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International lawyers’ group challenge Philippine gov’t to arrest forthwith notorious fugitive general

ICHRP Secretariat
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International lawyers’ group challenge Philippine gov’t to arrest forthwith notorious fugitive general

Press Release – Demand Release of Political Prisoners, Ask Stop to US Intervention and Call for Resumption of Peace  Negotiations

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), a non-governmental organization founded in 1947 that has consultative status with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and accredited with the UN Human Rights Council, has called on the Philippine government to use all its powers, resources and machinery in immediately arresting retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. who has gone into hiding for three months now.

Gen. Palparan has been indicted for the enforced disappearance of two young activist students Sherilyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno who were forcibly abducted, brutally tortured, and repeatedly raped in 2006. He faces a string of other pending and potential suits for his involvement in hundreds of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture and other violations when he was in active service during the time of former President Gloria Arroyo.

In the recently concluded meeting of its governing Bureau in Brussels, Belgium over the weekend, the IADL approved by consensus and in principle an omnibus resolution challenging the administration of President Benigno Aquino III to leave no stone unturned to immediately arrest Gen. Palparan and prosecute him forthwith, noting that he is reportedly the highest-ranking military official that has ever been criminally indicted for human rights violations after the Marcos dictatorship.

The IADL resolution said that violators of human rights anywhere in the world, wherever they are, must answer for their crimes against humanity. The IADL emphatically stressed that targeting of civilians violates the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It underscored that those who violate these laws must be held accountable.

The IADL, which reputedly has members in 90 countries, asked its country affiliates to blast the information about Gen. Palparan and to closely monitor the case/s against him even as it twitted Pres. Aquino for striking a distant and uncaring pose about pressing social and economic issues.

The IADL, headed by its President Jeanne Mirer from the New York-based National Lawyers Guild (NLG) that has thousands of members in all the states of the US, noted that there continues a bubble of impunity even under the present government. It expressed concern that serious and credible reports of killings, disappearances, torture, urban poor demolitions and other human rights violations continue; that the government has by and large not undertaken clear, strong, concrete and effective steps to make perpetrators accountable; and that political prisoners still unjustly languish in jail.

The IADL said that unless perpetrators are punished and held accountable for their actions, the violations will continue with impunity. It pointed out that unless positive and concrete actions are taken by the government to improve the dire human rights situation, there will be more victims and the likes of Gen. Palparan will continue to sow terror.

Consistent with its various campaigns to work for the release of political prisoners all over the world, the IADL also joined appeals that the more than 300 political prisoners be immediately released through a general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty or through any other mutually acceptable mode of release.

The Bureau was also informed how the legal and judicial system in the Philippines has perpetrated the injustice against these prisoners through the filing of false or wrong charges – a practice that is also incompatible with international human rights law and international criminal law principles- ,  the improvident use of generic names to persecute branded “enemies of the state,” and the infectiveness or impracticability of existing local legal remedies.

The IADL agreed that if the Aquino government is really serious and sincere in its commitment to improve the Philippine human rights situation, the release of political prisoners is only proper and an imperative as a matter of law, principle and justice.

The IADL also resolved to ask the Philippine and US governments to stop US intervention in the country through deceptive and unequal visiting forces agreements or arrangements and is expressed alarmed at talks to expand the presence of US troops, facilities and materiel. It pointed out that this is contrary to the general principles in international law, particularly on national sovereignty and the right of peoples to self-determination.

The IADL has consistently opposed and campaigned against any kind of foreign intervention in any country including economic, political, and military interference. It lamented that US troops remain in the Philippines despite the historic struggle and laudable victory in kicking out in the 1990s the two largest military bases outside the US mainland.

Finally, the IADL resolution called on the Philippine government and the liberation movement National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to resume their peace negotiations to address and resolve the roots of the armed conflict, even as it noted that the landmark Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) marked its 14th anniversary while the Bureau was in session. The Bureau was informed that the CARHRIHL conforms to international legal principles and standards that the IADL stands for and in fact contains provisions on the foregoing issues contained in the IADL Resolution.

In a related vein, the IADL affirmed its full support to its officers and members who make up in their individual capacities the majority of the International Legal Advisory Team (ILAT) to the NDFP Negotiating Panel. The ILAT gives its advice and opinion pro bono on matters of international law related or coming out of the peace negotiations.

Those present at the Brussels meeting were lawyers who are key leaders or prominent representatives of different  democratic lawyers associations in 16 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and Latin America including  Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Germany, France, Haiti, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Philippines, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), the affiliate of the IADL in the Philippines and which represents the families of the disappeared university students and several other victims of human rights violations, was represented by its Secretary General in the Bureau meeting.#

Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General, (0063) (0)9175113373
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National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers(NUPL)
3F Erythrina Bldg., Maaralin corner Matatag Sts. Central District,Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.No.920-6660,Telefax No. 927- 2812
Email addresses:nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
“Visit the NUPL  at http://www.nupl.net/

By calling yourselves the ‘people’s lawyer,’ you have made a remarkable choice. You decided not to remain in the sidelines. Where human rights are assaulted, you have chosen to sacrifice the comfort of the fence for the dangers of the battlefield. But only those who choose to fight on the battlefield live beyond irrelevance.”  Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, in his message to the NUPL Founding Congress,Sept. 15, 2007

Karapatan to AFP: Stop victim blaming

ICHRP Secretariat
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Karapatan to AFP: Stop victim blaming

Press Statement, March 21, 2012 – “The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should stop its habit of blaming the people whose rights are violated in the implementation of its counter-insurgency program, Oplan Bayanihan, especially when the victims are children,” asserted Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of Karapatan.

The AFP claimed that the 6 year-old Rodilyn Aguirre was killed, and her 4 year-old sister Baby wounded, because of their involvement with NPA activities, specifically in manufacturing improvised explosive device (EID). “These are not only false claims, these are preposterous! Rodilyn and her sister were hit by grenade shrapnel from an M203 launcher. The barangay residents believed that the explosion could only come from the nearby detachment of the 61st IB-PA as they often saw army personnel Willy Faulo brandishing that weapon, ” retorted Hilao-Enriquez.

Results of the fact finding by Karapatan-Panay stated that on March 11, the two children were in their house with their grandfather, Julian Aguirre, when an explosion struck a few meters from their house. The report said that, “Rodilyn was hit by shrapnel from M203 launcher in “different parts of her body, resulting in fatal injuries. The most fatal wounds were on her left eye and her neck. Baby sustained superficial injuries on her face, arms and stomach.” Rodilyn died on the way to the hospital which was  “two hours walk and another hour by motorcycle away from the village.”

Karapatan said that the people in Brgy. Tacayan have, for years, complained of the military’s presence in their village for fear of their safety. Hilao-Enriquez said that, “this is proof that civilians’ lives are endangered by the mere presence of the military in the communities. Children are especially vulnerable to such violations, depriving them not only of a peaceful environment, but of their lives and security as well.”

Four days earlier, on March 7, 10 year-old Michael Mancera and brother Richard, 7 y.o., were likewise killed when soldiers from the 49th IB in Labo, Camarines Sur fired at the Mancera’s house. The 24 sqm. Mancera house was riddled with bullets. Recovered from the different spots outside the house were a total of 231 spent shells from armalite rifles. To cover up the killings, the military tagged Benjamin, Michael and Richard’s father, as “NPA militia” and called the incident an ‘encounter’ between the military and the NPA.

Karapatan said it has been the practice of the AFP to easily and immediately brand the victims of human rights violations as members or supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) to wash off their bloodied tracks. Hilao-Enriquez added that, “the AFP often uses ‘legitimate encounters’ or ‘hot pursuit operations’ against the NPA to cover up its rights violations against the unarmed civilians in the communities. They are mindless of who are victimized in the process because they have a healthy excuse — branding civilians, including children as rebels, as if branding a person as NPA or NPA supporter justifies extrajudicial killing.”

Karapatan reiterates its call “to immediately pull out military units in the communities and stop the implementation of Oplan Bayanihan which is nothing but a repackaged Oplan Bantay Laya. ###
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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 Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., 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.

Indigenous leader and village chief killed by paramilitary in Bukidnon, Mindanao, southern Philippines

ICHRP Secretariat
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Urgent Action Alerts

UA No: 2012-03-01
UA Case : EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING

Victim : JIMMY LIGUYON

37 years old, married with 5 children,
Vice chair of the indigenous peoples’ group KASILO Lumad,
belonging to the Matigsalog tribe, Barangay (village) chair of Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon

Place of Incident : Purok 2, Dao, San Fernando Bukidnon

Date of Incident : March 5, 2012 at 6:30 pm

Suspected Perpetrators :

ALDE SALUSAD a.k.a. Butsoy,Member of TRIOM Force together with 15 armed men suspected to be members of the TRIOM Force
NONONG SALUSAD, Father of Alde Salusad, and a rebel returnee who is associated with the 8th IB under the command of Lt. Fallar
MEDY MANCILLA, MERLYN ISIDRO, FAUSTO BACLIRAN

All three are barangay council members of Dao village

Account of the Incident

Jimmy M. Liguyon, a leader of indigenous people in Bukidnon who steadfastly protected his village from the intrusion of destructive mining activities and bio-fuel plantations, is the latest victim of extrajudicial killing under the Aquino administration.

On March 5, 2012 at about 6:30 in the evening, Liguyon, who was also the barangay (village) chair of Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon was shot dead inside his residence by paramilitary man Alde Salusad a.k.a. Butsoy, using an Armalite rifle. Salusad is a member of the paramilitary group TRIOM Force reportedly created by Vice Mayor Levy Edma and backed by Lt. Fallar of 8th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army based at Halapitan, San Fernando Bukidnon.

Emelio and Arser Liguyon, brothers of the victim, narrated that at about 5:30 in the afternoon, they went to Jimmy’s house to borrow money and rice for family consumption as well as for supplies for their livelihood.

Emelio and Aser recounted that they were talking with Jimmy at the terrace of his house when Salusad arrived accompanied by 15 armed men in military fatigue uniform. Salusad walked in without giving courtesy.

When Salusad was about one meter away from Jimmy, he asked the victim about the presence of the military in the area. Jimmy replied that he did not notice soldiers roving the area. Salusad then ordered Jimmy to transfer to the opposite bench. Jimmy obeyed and stood up. Salusad pretended to offer his hand to shake Jimmy’s, then, without a word, shot him with his baby armalite rifle, hitting the latter in the chest which instantly killed him.

Terrified by the incident, Emelio and Aser ran in separate direction, leaving Jimmy behind.

Witnesses disclosed that they heard Salusad saying: “Akong gipatay si kapitan tungod kay wala kini mipirma sa SANMATRIDA o wala mohatag og certification sa SANMATRIDA *(I killed the captain [village chief] because he wouldn’t sign the SANMATRIDA and refused to give certification to SANMATRIDA).” Salusad also warned the people that whoever complains and fights back, especially the Liguyon siblings, will also be killed.

The SANMATRIDA, or the San Fernando Tribal Datus Association is a group of Lumads that acquired from the government a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) over 52,000 hectares of land in several villages in San Fernando, Bukidnon, including Dao. The  SANMATRIDA Multi-purpose Cooperative, chaired by retired military official Herman Cris P. Estrella, has been enticing mining investors into their domain. The tribal datu of Barangay Dao under the SANMATRIDA is Alde’s uncle, Datu ‘Manayab’ Carillo Salusad.

Jimmy strongly resisted the entry of large scale mining companies in his village, where the main source of income is small-scale mining. His stand against the entry of mining companies in his village made him a target of SANMATRIDA and its armed force led by Ben Salusad aka Nonong, who is also Alde’s father.

In October 2011, Jimmy reported a series of harassment and attempts on his life, particularly by Nonong Salusad, who is associated with the Phil. Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion, and from the paramilitary group TRIOM Force.

On October 13, 2011, Ben Salusad called Jimmy, and threatened that should he go back to Dao, they would kill him. On October 16, Angge Dal-anay, another leader of TRIOM Force, went with his group to Jimmy’s house, but the Liguyon family moved out of Dao after Salusad’s threats.

On October 28, 2011, Jimmy and his wife were coming home from a human rights’ day rally in Cagayan de Oro City, when they were stopped by armed men led by Dal-anay who marched them to a vacant house. Dal-anay told Jimmy to stop joining rallies, and that he should allow mining in Barangay Dao. Jimmy was steadfast in his anti-mining position, arguing that the people in Barangay Dao did not want it and he, and neither did he, as village chief.

Jimmy also reported that SANMATRIDA convinced him and everyone else to join their organization. He also reported receiving information that Barangay Kagawad (village council members) Merlyn Isidro, Medy Mancilla and Fausto Bacliran were allegedly planning to kill him through the armed men of Nonong Salusad.

It was learned that the three barangay kagawad were the local buyers of gold in the area through their financier from Davao City and Valencia City. It was observed that the three were encouraging large scale mining companies to operate in their locality.

As reported by Karapatan-Northern Mindanao Region, with data from the KALUMBAY Urgent Alert entitled “IMPUNITY NO LET-UP: Another indigenous leader killed in San Fernando, Bukidnon, Philippines”<http://www.rmp-nmr.org/index.php/recent-releases/170-kalumbay-urgent-alert-impunity-no-let-up-another-indigenous-leader-killed-in-san-fernando-bukidnon-philippines>

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for/on:

1. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into the extrajudicial killing of Jimmy Liguyon.

2. The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and
“enemies of the state.”

3. The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.

4. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.

5. The dismantling of all paramilitary groups and private armies

6. The Philippine government to ensure the protection of the survivors and their family members

7. The Philippine government to indemnify the victims and their families

You may send your communications to:

H. E. Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
2/F Bonifacio Hall, Malacañang, Manila
Tel: 733-3010 loc 882/ 887
Website: president.gov.ph <http://www.president.gov.ph/>

Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7/F Agustin I Building, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Tel: 6360701 to 06 / 637-6083
Fax: 638-2216
Email: stqd@opapp.net
Website: opapp.gov.ph

Secretary Leila M. de Lima
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Main Building, Padre Faura Street, Manila
Tel: 521-1908
Fax: 523-5548
Email: doj.delime@gmail.com
Website: doj.gov.ph

Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin
Department of National Defense (DND)
DND Building, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Tel: 911-6193 / 911-1746
Fax 911-6213
Website: dnd.gov.ph

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: <coco.chrp@gmail.com>chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com,
lorettann@gmail.com

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Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by: KARAPATAN,  <urgentaction@karapatan.org>

P-Noy continues to skirt the issue of Human Rights –Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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P-Noy continues to skirt the issue of Human Rights –Karapatan

“It has been three months since the fugitive general, Jovito Palparan Jr., was issued a warrant of arrest by the Malolos Trial Court for the disappearance of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño yet he remains in hiding with neither a word nor two from the P-Noy government on his whereabouts. We now tend to believe that the warrant of arrest issued to Palparan was just for show,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of Karapatan.

Hilao-Enriquez added that, “until today, P-Noy continues to hide behind his so-called campaign against corruption to skirt the issue of human rights, along with other people’s issues such as the continuous rise of fuel prices and basic commodities.” Hilao-Enriquez’s statement was in reaction to P-Noy’s speech yesterday before the graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). “While we are for good government, P-Noy could also have exhorted the new graduates to make sure that they don’t end up like Palparan but he continues to  avoid talking about human rights because his own Oplan Bayanihan pursues the same crooked path and generates  the same impact on the people as Gloria Arroyo’s bloody Oplan Bantay Laya.” said Hilao-Enriquez.

Karapatan also chided the statement of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that the new PMA graduates will join a “cleaner” AFP. Hilao-Enriquez said, “How can the AFP be ‘clean’ when people like Palparan, whose hands bear blood of people killed in the name of national security, remain unpunished?”

Hilao-Enriquez called on the P-Noy government to “stop showing off and get real” on the issue of human rights. “What good is it that Palparan was issued a warrant of arrest when he remains scot-free? What good is it that GMA was ‘arrested’ but stays in an air-conditioned room in a hospital with the government at a loss on what to do to her? And what good is it to the Filipino people that P-Noy vowed to be the exact opposite of GMA yet sows the same terror and blazes the same bloody path through his Oplan Bayanihan?” ###

Reference:    Marie Hilao Enrique, Chairperson, 0917-5616800
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580
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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., 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.

IMPUNITY NO LET-UP: Another indigenous leader killed in San Fernando, Bukidnon, Philippines

ICHRP Secretariat
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IMPUNITY NO LET-UP: Another indigenous leader killed in San Fernando, Bukidnon, Philippines

Jimmy Liguyon, the vice chairperson of Kasilo, an organization of the Matigsalug-Manobo of Bukidnon, was shot dead in front of his home on Monday, March 5 by Aldy “Butsoy” Salusad, a leader of a paramilitary group in the province.

Liguyon is also the Barangay Captain of Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon.  In October last year, he already received death threats from the group of Salusad.  Salusad is the son of Ben ‘Nonong’ Salusad, appointed head of the tribal arms of the San Fernando Matigsalug Tribal Datus (SANMATRIDA) which has a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title over 52,000 hectares in San Fernando, Bukidnon.  The SANMATRIDA Multi-purpose Cooperative, chaired by Herman P. Estrella, has been enticing mining investors into their domain since it was instituted in 2009.  The tribal datu of Barangay Dao under the SANMATRIDA is Aldy’s uncle, Datu ‘Manayab’ Carillo Salusad.

Aldy Salusad, after killing Liguyon, shouted to the people who witnessed the act that Liguyon was killed because he would not recognize the SANMATRIDA claim and refused to sign any agreements that support it.  He also threatened the people that those who would oppose their group would similarly be killed.

On October 28 last year, Liguyon and his wife were coming home from a human rights rally in Cagayan de Oro City, Dal-anay, were stopped by armed men and were marched them to a vacant house.  There, Liguyon was ordered by Angge Dal-anay, another leader of the group, to stop joining rallies.  Additionally, Dal-anay told him he should allow mining in Barangay Dao.  Liguyon was steadfast in his anti-mining position, arguing that the people in Barangay Dao did not want it and he, as barangay captain, would not force them to it.

Before that, on October 16, Dal-anay’s group also went to Liguyon’s house looking for him.  Liguyon wasn’t there however.  His family moved out of Dao after the incident.  Also on October 13, Ben Salusad called Liguyon, who was then attending a seminar in Cagayan de Oro, and threatened him that should he go back to Dao, they would kill him.

The body of Brgy. Capt. Jimmy Liguyon will be carried in a funeral procession to the municipal center of San Fernando, Bukidnon after which a vigil will be held by Kasilo and other organizations supporting the community’s fight against mining and the paramilitary group of the SANMATRIDA.
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KALUMBAY Regional Lumad Organization
Ilocos St., Aluba Phase II, Macasandig
9000 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
E-mail Address: kalumbay@gmail.com
Tel. Nos.: +63 (88) 851 5213

Working for the defense of our land, rights & culture, KALUMBAY is a regional alliance of nine Lumad (indigenous peoples) organizations in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

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