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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Australian church blames RP gov't in murders of Protestants (4:30 p.m.)
CANBERRA -- The Philippine government gave at least tacit approval for the murder of 14 members of a Protestant denomination, apparently by security forces, a national Australian church group said Wednesday.
The Philippine ambassador to Australia denied his government condoned the killings and pledged they will be investigated.
The Uniting Church in Australia, the third largest Christian denomination in Australia, released a report in Canberra on its investigation into the deaths of 14 clergy and members of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines since May 2005.
The report found that no one had been charged in any of the murders, and that evidence in all the deaths suggested the involvement of the police and military in the Philippines, which is predominantly Roman Catholic.
Report author Mark Zirnsak said the victims seemed to have been targeted for involvement in left-wing politics through their faith, as well as for speaking out against corruption and human rights abuses.
"The 14 cases of murder and summary execution outlined in this report suggest the use of serial killings and systematic violence by the Philippine military and the police to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation," the report said.
"That faithful and nonviolent Christians are the target of such sustained violence amounts to an organized regime of Christian persecution with, at the very least, the tacit approval of the Philippine government," it concluded.
Philippine Ambassador Ernesto De Leon said he "strongly" objected to the claim.
"We are one with you in finding out the truth behind all these killings, and I assure you that the government of the Philippines will not condone, tolerate or even support any of these killings," De Leon told church leaders at the report launch.
He also urged the church to probe whether its members were behaving provocatively toward security forces.
The 24-page report lists the circumstances of the murders, which began with the Rev. Edison Lapuz, one of two men shot dead by a pair of gunmen at his father's home on May 12, 2005.
A military commander had visited the house on several occasions asking about Lapuz's whereabouts, the report said.
The report, which found the killers often rode motorcycles and used pistols, recommends that Australia use its aid budget to the Philippines to improve the country's focus on human rights and criminal justice.(AP) |
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