Stop the killings, open letter and petition urge

Press Release
By Asian Human Rights Commission
July 8, 2006

HONG KONG  –  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on Thursday urged the new police chief in the Philippines to "exhaust all possible means" to stop the relentless killings of human rights defenders and social activists there.

In an open letter to General Oscar Calderon, who took his post on Wednesday, the Hong Kong-based regional rights group said that he should make the identification, arrest and prosecution of killers his top priority.

"It is not sufficient to say that simply addressing the unrelenting killings is a part of your agenda; it must be at the TOP of your agenda," Basil Fernando, executive director of the AHRC, said.

Meanwhile, a petition was launched on Thursday calling for the government of the Philippines to take unequivocal steps to stop the killings in order "to avert a new social crisis".

The online petition, which was launched by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong, Philippine Independent Church and Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants together with the AHRC, estimates that there have been over 290 killings of activists since 2004.

A new website, www.pinoyhr.net  was set up to host the petition.

Two more activists were reported killed just as the petition was being launched.

The petition describes the response of the authorities to the "extraordinary number" of killings as "completely inadequate".

Both the petition and the open letter identify witness protection as a key area for attention by the police chief and justice department.

"The Witness Protection Security and Benefit Act (6981) does not appear to be operative at all. Nor are we aware of any efforts made by the police to recommend that persons at risk be recommended to the Department of Justice as beneficiaries under this law," Fernando said in the letter.

He cited the killing of Enrico Cabanit in Davao del Norte on April 24 as an example.

Cabanit's daughter survived the attack but she has since received no protection, and the perpetrators of the crime remain at large.

Similarly, Amante Abelon survived an attack in Zambales on March 20 in which his wife and son were killed. He too has since been unprotected, and witnesses to the attack also fear for their lives.

The AHRC highlighted a number of other recent cases of concern, including the failed investigations into the killings of George Vigo and his wife on June 19 and Reverend Andy Pawican on May 21.

It also said that whereas the police had allegedly been behind an attempt to kill labour activist Gerardo Cristobal on April 28, the target was instead himself charged with attempted murder.

The petition states that the killings speak to the government's failure to meet its obligations under international law, in particular, in relation to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It also called for the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines to play a stronger role in addressing the killings.

Full text of the petition may be read online at www.pinoyhr.net.

When it is signed, copies of the letter are sent to the justice department, UN human rights experts, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and the Pope.

The government of the Philippines recently outlawed the death penalty just prior to a visit to the Pope by its president.

To sign the petition, please visit: www.pinoyhr.net/signature.php.