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Saturday, September 16, 2006
Group says probe on slays must be credible
MANILA -- An international human rights group on Thursday asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to ensure that the investigation on extrajuducial killings is transparent and independent.
Amensty International (AI) said the Melo Commission probe must also result in those behind the killings being held accountable so justice would be afforded to all victims.
Arroyo had invited Amnesty International (AI) during a meeting in London to help the Philippines investigate the series of killings of journalists and activists in the country.
Arroyo, during a meeting with AI secretary general Irene Khan, asked the group to coordinate with the Melo Commission and recommend some human rights investigators that could assist in the investigations.
She also reiterated her determination to solve and put an end to the spate of killings, adding that her government does not condone any form of violence or gross violations of human rights.
The President earlier invited Spain, Finland, and Belgium to assist in the investigations, including recommending some possible international non-government organizations (NGOs) to help look into situation.
Khan in the meeting said the AI welcomed Arroyo's decision to form the Melo Commission and urged her to "exercise the same determined leadership that saw the Philippines abolish the death penalty in June this year, to put an end to the political killings and to strengthen the administration of justice."
She also presented to Arroyo a memorandum setting out international guidelines on commissions of inquiries, which the Melo Commission may want to adhere to "in order to gain the credibility and support of all sides, and carry out its work effectively and independently."
Khan said the commission must be both independent and seen to be independent of the government, which could be proven by its deployment of its own independent investigators where it is necessary.
"The commission should take a victim-centered approach, with justice for the victims as paramount. Intimidation and violence is still a very real problem and witnesses will not come forward if they are scared for their lives. The government needs to provide effective witness protection: victims' families, witnesses, and all others involved must be protected," Khan said.
Aside from getting to the bottom of the killings, the commission should also make recommendations that would lead to long-term changes, she added.
She said they should propose reforms, "whether that means reforming laws and institutional practices or strengthening the justice system," that would prevent a repeat of these incidents.
"The Melo Commission must not shy away from making hard-hitting recommendations to end political killings once and for all, which would help restore conditions for the peace process between the government and the communists to be restarted, based on respect for human rights by all sides," she said.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, in an interview in Havana, said the government would welcome any help that AI could extend.
Gonzales said the human rights group's assistance would be valuable not just in erasing the negative outlook on the Philippines brought about by the killings but also in providing technical expertise like forensics.
He added that they are pleased with the AI's help but "we only issued an appeal not to politicize the issue (of political killings as) some elements of the AI may have that tendency to politicize."
He said the government is aware of allegations that some military and police members may be involved in the killings and they are looking into that, as well as possible involvement of left-leaning groups, organized crime syndicates, and even local politicians especially in the cases of some killed journalists.
National Democratic Front (NDF) negotiating panel chairman Luis Jalandoni said President Arroyo's invitation for impartial bodies to look into the killings is just another "vain attempt to deceive."
Jalandoni said the creation of the Melo Commission and Task Force Usig of the Philippine National Police (PNP) had already been foreseen as lacking the credibility to be independent fact-finding bodies "since they are clearly taking their cues from Arroyo."
NDF panel spokesman Fidel Agcaoili also said the Melo Commission was created to whitewash the investigations, which is a sign that the spate of killings would continue. He said the body has no independence as it gets its resources from the military and relies on the claims of Task Force Usig.
He also doubted that the invitation to the international body is aimed at solving the killings, saying her real goal is to allegedly "counter the findings and recommendations of the fact-finding missions of AI, World Council of Churches (WCC), and the professional organizations of journalists, lawyers and others."
"No matter how tricky and treacherous, the Arroyo regime will not be able to escape an ignominious end. The broad masses of the people will ultimately get rid of a regime that is so despicably servile to foreign interests and so greedy, corrupt, brutal and mendacious," he added. (JMR/Sunnex)
(September 16, 2006 issue)
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