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 HK Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP)

Press Release

30 August 2007

HK rights advocates charges GMA gov’t guilty of abductions; Urge for resolution of desaparecidos’ cases and release of Joma

“The government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is responsible for the forced disappearance of more than 200 Filipino activists not only for its failure to resolve their cases but, worse, for having a hand on these abductions. The grand scheme of human rights abuses to quell dissent lives on in the GMA government.”

This was declared today by Fr. Dwight dela Torre, co-convenor of the HK Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP) as around 20 of their members held a protest action at the Philippine Consulate General to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared and “make the GMA government answerable for such crimes.”

According to the Fr. Dela Torre, the testimony of the Manalo brothers who managed to escape from their captors is an evidence that “elements of the Philippine military under the general command of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are the perpetrators of the spate of forced disappearances that remain unresolved til now.”

The group urged the Philippine Supreme Court, under whose custody the brothers are in, to exert their fullest to protect the two survivors who they deem can give light to cases of other victims.

“During our fact-finding mission last year, Philippine authorities said that they could not investigate cases of forced disappearances because a body is not in evidence. That time, the reason they gave was absurd. This time, it’s just a plain lie for it has been revealed that the government has the major role on these cases,” Fr. dela Torre maintained.

HKCAHRPP said that human rights violations committed by government machineries are still on the rise and the pledges of the GMA government to address the issue still have to see results.

“Justice is still elusive for the victims and their families while a just peace still has no light in the country,” Fr. dela Torre added.

The group also scored the government for the recent arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison in The Netherlands especially its impacts to the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Since Professor Sison’s arrest two days ago, the government has so far admitted that they helped in building up the alleged case against Joema. Without regard to the future of the peace negotiations, the GMA government has not only subjected a Filipino national to human rights violations but has also single-handedly demolished the possibility of resuming the peace talks,” he averred.

HKCAHRPP called for an intensified campaign to bring to justice perpetrators of the human rights violations in the country. They also demanded for the release of Professor Sison and the respect of his full rights as a political refugee.

“The guilt of the Philippine government for abuses of the people’s rights has been rapidly unraveling. It’s high time for the Filpino people and human rights advocates all over the world to make the GMA administration accountable for its crimes,” Fr. dela Torre concluded.#

For reference:

Fr. Dwight dela Torre

Co-convenor, Tel. No.: 98105070

Fr. Franco Mella, PIME

He gave a solidarity message to the Filipino people's struggle for peace based on justice and against all forms of human rights violations. He recalled his participation in protest actions during the time of Marcos' dictatorship. He is a friend of Fr. Tulio Favali, PIME, the priest killed by anti-communist para-military groups formed by the AFP in Mindanao in 1985.

"We thought that after the downfall of Marcos, things will change. But the same human rights violations are happening again", said Fr. Mella.

Fr. Dwight Q. dela Torre, HKCAHRPP co-convenor

Yuk Fan of the Hong Kong Christian Institute (HKCI) denounced the Philippine government's human rights atrocities. She also called on the Dutch government to immediately release Prof. Jose Ma. Sison.

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