http://www.karapatan.org/Karapatan+scores+use+of++force+vs+Manilakbayan+rallyists

They have come to tell their stories on how the Armed Forces of the Philippines sow terror in their communities. On the third day of the Manilakbayan contingent in Metro Manila, they already experienced how the Philippine National Police used force to drive them away and to protect the US Embassy.

On November 24, the Manilakbayan contingent with hundred others from Southern Tagalog marched from Baclaran Church to US Embassy. The mostly peasants, indigenous peoples and Moro delegates from Mindanao condemned the continued and increasing presence of US troops in the country. However, the police hit them with rattan truncheons that hurt the protesters. Joseph Alicabo, a worker from the Toyota Motors Philippines was hit on the head and was wounded.

Mindanao has been hosting Balikatan military exercises since the Visiting Forces Agreement was approved in 1999. Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general cited several cases of human rights violations that Karapatan documented since then. Among them were the killing of Buyong-buyong Isnijal in 2002 and the “mysterious” death of Gregan Cardeño in 2010.

“The incident at the US Embassy may be minor compared to the massive militarization of peasant and indigenous people’s communities in Mindanao. But it showed the Manilakbayan contingent that anywhere in the country, those who avow to serve and protect the Filipino people are actually protecting the interests of the US government; that the BS Aquino government does not give an inch to protesters and is always ready to  use of force against them,” Palabay said.

More than half of the AFP’s total armed strength is currently deployed in Mindanao. “There are at least 55 battalions sowing terror in Mindanao, displacing peasants and indigenous peoples, encamped in Lumad schools, harassing, and even killing the people,” she added.

The Manilakbayan contingent is set to hold a protest action at the Department of National Defense tomorrow, November 26 to call the public’s attention to the abuses and rights violations of BS Aquino’s AFP. Already there are 83 documented cases of extrajudicial killings, 500 activists facing trumped up criminal charges, and 39 incidents of forcible evacuation.

Yesterday, after the march to the US Embassy, the Manilakbayan and Southern Tagalog contingent with other Metro Manila-based people’s organizations, held a rally at Mendiola. Lumad rituals to show their condemnation of the BS Aquino regime and to strengthen people’s unity were conducted. Lumad leaders also made ‘kudaw’ a strand of rattan with five knots to signify the number of days they are giving BS Aquino to heed the demands of the people of Mindanao. November 29 is BS Aquino’s deadline.

The Manilakbayan ng Mindanao contingent will be in Manila until December 10, where they will join in the commemoration of the International Day of Human Rights.

Reference:
Cristina “Tinay” Palabay
Secretary General
+63917-3162831

Angge Santos
Media Liaison
+63918-9790580

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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
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Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. 

Candles lit for Hacienda Luisita martyrs, all victims of trade union repression

“Ten years on since the Hacienda Luisita massacre, the Aquino presidency has no indication that it will end the bloody land monopoly of his clan and slave wages for the farmworkers. It’s totally outrageous that the President’s family expects Filipino farmworkers and their families to survive on PhP9.50/day (less than 0.30 NZ$) and silence them with bullets when they assert their long-running demand for genuine land reform.”

Thus was the statement of NZ-based human rights advocacy group as New Zealand trade union and human rights activists gathered on Friday 14th November to mark the International Day of Action against Trade Union Repression, to show solidarity with all workers asserting their rights to form unions to fight for just wages, job security and humane working conditions.

Members of Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS), FIRST Union and Unite Union lit candles after watching the documentary video on one of the worst attacks against workers’ right to freedom of association: Ten years ago, on November 16, 2004, the military and police forces opened fire on striking sugar workers of the 6,453-hectare Hacienda Luisita owned by one of the Philippines’ biggest landlords – the president’s Aquino-Cojuangco clan.

President Benigno Aquino III was the manager of Hacienda Luisita and member of Congress at the time of the massacre.

“We lit candles to reiterate demand for justice for the seven martyrs of the November 16, 2004 tragedy and the scores of union leaders and supporters brutally killed in the following months. How many more lives of poor peasants and farmworkers will be taken before the President’s family heed the numerous court orders following massive strikes and solidarity actions demanding just distribution of the land in Hacienda Luisita,” APS asked.

“We dare Pres. Aquino and his family members to try living on PhP9.50/day like the thousands of families of the striking sugar workers who remain denied of justice and dignity of hard labour up to this day,” APS concluded.

A day before the 10th anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita massacre, survivor Florida Sibayan, now chairperson of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), led Luisita farmworkers in protests in Mendiola , Manila. Supporters from different people’s organizations marched along farmworkers with “blood-stained” yellow ribbons to mark a decade of injustice after the Hacienda Luisita massacre.

Farmers carried tarpaulin banners demanding justice for the Luisita massacre’s seven martyrs, as speakers from different sectors paid tribute to the life and struggle of Jessie Valdez, Adriano Caballero Jr, Jaime Fastidio, Jesus Laza, Juancho Sanchez, Jhaivie Basilio and Jhune David.

The Hacienda Luisita massacre is the bloody strike dispersal which occurred on November 16, 2004 — 10 days after farmworkers from the United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) and sugar mill workers of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU) launched the People’s Strike (Welgang Bayan) participated in by tens of thousands of Luisita sugar workers and their families during its peak.

Sibayan and the rest of the delegation from Hacienda Luisita minced no words and pointed directly to President BS Aquino’s criminal accountability for the massacre. Aquino was a Representative of the First District of Tarlac and active manager of the Hacienda Luisita estate during the time of the massacre.

“Upang mabigyang hustisya ang mamamayan ng Hacienda Luisita, kailangang panagutin – at patalsikin – ang kriminal at kurakot na Presidenteng asendero na si Noynoy Aquino, (To grant justice for Luisita’s people, Aquino should face accountability – this criminal and corrupt landlord President must be ousted from power),” says Sibayan.

Farmers burned an effigy of President BS Aquino clad in a soldier’s camouflage uniform and riding a wayward bulldozer, symbolizing the Cojuangco-Aquino family’s “Panloloko, pandarahas at pangangamkam” (Deceit, violence and land grabbing) now prevailing in Hacienda Luisita.

“Instead of implementing land reform and the Supreme Court ruling on Hacienda Luisita, the Aquino administration has been very busy terrorizing and arresting farmers, bulldozing crops and destroying the organization’s bungkalan, burning homes, and erecting concrete fences around vast agricultural lands in Hacienda Luisita. All Luisita villages are still militarized. Impunity remains,” says Ranmil Echanis, deputy secretary general of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA).

After the Mendiola program, AMBALA and  UMA  led a 30-vehicle caravan to Hacienda Luisita, composed of w orkers, students, educators and academic staff from  different universities, church people, cultural workers, migrants’ families  and other supporters. The caravan held short stops in Plaza Miranda in Angeles City and Capas, Tarlac. The delegation from Manila arrived early evening in Luisita and was welcomed by Luisita residents with thunderous drum music and a hundred burning torches. The people marched to the covered court of Barangay Balete for a solidarity cultural night.

Supporters decry the fact that ten years have passed after the massacre which killed 7 strikers and injured more than a hundred persons without any justice rendered to the victims. “Even reports from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) — which only surfaced in full this year — declare emphatically that state security forces unlawfully killed the strikers, that the police and military did not fire in self-defense as some in the government – including then Rep.  Aquino — have claimed,” says Echanis.

Echanis is referring to Rep. Aquino’s privilege speech delivered in Congress immediately after the Hacienda Luisita massacre. “Today, Aquino thinks it his privilege to use power as top government official and Commander-in Chief to go after Luisita activists. Aquino openly plunders government coffers through the anomalous Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) so that the murderous Cojuangco-Aquino clan may maintain control of Hacienda Luisita.”

Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr.  also laments the injustice to Luisita farmers: “None of the management of Luisita, who are relatives of the President, has been charged. The Ombudsman has reportedly dismissed the cases filed against the Luisita management, police and military. A crime was committed with seven dead, yet there appears to be no criminals. Instead of seeking justice for the victims, Aquino continues to champion the interests of the landowning class and the coercive state apparatus that brought about the Luisita Massacre.”

The protest caravan resumes the next day, November 16, the anniversary of the massacre, with an ecumenical service and program in front of Gate 1 of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac, the actual site of the massacre. November 16 is also Global Action Day to seek justice for Luisita massacre victims and International Day of Action Against trade Union repression to be participated in by agrarian reform and human rights advocates in at least 20 countries.

Online, supporters use the hashtag #HLMX for content regarding the Hacienda Luisita Massacre 10th year commemoration campaign.

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http://www.karapatan.org/ManiLakbayan+to+air+HR+issues+in+Mindanao+to+Manila

Davao City — Contingents from Southern Mindanao, Cotabato, and Socksargen kicked off Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2014 with a protest action in front of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Headquarters in Panacan, Davao City today.

Human rights victims, advocates, indigenous people, peasants, workers, church people, women and children are among the 300 participants who are now travelling to Manila in a month-long human rights campaign dubbed as ManiLakbayan ng Mindanao 2014. The group’s activities will culminate in Metro Manila on December 10, International Human Right Day.

With the theme, “Food and Peace in MindaNOW!”, the campaign aims to call the public’s attention to the human rights situation in Mindanao amidst escalating military operations since the first quarter of 2014.

There are 55 AFP battalions deployed in Mindanao supposedly to combat the insurgency problem. The troops double as Investment Defense Force (IDF) that serve foreign and large-scale companies, especially mining, that plunder the resources and destroy the environment.

The massive militarization in Mindanao resulted in gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian. These are concretely manifested in increasing incidetns of extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests with trumped-up charges against activists, military encampments in communities and schools, forcible evacuation, aerial bombings and other forms of violations.

To date, there are more than 500 leaders and members of progressive people’s organizations who are face trumped up criminal charges to prevent them from speaking out against plunder and repression.

There are already more than eight incidents of forcible evacuation in 19 Lumad communities in 2014 alone. This has affected more than 700 families or some 2,900 women, men and children.

The AFP’s combat operations include aerial bombings, artillery bombardments and strafing of homes and farms. The operations displaced thousands and killed innocent civilians.

Lumad schools are red tagged and are used for military encampments. Parents, teachers and students are harassed.

The other Manilakbayan contingent from Northern and Western Mindanao is set to converge in Surigao City where, a presscon will be held. From Surigao, the group proceeds to Tacloban, Leyte for a “Salubong” before going to Allen, Samar.

The Manilakbayan travels to the Bicol region, where a solidarity activity is set in Naga City and then proceeds to the Quezon Province where more solidarity activities await them. A ‘kampohan’ will be held in Manila from November 22 to December 8. The activities lined up in Metro Manila include mobilizations and representation in various government offices such as the Department of Education, Department of Justice, House of Representatives and the Senate. Manilakbayan also joins the rally in Mendiola on December 10 for the International Human Rights Day.

#food&peace4mindanao

#manilakbayan2014

REFERENCE:
HANIMAY SUAZO

Secretary General, KARAPATAN-Southern Mindanao

Convenor, Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2014

Contact No. +63932-198-6728

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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————

Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights

2nd Flr. Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101

Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146

Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. 

Church calls for resumption of GPH-NDFP Peace Talks

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines was devastated upon learning that Fidela “Delle” Salvador y Bugarin met her death at the hands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during their military operations in Lacub, Abra, between September 4-6, 2014.

“We needed to understand what had happened. After investigation, we must come to terms with a reality that, thus far, we have no witnesses who can tell us what happened.  The information released by the perpetrators of Delle’s gruesome murder, namely the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army is not reliable — in fact, they are clearly lies,” said Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, General Secretary of the UCCP.

“We have several facts, for the record.  First, Engineer Delle Salvador was and has been a development worker with an exemplary record that spans decades; she is a civilian.  She was not a New People’s Army fighter.  Second, Delle went to Lacub, Abra with an assignment for the monitoring and evaluation of development projects in the area.  Third, her autopsy reveals nine bullet wounds, a crushed skull that was contributory to her death, and various other wounds.

“The events and time of her death are suspicious.  All of these lead us to call for justice for Delle — as a faithful Church member who we saw in action in the ministry of the Church, we will not allow the lies of the military to be the last word.  We believe that Delle was extra-judicially killed and that likely she was also tortured.  This all happened during a military operation, which makes it both a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law,” said Bishop Marigza.

The murder of Delle Salvador was part of larger military operations, which also included the extra-judicial killing of Mr. Noel Viste, after he was used by the military as a human shield.  The Church expresses the concern for the community of Lacub, Abra.

“The United Church of Christ in the Philippines condemns the killing of civilians, development worker Engineer Delle Salvador and Mr. Noel Viste from Lacub, in the strongest possible terms.  The community of Lacub continues to be militarized, schooling of the children and many livelihood activities have been disrupted.  With farmers afraid to go to their fields and people afraid to leave their house, the community is suffering.  The violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated by the 41st IBPA in Lacub from Sept 4-6, 2014 terrorized the community.  We call for the pull-out of 41st IBPA from the area,” said Bishop Marigza.

“We need to re-establish a climate of respect for the human rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Lacub, Abra.  The violations of human rights and international humanitarian law should also be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.  This cannot be done while the 41st IBPA is a present and imminent threat in the community” said Bishop Marigza.

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has decided to use this horrific tragedy as a moment to think of peace.

“Delle was a peace and justice advocate.  She believed that development for poor and marginalized communities and sectors would help to build peace based on justice.  That’s how she became an advocate for Indigenous Peoples.  In memory of Delle, we urge, once again, the resumption of Peace Talks between the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front-Philippines.  Peace talks should seek to address the root causes of the armed conflict.  We invite the Filipino people to join us in raising the call for peace in our nation and to pursue peace based on justice together, ”  said Bp. Marigza.

Justice for Delle!  Justice for Lacub, Abra!

Reference:
Bishop Reuel N. O. Margiza
General Secretary
United Church of Christ in the Philippines