“For those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute, speak up and judge fairly. Defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Church forum tackle Prof Alston report on activist killings, human rights

Press Release
May 15, 2009

For Reference:
Rev. Jurie Jaime, convenor, EJP
Cellphone number: 09198161876

Church advocates refuted  a report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur Prof. Philip Alston  on the number of extra-judicial killings saying that instead of a “drastic reduction in the number of leftist activits killed, “(E)vents taking shape in the provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao City and Saranggani reveal to the contrary.”

Rev. Jurie Jaime, convenor of the Exodus for Justice and Peace and the main speaker during a forum Thurday at the Grand Men Seng Hotel for the opening of the International Solidarity Mission. Around 300 churchpeople, students and human rights advocates attended the forum which was also participated by Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela, Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis, Marie Enriquez of Karapatan and some 15 international delegates.
“ If we are to look into the statistics presented by the Karapatan, it goes on to show that extra judicial killings have increased its annual number of victims—from an average of 11 between the 2001 to 2006, to the chilling number of 16 between the year 2007 to 2009,” Pastor Jaime said, citing the most barbaric is that of the killing of  Rebelyn Pitao, a 21-year old teacher and daughter of a known New People’s Army commander Leoncio Pitao.

During the forum, Pastor Jaime shared several cases of human rights violations in the areas to be covered by the International Solidarity Mission.

He cited the government-backed dislocation of peasants and small-scale miners in highly militarized Diwalwal to pave the way  for the entry of the notorious ZTE large-scale mining operations in the area.  Other mining-related problems occur elsewhere in Mindanao, as in the case of Tampakan Sagittarius Mines, and Davao Oriental, he said.

As these occur, Pastor Jaime notes of the abuses committed against environmentalists like that of  Sr. Stella Matutina, OSB and three others, and victims of extra-judicial killing: Fernando Sarmiento   in New Bataan, Eliezer “Boy” Billanes  in Koronodal City,  and Ludenio S. Monzon, in Boston. Davao Oriental.

Pastor Jaime also shared that “peasants are recruited and are  volunteered to report to work as members of the Barangay Defense System, a mechanism aiding the military in surveilling the activities of peasant villagers in New Bataan and Sta. Cruz towns, and in Paquibato district, Davao City.”

In assessing the pronouncements of the AFP, Pastor Jaime scored the fact  ‘nowhere can we find an encouraging statement that would foster a healthy and peaceful environment…  In the conflict areas, sack posters revile Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis and Karapatan as practically criminals. The idea is to speak out is to dig your grave. The message is don’t speak against the military and the mining firms or face the consequences.”

“Can we say that the abuses are but figments of imagination?  If we are to read through the case summaries of the abduction, torture, frustrated murder, and extra-judicial killing, the same events occur.”

Between August 2006 to April this year, Karapatan had documented 32 extra-judicial killings, 5 frustrated murder,  170 cases of threat and intimidation, and a total of 500 cases of human rights violations in Southern Mindanao. A total of 5,417 families were affected.

The International Solidarity Mission aims to validate these cases, ascertain their gravity and put forward fresh recommendations at the national and international level for legislative and policy review, strenghthening the executive and judiciary processes to protect the victims, their families and ordinary civilians.

Pastor Jaime also said of the “quest to restore the accountability of our government, especially of the country’s armed forces in the light of the killings and the heightened unrest in the hinterland villages in the region.”

He also saw the “need to assess the challenging aspects of the Arroyo government’s counter-insurgency plan, the protection of the witnesses, the cessation of red scare tactics against civilians and groups, and the return of peace in our communities.” ###

0 Responses to “Church forum tackle Prof Alston report on activist killings, human rights”

Post a Comment