Hong Kong, China — Recent attacks by Muslim mobs on Christian communities in Pakistan are of grave concern as they once again reflect the use of religion as a means to divide people and to incite hate and violence against others – the antithesis of both Islam and Christianity.

Hong Kong, China — At the root of many social, economic and political problems in the Philippines, lies a lack of genuine land reform. Although the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program was enacted into law in 1988 under President Corazon Aquino, farmers are still waiting to receive 1.9 million hectares of land.

Hong Kong, China — When the writ of “amparo,” or protection, took effect in the Philippines last year, there was hope that this new legal mechanism would offer a legal remedy for victims of killings and disappearances, their family members and witnesses to human rights violations. But now it is being undermined.

Hong Kong, China — The daughters of slain Filipino peasant activist Eddie Gumanoy – Rose Anne, 21, and Fatima, 17 – were traveling to the city of Cavite on July 3 when they realized they were being followed. They sent a text message to their mother Maria to meet them at a mall, but the two sisters never arrived.

Hong Kong, China — A 75-year-old man fatally fell from a ladder while repairing a leaky roof in the Philippines on May 20 before an approaching typhoon. The way Congressman Crispin Beltran died speaks volumes about the way he lived, for how many 75-year-old congressmen would be repairing their own leaky roof?

Hong Kong, China — In most nations, the role of the armed forces is to defend the country while that of the police is to maintain law and order. In the Philippines, however, both military and police forces have turned against ordinary people, treating them as enemies of the state, as two incidents last month reveal.

Hong Kong, China — While the eyes of the Philippines are rightly focused on the corruption tainting the core of the country's political leadership and their family members, there is another insidious disease that is also quietly infecting the nation: the militarization of society.

Hong Kong, China — The number of extrajudicial killings and disappearances in the Philippines dramatically dropped in 2007 -- a welcome development. There have been convictions in only two cases out of hundreds of incidents, however. With so few arrested and convicted, violence may escalate again.

Hong Kong, China — A series of corruption scandals that have afflicted the Philippines, involving inappropriate government contracts, bribery of congressmen and officials, and the pardoning of convicted former President Joseph Estrada, show an absence of ethical leadership.

Hong Kong, China — Corruption is not a new phenomenon in the Philippines. Mention the name Marcos and associations with corruption, along with human rights abuses and impunity, will most likely spring to mind.

Hong Kong, China — In the midst of recent allegations of corruption involving the Philippine government's award to Chinese firm ZTE Corp. for nationwide broadband services for government agencies, bribes to congressmen to support a weak impeachment motion that will immunize

Hong Kong, China — The hundreds of extrajudicial killings and disappearances in the Philippines since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took office in 2001 have been deservedly condemned by the international community and by the citizens of the country. Calls have been made

Hong Kong, China — Republic Act No. 9372 -- better known as the Human Security Act of 2007 or the Anti-terrorism Act -- takes effect on July 15 after being passed by the Philippine Congress in February and signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 6.

Hong Kong, China — Within a span of several days in the middle of May, two important elections involving the Philippines were held. During the first election on May 14, citizens throughout the country cast their ballot for 12 senators -- half of the Senate -- all 230 member

Hong Kong, China — How many extrajudicial killings are acceptable to the Philippine government? The question is important as the Philippine National Police's Task Force Usig, which was specifically entrusted by the Arroyo administration to investigate and prevent these kill