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Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Church, gov't launch campaign v. human rights violators
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
LOCAL church leaders and public officials have now initiated a signature campaign calling for the government to relieve all military, police and other state agents implicated in the murder of 31 political activists since January to May this year.
Some of the signatories include Monsignor Elmer Abacahin of the Social Action Center, Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) president Richard Vallar and Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Julio Uy.
Also Provincial Board (PB) of Misamis Oriental members Norris Babiera, Oliver Actub, Criseldes Cailing, Santiago Sabal, Ed Ayunting, Francisco Bade, Jun Kho, Jeremy Pelaez, Jimmy Cai¤a, Emeritu Acain Jr., Pepeito Gambe and Clyde Abbott.
Cagayan de Oro Barangay Captains Eric Salcedo, Teodulfo Lao Jr. of Barangay Lapasan, Barangay Gusa Councilors Marlon Tabac, Emmanuel Beja and Rudy Baltazar among others.
The signature campaign furnished to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro contains how in a span of 16 weeks since January 31 people, identified with activist political parties and organizations have been "systematically gunned down in a series of incidents across the country."
"What wrong have been these persons committed that they should be silenced by a hail of bullets?" the statement reads.
It also hinted on government's "silence" and "inaction" indicating it officially sanctions the scale of repression.
The statement said military and police officials and their entire units are "implicated in the concentrated campaign against unarmed political activists and their supporters."
It stated how not one has been brought to justice and the most notorious have even been promoted.
Larger pattern
The statement cited how official military documents tagging military organizations as a "national security problem" further bolster suspicions that there is an official policy of sanction and other human rights violations and on political activists.
"At any rate, the escalating crackdown on activities is part of a larger pattern of impunity--in a country where extra-judicial killings have become the norm, victimizing even journalists and entire communities," the statement reads.
"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."
The statement signed called on the government to bring the perpetrators to justice. Scrap all policies and measures that curtail civil liberties and human rights.
For them, to be "silent in the face of brazen acts of violence will only multiply the injustices already committed."
Those brutally murdered include Tarlac City councilor and Bayan Muna Leader Abelardo Ladera (March 3), radio broadcaster and Bayan-Ilocos Romy Sanchez (March 9) and IFI priest and PCPR member William Tadena (March 13).
Also, human rights lawyer and Bayan Muna coordinator Feledito Dacut (March 14), Anakpawis and KMP peasant leader Ben Concepcion (March 17) and UCCP Conference Minister and PCPR Co-Founder Reverend Edison Lapus (May 12) among others.
"They had one thing in common other than their commitment to serving the people and fighting for national sovereignty, genuine democracy and social justice," the statement reads.
"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," it added.
Death toll
The statements signed also lamented on how it is the venue where the signatories "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 the political dissent is an attack on the basic freedoms and define democracy," it reads.
The statement also insinuated that there is an "undeclared war" on activists that has rendered them open targets of attack.
It then cited figures on how since 2001, 51 leaders and members of the party-list Bayan Muna have been killed and 14 others still missing, Anakpawis with 17 killed, Gabriela Women's party with two killed.
"The death toll is also mounting on other progressive party-lists as well as militant people's and human rights organizations," it says.
But the statement signed also voice alarm on the number of other civilians, mostly peasant folk, slain on mere suspicion of leftist links.
This as the signatories believe that 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."
It even included prominent human rights lawyers--UN ad litem Judge Romeo Capulong and Attorney Charles Juloya of Ilocos--who survived assassination attempts while helping their clients seek justice.
(June 7, 2005 issue)
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