We strongly condemn the ongoing extra-judicial killings in the Philippines!
Since 2001, the year Arroyo Government took power in Philippine, the
killings and missing of citizens, political and human rights activists have
continually increased. The number of victims is now over 750. About 75
Filipino were murdered and 25 missing people were reported for a year of
2006 solely. The victims were gunned down by an unidentified on motorbike,
wearing all in black, military boots and a mask. Instead of investigating
and disclosing the murder thoroughly, however, Philippine Government has not
taken any immediate action against such crime, nor shown interest to punish
the murderer properly.
Most of the victims are citizens such as peasants, labors, journalists,
lawyers, priest and human rights activists. Arroyo Government has repeatedly
said the government is not responsible for those killings. As matters stand,
however, it is highly possible Philippine government is actively involved in
the murder, considering facts that the victims had been threatened by the
military and police before they were murdered as well as the killings
started along with “War against Terror” initiating by US government and
actively supported by Arroyo.
Korean human rights organizations and Philippine immigrants had a press
conference in front of Philippine Embassy on September 21st, at 11 A.M.
protesting against continual killings of activists. On that morning, another
activist was murdered again in Philippine. After the press conference
protestors had a meeting with the Philippine ambassador urging stop human
rights oppression and investigate the killings thoroughly, also bring the
responsible to justice. This protest act was held in 15 different countries
in union
Besides, several events are scheduled in Insa-Dong from September 25 to 29,
15:00-17:00 such as a photo exhibition, sending postcards that protest the government and a fund raising campaign on the
street.
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[Joint Statement] We strongly condemn the ongoing extra-judicial killings in the Philippines! Thirty four years ago today, the martial law was declared that subsequently deprived freedom and lives of tens of thousands of people in the Philippines. Due to the struggle of the people the end of the Marcos regime seemed to signal and end to the martial law. However, about 751 innocent persons have been extra-judicially killed and 184 have been forcibly disappeared over the last 5 years under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government. Unfortunately, the extent of the current violence is equivalent to that which occurred for 14 years under Marcos’ rule. Most of the victims are reported to be peasants, labors, human rights defenders, lawyers, religious activists, journalists and ordinary citizens working towards progress of democracy and human rights. These killings are taking place systematically in the name of the ‘War against Terror’ and ‘Neo-liberalism’ by the Arroyo government with the promotion of the U.S government. The Arroyo government has actively responded to the so-called “war against terror” mainly led by the U.S. government and has conducted combined military operations with the U.S. under ‘Freedom Protection Plan’. As a part of this action, in June 2005, the Arroyo government illegalized several left oriented organizations including the Communist Party of the Philippines with which it had been negotiating for peace process and publicly announced an ‘all-out-war’ to wipe them out, after the revision of anti-subversion act in 1992. Furthermore, the Arroyo government has been repressing groups voicing their opposition towards the government and its neo-liberal policy with force, notwithstanding their aim and way of activities, by labeling them as communists. In this situation, all types of killings, enforced disappearances and other abuses have been taking place. In particular, we notice with grave concern that 75 extra-judicial killings and 25 enforced disappearances occurred over the first 5 months in 2006. All these violations took place while the Arroyo government is facing critical political crisis due to fraudulent elections, corruptions and failure of the neo-liberal policy. The Philippine government insists that they are not accountable for those killings and enforced disappearances. But, most of the victims are from the progressive or left oriented groups and in some cases, it was revealed that the victims had been threatened by the military and the police before they are killed. Moreover, the Philippine government has not shown any serious willingness to investigate these cases and bring those responsible to justice. Due to the government’s apparent inaction, impunity prevails in the country and more citizens are victimized. Thus, people in the Philippines as well as the international human rights community have a view that the Philippine government is responsible for these killings and other abuses. Violent suppression and attack against the human rights defenders is not only illegal itself but also serious violation of fundamental rights, in particular the right to life, of all citizens in the Philippines. We had previously urged the Philippine government to investigate the killing of Mr. Diosdado Fortuna, the labor union leader of Nestler Philippines, on October 20, 2005 and bring those responsible to justice. But the Philippine government had neglected to investigate this case and rather gave the perpetrators de facto impunity. Such the government’s failure of fulfilling its responsibility to respect and protect human rights of its citizens encourages continuing extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances of the activists. While expressing our strong solidarity to the activists of the Philippines who have to risk their lives for their daily activities, we strongly urge the Philippine government to: 1. Stop killings and abductions against its citizens including human rights defenders, labor activists and political activists; 2. Conduct thorough and impartial investigation into all the cases of killings and enforced disappearances and bring those responsible to justice; 3. Immediately stop suppression on political and civic organizations in the name of ‘national security’ and allow labour, peasants, political and human rights groups to conduct their activities freely; 4. Take genuine steps toward the peace process in the country and implement the peace agreement previously concluded with the left oriented groups including the Communist Party of the Philippines. September 21, 2006
The list of the participatory organizations: Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links Korea |
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