Members of Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS) gathered at the peak of Mt Eden today to express solidarity with the Filipino and Dutch people in demanding justice for Willem Geertman.
We are seriously concerned about the safety of New Zealanders and other foreign social workers currently assisting poor Filipino communities. We mourn with the Filipino and Dutch people the loss of a great man who dedicated more than half his lifetime serving the indigenous peoples and peasants whose rights to land and livelihood have been constantly attacked by mining, landgrabbing and destructive business-government projects in Central Luzon.
Today we climb up the peak of Mt Eden, one of the highest places in Auckland, New Zealand, to symbolically pledge support of New Zealanders in raising to greater heights the efforts of international community to seek justice for all human rights victims in the Philippines.
Initial police reports suggested that robbery was the motive for Geertman’s killers. However, a number of human rights and social justice organizations in the Philippines have noted that the methods used by the killers are very similar to those used in the extrajudicial killings of Filipino activists in recent years, who like Geertman have dedicated themselves to supporting the rights of the most marginalized sectors of Philippine society.
An independent investigation is needed to ascertain the full facts of Geertman’s murder. Under the 2-year Aquino administration, it is deplorable that the extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and illegal detention of Filipino citizens involved in socio-political causes have continued.
We challenge the president to declare on his upcoming State of the Nation Address that as Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine military he would take decisive steps to end impunity and hold accountable all those responsible for the killings of Geertman, the Italian priest Fr Tentorio and as many as 90 Filipinos during his administration.
Reference:
Cameron Walker
Spokesperson, Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS)
ph.solidarity@gmail.com
A protest picket/vigil was held at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, The Netherlands today, 6 July, to condemn the killing of Dutch national Willem Geertman, and to demand swift justice from the government of President Benigno Aquino III.
Theo Droog, chairperson of the Nederlands-Filippijns Solidariteitsbeweging (NFS, Dutch-Philippine Solidarity Movement) led a delegation that went inside the embassy to talk with the Philippine ambassador and asked the ambassador to deliver their strong letter-petition to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.
“We call on the Philippine government under Aquino to carry out forthwith a thorough and impartial investigation and to criminally prosecute the suspects.
The letter, which was endorsed by the brothers and sister of Willem, was signed by a member of the Dutch Parliament, high-ranking Dutch church leaders and pastors, lawyers, university professors and academics, union leaders, development workers, medical doctors, Carmelite priests, human rights and migrant rights advocates and former Dutch development volunteers in the Philippines.
A mural, which says “Rechtvaardigheid voor Willem Geertman en alle slachtoffers van mensenrechtenschendingen in de Filippijnen” (Justice for Willem Geertman and all victims of human rights violations in the Philippines), flowers and candles were mounted in front of the embassy with the photos of Geertman.
this solidarity worker who dedicated more than four decades of his life working with poor farmers and rural folks in Central Luzon.
