A Statement of Concern
on the Wave of Killings
of Political Activists
IN JUST a span of 7x days since January
15, 32 people, identified with activist political parties and
organizations, have been systematically gunned down in a series of
incidents across the country. In Central Luzon alone, the center of the
Hacienda Luisita dispute, 13 have been summarily executed and 5 have been
abducted and are still missing.
What wrong have these persons
committed that they should be silenced by a hail of bullets?
The victims – of such diverse backgrounds
as Tarlac City Councilor and Bayan Muna Leader Abelardo Ladera (+ March
3), radio broadcaster and Bayan Ilocos Secretary General Romy Sanchez (+
March 9), IFI priest and PCPR member William Tadena (+ March 13), human
rights lawyer and Bayan Muna coordinator Felidito Dacut (+ March 14) and
Anakpawis and KMP peasant leader Ben Concepcion (+ March 17) -- had one
thing in common other than their commitment to serving the people and
fighting for national sovereignty, genuine democracy and social justice.
They were affiliated with legal organizations that have become the object
of vilification by those who invoke the mantra of “national security” to
suppress the voices of dissent.
Is there an
undeclared war on activists that has rendered them open targets of attack?
Let the facts speak for themselves. Since
2001, 49 coordinators and members of party-list Bayan Muna have been
slain; 10 have been abducted and are still missing. Anakpawis: 19 killed,
xx missing. Gabriela Women’s Party: xx killed. Anakbayan: xx killed.
Karapatan: xx killed. Just as alarming is the number of other civilians,
mostly peasant folk, slain on mere suspicion of leftist links. The scale
and enormity of repression are further evident in the high number of cases
of frustrated murder, abduction and disappearance, illegal detention and
various forms of harassment. Included here are prominent human rights
lawyers -- UN ad litem Judge Romeo T. Capulong and Atty. Charles
Juloya of Ilocos – who survived assassination attempts while helping their
clients seek justice.
Does government
silence and inaction indicate that it officially sanctions the repression?
Military and police officials and their
entire units are implicated in the concentrated campaign of terror and
repression against unarmed political activists and their supporters. Not
one has been brought to justice; the most notorious have even been
promoted. Official military documents tagging militant organizations as a
“national security problem” further bolster suspicions that there is an
official policy of sanction for the lethal use of summary execution and
other human rights violations on political activists. At any rate, the
escalating crackdown on activists is but part of a larger pattern of
impunity – in a country where extrajudicial killings have become the norm,
victimizing even journalists and notably, Muslim leaders and common folk.
How many more lives should be
snuffed out before we heed the cries of the widows and orphans?
Today, we speak out for all those who can
no longer speak for themselves – and for ourselves too, because we are all
at risk. We remember the lessons of martial law that whatever is done to
muzzle the voice of one is an act done to all; the use of the gun to
silence political dissent is an attack on the basic freedoms that define a
democracy.
We ask all concerned Filipinos to join us
as we demand: Stop the killings and harassment! Relieve all
military, police and other state agents implicated in the murder and
enforced disappearance of activists! Bring the perpetrators to justice!
Renounce and scrap all policies and measures that curtail civil liberties
and human rights!
To be silent and not to act in the face of
brazen acts of violence will only multiply the injustices already
committed.
NAME in
print/Affiliation* Signature Address/Contact
Number
____________________
__________________ __________________
*(Pls note with an asterisk if you’re
designated affiliation is for identification purposes only.)
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© 2004 Bulatlat
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