This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 13, May 7-13, 2006
Int’l Labor Mission ‘Alarmed’
by Rising Rights Violations
Members of the International Labor Solidarity Mission (ILSM) said they are
alarmed by the rising cases of human rights violations in the country,
especially extra-judicial killings and abductions of unionists, labor
organizers, activists and supporters, under the Arroyo administration. BY
KARL G. OMBION AND RANIE AZUE BACOLOD CITY – Members of
the International Labor Solidarity Mission (ILSM) said they are alarmed by the
rising cases of human rights violations in the country, especially
extra-judicial killings and abductions of unionists, labor organizers, activists
and supporters, under the Arroyo administration. In a press conference they
called here May 5, the ILSM reported that all the victims whose cases they had
investigated were “principled and committed” organizers and activists, beloved
family members and respected members of the communities they had worked with.
Most of them devoted their lives to the defense of the rights of sugar workers,
it added. Among the main findings of
the mission was that the killings were clearly well-planned and pre-meditated.
All cases they had investigated revealed that they were preceded by
surveillance, followed by death threats and then the actual execution that
mostly took place in isolated locations with minimum chances of having
witnesses, the mission stated. The mission also found out
that the government, particularly the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the
Philippine National Police (PNP), has not displayed sincerity and determination
to protect human rights, and defend the victims and their families. The mission said in its
report that the CHR visits the scenes of the crimes or the community no more
than once. In some cases they just ask the family of victims to provide them
with whatever evidence they possess. In another case, the mission said, the CHR
never bothered to interview the family or the neighbors of the victim.
The CHR admitted to the
mission that they lack the resources both to protect witnesses and conduct
thorough investigations. The mission however dismissed this as “no excuse.” The prevailing
circumstances they have uncovered gravely pointed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
as culpable for all the killings, harassments and abductions, and other human
rights violations against cause-oriented organizers and their supporters
nationwide, said Paul Quintos, executive director of the Ecumenical Institute
for Labor Education and Research (EILER) and designated spokesperson of the
mission. He added that the
atrocities have been occurring alongside the Arroyo government’s vilification
campaign and constant branding of these organizations as “enemies of the state.” The mission urges the
government to stop the killings now, and abandon its support for the U.S. war on
“terror”. It plans to bring their findings to national and international bodies
for appropriate actions. The multi-national members
of the ILSM, coming from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and the
Philippines, came to Negros Occidental to investigate the extra-judicial
killings of Edwin Bargamento, Mario Fernandez and Manuel Bartolino, the
abduction of Perseus Geagoni, and the continuing harassments experienced by
organizers of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) and its allied
organizations. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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