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Worldwide christian group alarmed by continuing rights violations in Philippines

ICHRP Secretariat
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by Ronalyn. V. Olea
Bulatlat.com [1]

MANILA — An international delegation of church leaders from the World Council of Churches (WCC) [2] came to the country Dec. 1 and witnessed the continuing human rights violations under the Aquino administration.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide fellowship of 349 churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories representing 560 million Christians. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

The visit is part of the WCC’s “Living Letters” where representatives from other countries make an organized visit to a given host country for a particular compelling reason. They were hosted by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
Listen to the Rev. Dan Sandu of the Romanian Orthodox Church read the statement by the World Council of Churches about the human-rights violations in the Philippines.
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“We saw and heard the heart-breaking stories of victims of human rights abuses and their family members. We saw and felt the pain of those who have lost loved ones by extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and enforced disappearance,” the nine-member delegation said in a statement.

A team visited the Morong 43 and had a dialogue with Secretary Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice while another team visited the workers of Hacienda Luisita. Before that, the delegates also talked with families of victims of human rights violations under both the Arroyo and Aquino presidencies.

The delegation of the World Council of Churches during a press conference on Saturday. (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)

The Morong 43 are the 43 health workers arrested on Feb. 6 in Morong, Rizal by about 300 combined elements of the police and military. Thirty-eight are now detained at Camp Bagong Diwa while five have remained under military custody. They started their hunger strike, Dec. 3 to pressure the government for their release.

“I have not seen any change,” Tony Waworuntu, former staff of the Christian Conference of Asia and a member of the delegation, said in a press conference, Dec. 4. Waworuntu first visited the Philippines in 2005 as part of the WCC delegation.

“I am disappointed to see that extrajudicial killings are still happening but I sincerely hope that it will stop,” said Rev. Tara Jewel Curlewis, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

The delegation also said they “saw and heard deep hopes that the President will keep his electoral promises to put an end to impunity with regard to extrajudicial killings, disappearances and abductions, implement genuine land reform, work toward reconciliation with justice and peace, and live up to his expressed commitment to give top priority to the peace negotiations.”

High Hopes on De Lima

The WCC delegates expressed high hopes on de Lima. “We saw, heard and rejoice in the resolve of… (Sec. de Lima) to have the charges against the 43 health workers withdrawn by December 10th, United Nations International Human Rights Day and if not by then, at least before Christmas,” said Rev. Dr. Dan Sandu of the Romanian Orthodox Church, reading from their unity statement.

“We also rejoice in her recognition of the existence of a culture of impunity that has resulted in extra-judicial killings and massive human rights violations, and her resolve to put an end to it. We affirm her belief that there is no inconsistency between human rights and justice; when you serve one, you?serve the other,” Sandu said.

The group joined the call for the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43.

Mardi Anette Tindal of the United Church of Canada said de Lima also spoke of a proposal to review all cases of extrajudicial killings. “She said that too few are being brought to justice,” Tindal said.

Hacienda Luisita

“The conditions of the farm workers at the Hacienda Luisita struck me,” Waworuntu said adding the distribution of land to the farm workers would make the Filipino people believe in Aquino’s promise of change.

The delegates called “for the immediate implementation of the decisions of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council to distribute the land to the farmers.”

They also noted the presence of local and foreign military personnel in Hacienda Luisita and in other parts of the country and said this poses a threat to the local communities. “We call upon the Philippine? Government to repeal the Visiting Forces Agreement and withdraw all military presence from civilian communities,” they said.??Actions

The group said they will send letters of concern to international bodies, the Philippine President, the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Curwelis said they would engage their churches and governments to raise the issue of human rights violations in the Philippines.

“I will return home inspired. There is strength of spirit in the people of the Philippines,” Tindal said.

“The will of God will prevail always. They [women of Morong 43] are fragile ladies but powerful. They did not meet us with despair, they encouraged us,” Sandu said.

Other members of the delegation include Vijula Aralanantham, Board Chairperson of Prison Fellowship International and Carmencita Karagdag, member of the WCC Central Committee. They are accompanied by WCC staff Segmenish Asfaw, Anastasia Dragan and Aneth Lwakatare. (Bulatlat.com) [1]

Morong 43’s hunger strike is not only legitimate, it is most just; Free all political prisoners – SELDA

ICHRP Secretariat
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(On the International Day of Solidarity for Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War)
The Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners in the Philippines, is one with the Morong 43 and all 371 political prisoners in the country in calling for their immediate and unconditional release from detention. As human rights organizations and peoples all over the world commemorate on December 3 the International Day of Solidarity for Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War of the International League of Peoples’ Struggles, we are one in condemning the continuing policies and practice of torture, criminalization of the exercise of political beliefs and arbitrary detention of political prisoners and prisoners of war all over the world.

We salute the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the Philippines in their hunger strike which started on December 3, 2010. The hunger strike is a strong political statement of strength and unity amid efforts of the Aquino government to impede the release of the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the country. There were 2, 059 victims of illegal arrest under the Arroyo government, 579 of them are human rights defenders. 333 of them are women and 112 of them are minors at the time of their arrest. Among these victims are the Morong 43, the forty health workers who are on their 10th month of detention. While Pres. Aquino has called their arrest and the warrant used for their arrest as “fruits of the poisonous tree,” he has not pursued the withdrawal of charges against them and their unconditional release because of his apparent amiable relations with the so-called “security sector” of the state, which includes the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Security Council. Thus, the hunger strike of the Morong 43 is not only legitimate, it is most just. We likewise call for the immediate release of political prisoners such as peace advocate Angelina Ipong, National Democratic Front consultants Ed Sarmiento and Ed Serrano, and Sandino Esguerra, all have languished in jails for more than five years now.

In the first four months of the new Aquino government, there are already thirteen (13) political prisoners, among the 23 victims of illegal arrest and detention.  Sixteen out of the 23 were victims of torture. SELDA attributes this directly to Aquino’s continued implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL), Arroyo’s former counter-insurgency policy which has spawned the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests and trumped up charges against activists and supporters. While Aquino’s new counter-insurgency program will still be enforced the next year, we see this as the same terror blueprint, with loads of deceptive programs included. A counter-insurgency policy patterned after the United States Counter Insurgency Guide of 2009 can only result to more victims of illegal arrests and arbitrary detention, EJKs, enforced disappearances and thousands of more human rights violations. It is thus no wonder that the climate of impunity continues.

The US counter-insurgency policies have been consistently drafted and implemented by puppet states of the US all over the world to crush legitimate political dissent in their countries, especially those that seek the halt of US plunder and intervention on its neocolonial states. These have been consistently implemented to promote aggression against national liberation movements of peoples all over the world. These have been consistently implemented to silence and put behind bars those who strive to work for genuine peace, social justice and freedom.

SELDA stands in solidarity with the political prisoners, their families and supporters and peoples of the world against these forms of political repression, fascism and aggression. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the Morong 43 and all political prisoners in the Philippines and the world. We call for justice for all victims of human rights violations and state impunity.

For reference: FR. DIONITO CABILLAS, Secretary General, SELDA

International church leaders/representatives call for release of Morong 43, land and justice to Hacienda Luisita workers

ICHRP Secretariat
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An international delegation of church leaders/representatives from the World Council of Churches’ “Living Letters” arrived in the country December 1, to look into the human rights situation under the present dispensation. A team visited the Morong 43 and had a dialogue with Sec. Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice while another team visited the workers of Hacienda Luisita. Before that, they had conversations with families of victims of human rights violations under both the Arroyo and Aquino presidencies. They released a statement about their concern on the human rights situation in the country and their solidarity “to the people of the Philippines with gratitude and admiration for your courage and your hope for just and lasting peace”.

On the issue of the Morong 43, who are currently on hunger strike, they questioned “the legality of their arrest and continued detention, as do some officials of the country including the President”. “We strongly urge their immediate and unconditional release”, they stated.

They appreciated their dialogue with Sec. De Lima, saying that “we saw, heard and rejoice in the resolve of… (Sec. de Lima) to have the charges against the 43 health workers withdrawn by December 10th, United Nations International Human Rights Day and if not by then, at least before Christmas”. They also appreciated Sec. De Lima’s “recognition of the existence of a culture of impunity that has resulted in extra-judicial killings and massive human rights violations, and her resolve to put an end to it”. They stated that “we affirm her belief that there is no inconsistency between human rights and justice; when you serve one, you serve the other”.

On the issue of Hacienda Luisita Workers, they called “for the immediate implementation of the decisions of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council to distribute the land to the farmers”. They also noted that they “saw and heard about the presence of local and foreign military personnel in Hacienda Luisita and in other parts of the country, posing a threat to the local communities”.  On this matter, they called upon the Philippine Government “to repeal the Visiting Forces Agreement and withdraw all military presence from civilian communities”.

The delegation also said that they “saw and heard deep hopes that  the President will keep his electoral promises to put an end to impunity with regard to extrajudicial killings, disappearances and abductions, implement genuine land reform, work toward reconciliation with justice and peace, and live up to his expressed commitment to give top priority to the peace negotiations.”

Lastly, they called on people of other nations “to express solidarity with the Filipino people and express their concerns to the international bodies, the Philippine President, the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs”.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide fellowship of 349 churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories representing 560 million Christians. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. The “Living Letters” was organized by the WCC, where representatives from other countries make an organized visit to a given host country for a particular compelling reason. It is WCC’s way of expressing solidarity to the sisters and brothers in the host country. They are being hosted by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

The “Living Letters” process includes listening to the stories of human misery in the host country and providing necessary encouragement. The objectives of their visit are: to listen to the victims or the relatives of human rights violations in the Philippines; to have a first-hand knowledge of the state of human rights in the Philippines; to recommend ways and means for the international ecumenical community to support the active defense of human rights and civil liberties in the Philippines.

The delegation is composed of Rev. Tara Jewel Curlewis, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia; Moderator Mardi Anette Tindal of the United Church of Canada; Rev. Dr. Dan Sandu of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Mr. Tony Waworuntu, former staff of the Christian Conference of Asia; Ms. Vijula Aralanantham, Board Chairperson of Prison Fellowship International; Ms. Carmencita Karagdag, member of the WCC Central Committee. They are accompanied by WCC staff, Segmenish Asfaw, Anastasia Dragan and Aneth Lwakatare. ###

References:
Rev. Fr. Rex RB. Reyes, Jr., General Secretary, NCCP
09267048249

Ms. Biyaya Quizon, Media Liaison, NCCP
09397751650

Living Letters Visit to the Philippines
(Statement of the World Council of Churches Delegation to the Philippines)

“Living letters” (2 Corinthians 3:3) is a symbol of the living Church which we represent by coming together under the auspices of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and at the kind invitation of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

When asked by the disciples where He lived, Jesus answered, “Come and see” (John 1:39), then He commanded John, “write down what you see and send a letter to the churches” (Revelations 1:12). Every visit is a revelation when the knower and the known become one.

This visit has been an opportunity for us to come and see: to see a culture, to see a people, to see a church, to see concerns, turmoil and hopes. First we were warmly welcomed by the General Secretary of the NCCP, Rev. Rex Reyes. With hospitality and assistance from him and his colleagues:

We saw and heard the heart-breaking stories of victims of human rights abuses and their family members. We saw and felt the pain of those who have lost loved ones by extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and enforced disappearances.

We saw, heard and felt the pain of the farmers in Hacienda Luisita in their struggle for just labour conditions and decent livelihoods, which have been denied to them as a result of land grabbing and unfair labour practices. We call for the immediate implementation of the decisions of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council to distribute the land to the farmers.

We saw and heard about the presence of local and foreign military personnel in Hacienda Luisita and in other parts of the country, posing a threat to the local communities. We call upon the Philippine Government to repeal the Visiting Forces Agreement and withdraw all military presence from civilian communities.

We particularly saw and heard the pain, spirit and courage of the 43 health workers and their families. We question the legality of their arrest and continued detention, as do some officials of the country including the President. We strongly urge their immediate and unconditional release.

We saw, heard and rejoice in the resolve of the Secretary of the Department of Justice to have the charges against the 43 health workers withdrawn by December 10th, United Nations International Human Rights Day and if not by then, at least before Christmas. We also rejoice in her recognition of the existence of a culture of impunity that has resulted in extra-judicial killings and massive human rights violations, and her resolve to put an end to it. We affirm her belief that there is no inconsistency between human rights and justice; when you serve one, you serve the other.

We saw and heard the desire of all Christian denominations, faith communities, social movements and all people of good will to unite together to recognise and promote the inherent value of life and human dignity.

We saw and heard deep hopes that the President will keep his electoral promises to put an end to impunity with regard to extrajudicial killings, disappearances and abductions, implement genuine land reform, work toward reconciliation with justice and peace, and live up to his expressed commitment to give top priority to the peace negotiations.

We write to the people of other nations to express solidarity with the Filipino people and express their concerns to the international bodies, the Philippine President, the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs. We write to the people of the Philippines with gratitude and admiration for your courage and your hope for just and lasting peace.

May the Baby Jesus make us all Living Letters to prepare His Way by committing ourselves to prayer and action.

Glory to God and Peace on Earth (Luke 2:14).

National and international lawyers’ groups renew call for the immediate release of Filipino health workers and other political prisoners

ICHRP Secretariat
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PRESS STATEMENT

Various lawyers groups joined an unprecedented march to the foot of the presidential palace in Manila together with doctors, nurses, community health workers and law and medical students yesterday morning to renew their call for the immediate release of the detained Filipino health workers as well as other political prisoners all over the country.

The groups were led by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) which is the co-counsel of the Morong 43 together with the Public Interest Law Center (PILC). The NUPL marched together with their colleagues from the mandatory national bar association, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). Local members of the International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) as well as the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) also joined the protest march.

NUPL spokesperson Atty. Julius Matibag said that as people’s lawyers, the NUPL pursues the case and issue of the Morong 43 not only in the courtroom but also in the streets. “The fight for the rights of the Morong 43 as well as of the hundreds of political prisoners cannot be waged only in the confines of the courtrooms. The struggle for human rights is ultimately won before and through the bar of public opinion,” he said.

The 50,000 strong IBP said in the recent Resolution of its Board of Governors that “we join local and international health organizations, human rights groups and lawyers alliances in the call for the immediate release of the Morong 43 and urge the Department of Justice and the courts to drop the charges against those detained in order that they can be immediately released and enjoy the liberty that was deprived unjustly from them.” Governors Roan Libarios and Jose Cabrera and National Director for Legal Aid Rosario Setias-Reyes led the IBP delegation.

NUPL Secretary General Atty. Edre U. Olalia challenged the present administration to go beyond its rhetoric and do something decisive to free the Morong 43. “It is time to stop the populist mumbo-jumbo and time to use its power to bring justice. The issue of their release is not a matter of favor but a matter of principle and justice. It must right a wrong that the previous administration has foisted,“ Olalia said.

“President Aquino and his close legal advisers should not speak in cryptic messages. His sincerity can be measured concretely when he orders forthwith the Justice Department to categorically and unconditionally withdraw the false charges against our clients. He should not wash its hands off the issue and conveniently pass on the burden when he knows he can already do something to effect the release from his end. He must not succumb to those who would prevent him from doing so, tie it up with other irrelevant conditions or use it as a bargaining chip for a quid pro quo,” Atty. Olalia added.

Atty. Olalia said that the lawyers groups vow to even escalate the campaign until the Morong 43 are released. He reiterated their commitment to stand by their clients and supporters in whatever action they will legitimately pursue.#

REFERENCE:
ATTY. EDRE U. OLALIA
Secretary-General, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)
Contact Number: 09175113373

Call to international networks in support of Morong 43 and all political prisoners!

ICHRP Secretariat
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Today, December 3, the Morong 43 started their hunger strike for freedom.  December 6 would be the 10th month of their illegal arrest and detention.

We demand their immediate and unconditional release.  The 43 health workers, who were attending a grassroots medical training, are victims of illegal search, arrest, detention and torture.  They are ridiculously charged with illegal possession of explosives. The pieces of evidence against them are either planted or inadmissible since these are, in legal jurisprudence, “fruits of the poisonous tree”.

Charges against them can be withdrawn if only President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will heed the advice of respected legal minds including the Secretary of Justice. That he continues to pass the burden to courts can either mean ignorance of the legal process or propensity for sticking his head in the sand.

Aside from the main venue of the hunger strike at Camp Bagong Diwa, a Support the M43 Hunger Strike Center has been set up in Manila for the families, other relatives, friends and multi-sectoral networks and individuals who will be on sympathy hunger strike or fasting.  Cultural groups plan to perform at the center.

Political prisoners in various detention centers and prisons in different provinces will hold their own fasting and/or sympathy act such as noise barrage and others.  Their actions aim to cap the year’s campaign to free all political prisoners especially those who have long been deprived of their liberty like Angie Ipong in Misamis Occidental, Eduardo Serrano and Eduardo Sarmiento in Camp Crame and Sandino Esguerra in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Let us drum up international support for the Morong 43 and all political prisoners. You may:
–          Join the hunger strike on December 6, their 10th  month anniversary in jail, and issue a statement of support;
–          Organize sympathy fasting or a few-day hunger strike;
–          Picket the Philippine Embassy and demand freedom for the Morong 43 and other political prisoners especially Ipong, Serrano, Sarmiento and Esguerra;
–          Highlight the hunger strike in your commemoration of human rights week and December 10 International HR Day;
–          Lobby with your parliament, congress and/or senate;
–          Write your ambassadors stationed in the Philippines;
–          Encourage international organizations/institutions and those in your network to send support statements to the hunger strike (addressed to Malacanang cc Philippine Embassy in your country, Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima and Karapatan);
–          Keep those postcards coming, we want them by the thousands;
–          Circulate this and further announcements plus the hunger strike bulletins which we will issue from time to time;
–          Solicit financial and material support for the Morong 43, other political prisoners and their families; and
–          Share your ideas with us and others so we can have a variety of support actions.

Free the Morong 43!
Release Angie Ipong, Eduardo Serrano, Eduardo Sarmiento and Sandino Esguerra!
Free all political prisoners!

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