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Dec 9,
2007
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Malacanang Palace Compound
New Executive Building
J.P. Laurel Street
San Miguel 1005
Manila , Philippines
Cc: Director General Oscar Calderon
Philippine National Police Chief
Lt. General Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr.
Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of The
Philippines
Raul Gonzales
Secretary of Justice,
Dear Ms. President,
Claiming for Justice for the Victims of Extra-judicial
Killings and Enforced Disappearances in the Philippines
We are Japanese NGO and citizen groups tackle the issues
regarding Philippines and human rights. We, the
undersigned, have expressed grave concerns over sharply
increasing extrajudicial killings that many left
activists, members of legal political party religionists
or journalists are killed suspiciously under the Arroyo
administration since2001.
We announced joint statements on the occasion of ASEAN
Summit or President Arroyo's visit to JAPAN, In addition
that we have claimed the Philippine government to stop the
extrajudicial killings and the enforced disappearance
immediately and complete investigation.
We welcome the fact that the following progress have been
made.
*Investigative report has been issued by the Melo Commission that revealed
the involvement of soldiers.
*The
Philippine government has accepted the visit of Philip Alston, A United
Nations special rapporteur. Furthermore, he issued a report that
acknowledges military involvement and then, he met with governmental
officials.
* After receiving the report by the Melo Commission, President Arroyo
ordered the setting up of a special tribunal to try cases of extrajudicial
killings and disappearances, the reinforcement of the witness protection
program, and the conduct of joint investigation by the Department of
Justice, Armed Force of the
Philippines and Commission of Human Rights.
*The special investigation team formed by the national police (Task Force
Usig) announced that perpetrators in about 80 cases have been prosecuted.
*The Supreme Court held a Summit inviting not only government parties but
also NGO affiliates in order to seek resolution of problems including
extrajudicial killings.
The Supreme Court also established the redress system
which can order victims' protection, victims' investigation, and
disclosure of information. This system has actually helped to release some
victims, which gave some hope to other victims.
However, political killings and enforced disappearances
still continue. According to the Philippine human rights NGO, KARAPATAN,
68 victims of extrajudicial killings and 26 enforced
disappearances have been reported (IĦĦ (Bsince January to October, 2007.
The Armed Force of the Philippines as an organization has
never accepted its responsibility in spite of the fact that the national
police have prosecuted military personnel who were pointed out in the
report of Philip Alston, the Special Rapporteur.
The investigation by the national police has been only a
small portion of the cases that have been happening, and
among the prosecuted cases, those that have been submitted
for decision were very few. Also, prosecution of crimes
has not been carried out properly. In fact, we interviewed
witnesses and relatives in 15 extrajudicial killing cases
and 3
enforced disappearance cases, and none of those cases has
been solved.
Furthermore, neither compensation nor official apology for
victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced
disappearances has been made.
Since the Philippine government has an obligation to
protect human rights within its jurisdiction, the
government is obliged to prevent occurrence of the grave
human rights violation such as extrajudicial killings and
enforced disappearances, and once it happens, to
investigate the human rights violation, identify
responsible persons, and prosecute them. As governmental
organs are involved in the human rights violations, the
Philippine government should also compensate victims and
give official apology.
On the occasion of Human Rights Day on December 10th, we
demands effective measures to prevent extrajudicial killings and enforced
disappearances; investigations against elements from the military and
police hierarchy who failed to supervise perpetrators, or worse,
participated in the actual commission of human rights violations; and
apologies and compensation for the victims from the Philippine government.
Furthermore, we again calls on the Japanese government, who enjoys
friendly relations with the Philippine government being its biggest donor
of development aid,
to continue conversations with the Philippine government on human rights
issues, monitor the process of the restoration of human rights such as
investigation, prosecution, apologies and compensation in order to ensure
accountability and justice.
Finally, (IĦĦ (B we demand that any new yen loan should not be
carried out until the improvement of human rights situation and
accountability mechanism are clearly
recognized.
Yours truly,
Amnesty International Japan
Tokyo & Yokohama People's Network against the Political
Killings in the Philippines
Philippines Watch Japan
WAYAWAYA
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