Speech at People’s SONA on behalf of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines
By PETER MURPHY
Secretary General, ICHRP
Magandang hapon po sa iyong lahat!
Militant greetings to the People’s SONA from the International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines
Over 265 delegates from 27 countries came together for three days to organise a powerful international campaign to expose the criminal abuse of human rights by the US – Aquino regime.
We formed the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines and our campaign starts today at this People’s SONA.
We must end the impunity that allows the Philippines Government to be accepted in the internatioanl community when under the Aquino Presidnecy there are alreay 142 cases of Extra-Judicial Killings, 164 cases of frustrated mruder, and 64 cases of disappearances of unramed civiloians who were activists for a better life for the people. There are over 400 political prisnoers.
We condemn the political killings related to the people’s opposition to large-scale mining, killings of peasant and worker leaders, of people working for typhoon releif.
All these are a total abuse of your rights to life and freedom, guaranteed by international law and We condemn the grinding poverty of 80 million Filipino people. Thsi is another breach of human rights strognly linked to neo-liberal policies and the long domination of this countgry by United States capitalists.
We call for the removal of US military forces from the Philippines and from every country other than the United Stgates.
We call for the end of the notorious Oplan Bayanihan that unleashes the Philippines military against the people.
We call for the release of all political prisoners.
We call for the peace tgalks between the National Democratic Frong and the Governemtn of the Philippines to immediately commence in good faith.
The Filipino people are hungry for food and hungry for peace.
We are proud to stand here today in solisarity with you as you assert your right against these police to make your protest, to express your demands and democratic rights.
Karapatan ng mamayan! Ipaglaban!
Maraming salamat po.
