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Filipino activists hold picket at UN over rights
abuses
Hullabaloo about Chief Justice Conviction Diverts Attention from
Outstanding Rights Impunity
GENEVA - Filipino activists, Geneva-based migrants, and
representatives from international NGOs conducted a picket-protest in
front of the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to express
their criticism of the Philippine government report immediately after the
Universal Periodic Review on the Philippines at the UN Human Rights
Council last Tuesday, tagging the report as ‘selective,’ with the PH
government drowning their dismal compliance to international human rights
instruments with their so-called achievements.”
The Philippine UPR Watch delegation in Geneva said “the GPH report failed
to mention that state authorities have yet to arrest several notorious
human rights violators such as Maj. General Jovito Palparan, while there
is much gloating on the enactment of few local legislation and
ratifications of some international instruments.”
“Palparan’s continued evasion of arrest and mockery of justice exemplifies
the prevalent climate of impunity. This is probably the reason why the GPH
failed to mention this important fact -- to gloss over the non-existence
of justice for victims of human rights violations in the country and the
continuing spate of rights abuses,” stated Cristina Palabay, spokesperson
of Karapatan and member of the Philippine UPR watch delegation in Geneva.
Present during the picket were Fiipino-American activist and torture and
disappearance survivor Melissa Roxas and Aklan municipal councilor Ernan
Baldomero, son of slain councilor Fernando Baldomero, the first victim of
extrajudicial killing under the Aquino administration.
Leaders from Karapatan, NCCP, Tanggol Bayi, NUPL, Bayan, KAMP,
MCPA-Kawagib, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, Defend Job Philippines,
Cordillera People’s Alliance, Promotion of Church People’s Response,
IFI-Ramento Project for Rights Defenders, Migrante International, Peace
for Life, International Coordinating Committee on Human Rights in the
Philippines (ICCHRP) and Campaign for Human Rights in the
Philippines-United Kingdom and CHRP-Switzerland also attended the picket
in full view of diplomats, pedestrians and tourists.
In a post-UPR forum at the World Council of Churches today, Atty. Edre
Olalia, Secretary General of the National Union of People’s Lawyers and
member of the Philippine UPR watch delegation, said that “it is totally
unacceptable that with all the powers, resources and machinery of the
government, Gen. Palparan, remains out there. If President Aquino has
thrown all his weight, power and supposed popularity to make dead sure
that Chief Justice Corona is convicted at all costs, why can’t he do the
same thing to bring behind bars the poster boy of the most horrendous
kinds of human rights violations?”
Olalia pointed out that “more than the rightful conviction of the Chief
Justice for valid charges, the immediate arrest, speedy prosecution and
certain punishment of remorseless and incorrigible human rights violators
would inspire greater interest and create lasting impact to the
international community more than the hullabaloo and inordinate fixation
on the impeachment trial.”
The Philippine UPR Watch delegation noted that the “breaking-news” glowing
announcement by the Philippine government that the Chief Justice was
convicted ostensibly for corruption was met with muted disinterest and
lethargic reaction at the UN Human Rights Council floor. ###
Reference:
Marie Hilao-Enriquez
Fr. Jonash Joyohoy
Co-Heads, Philippine UPR Watch
Contact Number: +41 76 792 4973
Email: peoples.upr@gmail.com
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