18 August 2011
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
Dear H.E. President Benigno Aquino III,
We at PINAS FIRST condemn the threats and intimidation to which Vince Cinches, a coordinator of the environment watchdog 350.org, was subjected by suspected state security forces in the Visayas.
Vince Cinches strongly suspects the men to be military agents because of their conduct which falls into the pattern of harassment of activists in Dumaguete and Cebu.
He had been subjected to military harassment before as a student activist at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, and later as public information officer of BAYAN-Central Visayas. His present group – 350.org – is an international organization campaigning to address the causes of climate change. The group is currently preparing various communities and stakeholders around the world for a September event called “Moving Planet.”
It is time to stop the politics of harassment and vilification and focus on policies and programmes that address the urgent and long-term problems facing our nation and the world.
We cannot afford to hinder Cinches from doing his share to save our plundered country, our plundered planet.
We demand that
an immediate thorough investigation and documentation of the case be conducted by a multi-sectoral team and the Commission on Human Rights and if and when appropriate, the corresponding legal process be initiated
Mr. Vince Cinches be given due protection to allow him to do his work and have safe and unhampered trips to consult with members of his organization
the military ensure its rank and file’s adherance to its purported “broader framework of security serving society, acting in harmony with other government strategic policies for peace, security and development”
our Government comply with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which it is a party.
Respectfully yours,
Manuel Sarmiento
Chairperson, Pinoy In Austrian Society For Integrity,
Reforms & Social Transformation (PINAS FIRST)
Adolf Loos Gasse 6/17/10
1210 Vienna, Austria, Europe
Website: pinas-first.com
Email: [email protected]
cc:
Hon. 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: [email protected]
Website: opapp.gov.ph
Hon. Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: [email protected]
Hon. Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: [email protected]
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: [email protected], [email protected]
KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
National Office
2/F Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin cor Matatag Sts., B
rgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
Voice/Fax: (+632) 435 4146
Email: [email protected]
