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Letter to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Recent spate of killings and targeting of
religious leaders, and gross human rights violations in the Philippines
22 April 2005
April 22, 2005
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Malacanang Palace
Manila, Philippines
Re: Recent spate of Killings and Targeting of Religious leaders
and gross human rights violations in the Philippines
From: The Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian, United,
and Christian (Disciples of Christ) churches, Canada.
Dear Madame President,
We are greatly troubled by the series of killings in the last several
months of human rights workers, members and leaders of peasants’
and farmers’ associations, and political opposition and advocates
for justice. The National Council of Churches in the Philippines
(NCCP) informed us that since January 2005, at least 34 people have
been killed, majority of the victims being members of the Philippine
churches. It is out of great concern borne of our faith and our
partnership with the Philippine churches, that we write you this
letter.
We join our partners in denouncing the killing of Rev. William
Radena, a priest of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and chair
of the church’s Social Concern and Human Rights program. We
were told that the only ‘crime’ Fr. Tadena committed
was offering support to the striking workers at Hacienda Luisita.
Partners tell us that Fr. Tadena was the eleventh supporter of the
workers to have been killed.
We are also outraged by the assassination attempt on Fr. Allan
Caparo, another IFI priest, and his wife on February 18, 2005. We
are told that Fr. Caparo is the vice-chair of the ecumenical organization,
Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) in Western Samar.
Prior to the assassination attempt on Fr. Caparo, already a number
of PCPR members have been killed, including Joel Baclao, a lay preacher
of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
We join the Philippine churches in condemning these targeted killings.
We believe there to be strong evidence that these kills are part
of a systematic campaign to silence and intimidate individuals and
groups who support the striking workers of Hacienda Luisita, human
rights advocates and leaders of people’s organizations who
challenge the policies of the government and oppose the abuses of
the military.
Madame President, our concern about these killings springs from
our deep belief in the sanctity of life as a gift from God, and
from our responsibility to protect the human rights of all people.
We believe that these are values and commitments that you, as a
Christian and the leader of the nation, share and uphold.
We therefore call on you to:
- Act immediately to stop these extra judicial and targeted killings;
- Immediately conduct an investigation into these killings;
- Ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to justice;
- Immediately order the chain of command of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to strictly
enforce with their members the international standards and national
laws protecting the civil and political rights of citizens.
We share the fear of our Philippine partners that the impunity
enjoyed by those responsible for the killings would only lead to
the escalation of violence. Madame President, please act now to
stop this senseless violence.
Sincerely,
(Signed)
Raymond L. Schultz Most Reverent Andrew S. Hutchison
National Bishop Archbishop and Primate
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Anglican Church of Canada
Raymond A. Cuthbert Rev. Rick Fee
Moderator Moderator
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada Presbyterian Church
in Canada
Omega Bula
Executive Minister
Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit
The United Church of Christ of Canada
Copy sent to the following:
| 1. |
Hon. Chairperson Dr. Purificacion Quisumbing
The Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Building, Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: 632-929-0102 Email:
drpvg
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| 2. |
Hon Secretary Avelino Cruz
Department of National Defense
Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA
Quezon City, Philippines
Email:
snd
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| 3. |
Sharon Rose Ruiz Duremdes
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in the Philippines
EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines
Email:
srjrduremdes
|
| 4. |
Hon Pierre Pettigrew
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 5G4 |
| 5. |
Ambassador Francisco Benedicto
Philippine Ambassador to Canada
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines
130 Albert Street, Suite 606
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
Emaill:
embassyofphilippines
|
| 6. |
Consul General Alejandro Mosquera
Office of the Philippine Consul General
161 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1J5
Email:
abmosquera
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