should be viewed as an issue of Philippine sovereignty. "It involves the ease with which foreign transnational corporations can sue governments if these corporations feel these governments are interfering with their profit-making." This was the statement of SANLAKAS party list representative JV Bautista on the allegations of government extortion leveled by the German company concerning the new Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal. Fraport sought before the World Bank International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on September 17 arbitration of its dispute with the government over the contract. The solon also warned the government against submitting itself to arbitration by ICSID, "which is not exactly as disinterested and as objective as we would like to think." Bautista cited the case of water utility privatization in Bolivia, where because of people's outrage over huge water rate increases, the foreign transnational Bechtel was forced to pull out of the project. Bechtel then sued the Bolivian government for $25 million in damages and lost profits. "What is not being publicized is that the World Bank, under which ICSID is housed, was instrumental in the entry of Bechtel in the water project. The process here is virtually: it is the suspect or co-conspirator who is at the same time acting as judge and jury over the case." Bautista added that hearings of the ICSID are conducted in almost complete secrecy; the public is barred. Finally, Bautista pointed out, "What we are seeing right now is the result of our entry into the World Trade Organization, where one of the main rules is that corporations can sue governments, or even overturn laws to protect consumers and the environment if these are deemed detrimental to the companies' profit – making."
October 28, 2003
Hypocrisy of elite democracy-BMP
October 27, 2003
WE WILL NOT BE A PARTY TO A GMA-DANDING DEAL-Rep. JV Bautista
GMA is paying her debt to Davide and the circus of the elite in Congress-BMP
Sanlakas challenges FPJ to join the real life struggle of the masses
An Asedillo in real life not on reel-BMP
The Bush Visit was Rude and Interventionist
On GMA's decision to retain GSIS Winston Garcia: - PM
October 18, 2003
Why we walked out on Bush
BUSH VISIT: Pista kay GMA, Peste sa Mamamayan
Sanlakas deplores policy of banning foreigners in anti-Bush rallies
VFA / MLSA, Toxics In Former US Bases, Depleted Uranium Bullets are "Abuse Of Filipino Hospitality", Says Party List Solon
October 13, 2003
Giant cockroach effigy of Bush to be burned on October 18
October 8, 2003
Sanlakas solon brings vendors' issues to Congress
Philippines disgracefully belongs to "Di Na Natutong Ally"
October 6, 2003
Liar Queen, Retraction, a Trapo's Trademark
October 2, 2003
Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Sanlakas launches "Anti-October's Pest Campaign"
October 1, 2003
God Save Us from "Bush Almighy"
Sinking credibility hounding both GMA and Bush
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