Condemnation on the
brutal assassination of Prof. Jose Ma. B. Cui of COURAGE-NS
January 20, 2007
We, in the regional
council of the human rights alliance KATUNGOD-Sinirangan Bisayas
condemn in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Prof.
Jose Ma. B. Cui of the University of Eastern Philippines, the
chairperson of UEP Employees Association (UEPEA)-Confederation for
Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE)
and former secretary-general of the human rights group KATUNGOD-Northern
Samar last January 19, 2007 at about 3:45 pm in front of his students
at the Engineering Building of the university in the town of Catarman
in Northern Samar.
Two motorcycle-riding
men gunned him while he was administering the examinations of his
History Class. He sustained two (2) fatal gunshot wounds – one in the
head and another in the chest that led to his instantaneous death.
According to reports
from our counterpart in Northern Samar, the perpetrators drove to the
direction of Mondragon town where a military camp is located about two
kilometers from the university campus (in Brgy. San Agustin, Mondragon).
Prof. Cui is a known
peace-loving citizen, an advocate of human rights and civil liberties
in the province of Northern Samar. He served as KATUNGOD-NS
secretary-general from 1998-2004.
It can be remembered
that during the terror-reign of Palparan, he was a subject of the
smear campaign of the military, maliciously dragging his name as a
high-ranking member of the New People’s Army (NPA). As matter of fact,
flyers were distributed and posters were posted by military men
sometime in November 2004 maligning his name.
His direct involvement
in the human rights issues, employees welfare and anti-corruption
stand could have made him a target of the “neutralization” campaign of
the AFP in its Operational Plan (Oplan) Bantay Laya 2.
He was also charged
with libel by the then commanding officer of the 63rd IB Col.
Manuelito Usi.
He was also listed no.
2 in the military’s order of battle (OB).
We are calling on the
all peace-loving Filipinos, Samarnons and people of Eastern Visayas to
oppose and condemn this incident of killing and all other
state-sponsored human rights violations.
Prof. Cui is the 105th
victim of political killing in
Eastern Visayas (from 2001-2007). This is a systematic phenomenon happening
under the present administration of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
This is a renewed terror attack as the regime implements a renewed
campaign dubbed Oplan Bantay Bayan 2.
We enjoin the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to make a thorough investigation on
this incident and all other victims of extra-judicial killings in
region. The CHR should extend help to the victims that they found
justice amidst the climate of injustice and terrorism perpetrated by
the soldiers of the AFP and the Arroyo regime.
JUSTICE FOR PROF. JOSE
MA. B. CUI!
JUSTICE FOR ALL THE
VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
STOP THE KILLINGS IN
EASTERN VISAYAS AND IN THE PHILIPPINES NOW!
(Sgd.)
KATRINA R. CASTILLO
Katungod-Sinirangan Bisayas
Spokesperson
