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Issue Number 25/26, December
2005
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Kapatiran Issue
No. 25/26, December 2005
INTERNATIONAL
SOLIDARITY MISSION (ISM)
In Defence Of A People Fighting Repression
August 14-19, 2005 - Philippines
STATEMENT
WE, 52 FOREIGNERS AND 49
FOREIGN-BASED FILIPINOS, joined the International
Solidarity Mission: In Defence of a People Fighting
Repression, out of great concern over the numerous
reports of killings of human rights defenders and
political activists in the name of the "global war
on terror", as well as over the mounting cases of
other violations of human rights and international
humanitarian law.
We visited Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac,
Central Luzon; Oriental Mindoro in Southern Tagalog;
Samar and Leyte in Eastern Visayas; Surigao in Mindanao;
Camp Bagong Diwa and several Moro communities in the
National Capital Region – key places that exemplify
the odious state of human rights in the Philippines.
We talked with survivors and witnesses.
We made ocular visits. We collected and read relevant
documents. We took photographs and video shots. We even
made, when possible, representations with local
government officials and military commanders.
We witnessed and felt the suffering of a people
who were killed, abducted, forcibly displaced, tortured,
arrested, harassed and detained in jails under deplorable
conditions. We learned about communities being bombed and
militarised, of self-help efforts being destroyed, of
legal organisations being maligned and attacked, of
violations being committed with impunity, all in the name
of land use conversion, mining, eco-tourism, logging,
“reforestation” and
“counterinsurgency” operations, the local
version of the US War of Terror.
We came face to face with people struggling for
their right to land, livelihood and a better
life as they fight political repression. We were made
aware that the deplorable human rights situation meant
that thousands leave the Philippines every week to seek
work overseas. They often suffer human rights abuse even
more as they encounter further human rights violations
and negligence in countries where they are compelled to
seek work or livelihood.
We saw gross, wholesale, grievous, brutal and
widespread human rights violations. Even as we
were divided into five teams we heard over and over again
the same stories everywhere of men and women from among
peasants, indigenous peoples, workers, local officials,
church people, lawyers and, worst of all, children being
targeted. The cries for justice reverberate!
We experienced harassment first hand, of
streamers and flyers vilifying human rights
organisations, of being surrounded by soldiers in full
battle gear, of being strip searched in Camp Bagong Diwa,
of intelligence agents attempting to infiltrate our
ranks, of our mission being delayed and blocked by State
security forces.
We realise that these violations are systematic
– premeditated, committed with impunity and brazen
heinousness, without semblance of any real investigation
and of perpetrators not being held accountable at all.
We have come to the conclusion that these
violations are not isolated events but part of
the policy of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government,
committed in the guise of a “war on terror”. In
actuality they are contrived to create a climate of fear
and intimidation in complicity with the US government. We
also hold the US government accountable, not only for
supporting the Arroyo government but more importantly,
for waging its global war of terror, which is but US
imperialism’s assertion of global hegemony.
Major General Jovito Palparan’s statement that “For
every soldier killed, ten civilians will be killed in
their place…” speaks a lot in terms of
government policy, concretely showing the practice of
State terrorism in the Philippines.
We are emboldened by the warm welcome that we
received from the people and the courage of
witnesses who braved risks to tell us their stories. We
see hope in the persistence of the people in rebuilding
their communities, seeking a meaningful life and in the
resoluteness of the Filipino people in the struggle for
fundamental change. We know that only in unity will the
people prevail. Long Live International Solidarity!
Our Calls
1. Render swift justice and compensation for the victims
of human rights violations.
2. Immediately release all political prisoners,
especially women, minors, the elderly, and those who are
seriously ill.
3. Conduct a thorough and independent investigation of
human rights violations. Hold accountable and prosecute
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Dishonourably
discharge, prosecute and punish Major General Jovito
Palparan and all other officers and members of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National
Police (PNP) who are found guilty of human rights
violations.
4. Put a stop to militarisation.
5. Expose and resist US intervention.
6. Resolve the just demands of the workers, peasants and
other basic sectors.
7. Recognise and respect ancestral rights.
8. Stop discrimination against and demonisation of the
Moro people. Respect their right to religion.
9. Stop the incitement to violence against unarmed
civilians, communities, activists and their
organisations.
10. Resume peace talks between the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic
Front of the Philippines, Moro National Liberation Front,
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Respect and
implement all agreements forged during the negotiations.
11. Conduct massive information and education campaign to
raise awareness on human rights and international
humanitarian law.
Our Commitment
1. We will link up with and build solidarity among groups
and individuals in different countries to strengthen
support to the demands and struggles of the Filipino
people who continue to be deprived of their rights.
2. We will make the international community aware of the
stories of human rights violations through public fora
and other information dissemination activities.
3. We will organise actions for justice.
4. We will campaign for the protection of human rights
defenders.
5. We will put pressure on the United Nations and other
international bodies to act on the cases brought to the
International Solidarity Mission and the International
People’s Tribunal.
6. We will pressure our governments to withdraw financial
aid and political support from the Arroyo government.
7. We will campaign against militarisation and US
intervention.
8. We will support the struggles of the Filipino people.
9. As a special concern, we will promote and defend the
rights of overseas Filipino workers.
10. We will continue to monitor and respond to reports of
violations of human rights and international humanitarian
law.
We vow to work hard to fulfil our commitments so that
this Statement, as well as the Verdict, Judgment, and
Call to Action of the International People’s
Tribunal, will have concrete meaning to the victims of
human rights violations that also constitute crimes
against humanity. We shall continue to be one with the
Filipino people who continue to fight repression and
State terrorism. We shall stand by them and all peoples
of the world fighting oppression and exploitation by
their governments and imperialist powers. Linking with
each other in solidarity, we will never stop until
justice for the Filipino people is done!
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