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Church leaders have decried the human rights record of the Philippines government ahead of elections on Monday.
In a joint statement, the leaders of churches and NGOs refer to over 1,000 extra-judicial killings and numerous instances of human rights that have taken place since Gloria Arroyo became President in 2001.
They have blamed the government’s counter insurgency programme Operation Freedom Watch, claiming the government has failed to distinguish combatants from civilians who are committed to improving welfare for the country’s poor.
The statement – which was signed by the Philippine Independent Church and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines – claims: ‘The Arroyo Government must be held accountable for the death, disappearance and abuse of innocent civilians in the name of counter-insurgency.’
It continues: ‘We shared the anguish of these relatives. We grieved over the extra-judicial killings of more than a thousand people since 2001. We were saddened by stories of torture and the enforced disappearance of more than 200 people. We lamented the forcible evacuation and displacement of thousands of people in the rural areas as a result of military operations…
‘The statistics are no mere figures… The victims are farmers, workers, community leaders, indigenous people, Muslims, activists, students, health workers, church workers, lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders and party-list organisers and volunteers…
‘Not a single perpetrator of violence has been convicted’
‘To this day not a single perpetrator of these killings and violence to human life has been convicted. It is a chilling indictment on a government which claims adherence to democracy. It breeds righteous indignation and fuels further discontent.’
The statement concludes: ‘We are people who believe in God’s redeeming love… One killing is one too many… We issue this challenge to those who will be victorious following the May 10 elections: fulfil your promises; give justice to the victims of human rights violations; end political repression; discontinue the [counter insurgency programme] as a policy and never embark on any similar policy; and, address the roots of the insurgency namely, poverty and injustice.’
Controversy over vote-rigging followed the Philippines’ last election in 2005, and there are fears of cheating this time as the government attempts to introduce electronic voting for the first time.
USPG Regional Desk Officer Rachel Parry said: ‘It is so important that we speak up in solidarity with our partners in the Philippines, where so many are being silenced. The long list of extra-judicial killings and disappearances includes church leaders as well as ordinary citizens. USPG supports church programmes in the Philippines which train and empower communities to be strengthened in their advocacy work.’
Posted on 07.05.2010
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