Stop the Killings in
the Philippines
By the Hong Kong Christian Institute
Posted by Bulatlat
The Hong
Kong Christian Institute (HKCI) is deeply concerned about the increasing
number of political killings and human rights violations in the
Philippines. We urge the Philippine government to take stronger action to
address this issue and prevent further killings from taking place.
The
right to life is the most fundamental human right. We applaud the
Philippine government's recent decision to abolish the death penalty.
Meanwhile, however, there are ongoing and escalating political killings
taking place. HKCI is appalled that more than 700 people have died from
extrajudicial killings since President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo took office in 2001. Moreover, hundreds of cases of
abductions and harassment have also occurred.
Even though
President Arroyo expressed her concern about these extrajudicial killings
in her State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on July 24, 2006, and Task Force
Usig (TFU) was set up in May, extrajudicial killings persist. Just after
President Arroyo's speech, for example, two people
—
Rei Mon
Guran and Alyce Claver
—
were shot and
killed on July 31 in politically motivated incidents. In addition,
Dr. Constancio "Chandu"
Claver was also shot in the same attack and is in critical condition.
HKCI is disappointed that the government's
concern has not been translated into effective action to stop these
political killings.
Gen.
Avelino Razon, Jr.
of the
Philippine National Police (PNP) denied that more than 700 political
killings have taken place in the Philippines since 2001, a figure reported
by human rights organisations in the country, claiming instead that it was
the propaganda of progressive groups. For the cases that the TFU has
investigated,
he asserted
that the alleged perpetrators were primarily members of the New
People's Army (NPA), but how can he make this claim when the
investigations have not been completed and no one has been arrested?
The HKCI joined
a fact-finding mission in July 2006 that interviewed a number of witnesses
to these political killings. Many of the victims are members of
progressive group and human rights activists. Before their death, some of
them were harassed and warned not to continue their struggles. According
to witnesses, some of the perpetrators were masked and were wearing
military uniforms.
Although there
are witnesses to some extrajudicial killings, they are too frightened to
speak up, a reflection of the loopholes in the witness protection system
that discourages witnesses from giving testimony. Some of the victims'
families have even fled to other communities to avoid further harassment.
Meanwhile, the
commitment of the government and police to investigate these killings
needs to be questioned as the victims' families have complained that
investigations have been insufficient, and the cases have been dismissed
in a short period of time because of insufficient evidence.
HKCI strongly
denounces these political killings which have snatched people's lives.
This political repression suppresses the expression of people's political
beliefs and convictions and attempts to silence dissidents.
HKCI wants to
remind the Philippine government that the world is watching the alarming
and increasing number of human rights violations in the country. Each
killing is a blemish on the international image of the Philippines.
HKCI
demands that the Philippine government protect the life of every citizen.
Since members of progressive groups, union leaders, farmers, journalists,
human rights lawyers and church leaders are the people at greatest risk,
the government should take measures to ensure their safety. All threats
reported to the police should immediately be followed up, and protection
should be provided. When extrajudicial killings occur, the police should
promptly and impartially investigate every killing and should bring the
perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.
As for
the loopholes in witness protection, the PNP should examine the
deficiencies in the programme and quickly reform the system.
Furthermore, the government should stop labelling human rights activists
as NPA members without evidence to substantiate these claims. These
accusations cannot justify the harassment and human rights violations
committed against the victims; these accusations cannot give the police
and military a state-sanctioned license to kill.
Among the
people who have died from these political killings, quite a number of them
are from the church sector. HKCI is especially
inspired by the courage and
commitment of many Christian activists to be faithful to the Gospel and to
walk with the poor, to challenge the oppressor and to seek justice for all
in spite of many challenges and obstacles. Although their lives are at
risk, they still dare to confront these challenges and obstacles. Their
example offers so much from which we Christians in Hong Kong can learn,
especially their witness and presence in society.
In
addition to joining the fact-finding mission, HKCI will continue to raise
the awareness of Hong Kong's people about the violence that is threatening
the lives of so many Filipinos. We add our voices to those of the Filipino
people and others around the world: the killings must stop now!
16 August
2006
Posted by Bulatlat
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