Prof. Alstons Findings exposed Arroyo and AFPs attempts to mislead investigation on Extrajudicial Execution

The findings of Professor Philip Alston Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions clearly exposed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's desperate attempts to hide her governments culpability in the spate of extrajudicial executions in the country under her present term.

The findings though partial has, in more ways than one, vindicated the claims of the victims, most notably workers and peasants, and their demands for justice. It also bolstered the findings of independent fact-finding missions done by international groups, such as the International Labor Solidarity Mission (ILSM) last year, whose findings attributed the rise in the killings to the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Prof. Alston saw through and unmasked the spin of the government, which blames the killings squarely on the CPP and NPA.

When he notes that the extrajudicial killings intimidates vast numbers of civil society actors, it sends a message of vulnerability to all but the most well connected, we can only conclude that the only segment of society benefiting from these killings are those in power or influential and close to Malacaang. And those under attack and fell victims to extrajudicial killings are those belonging to the civil society, the legal mass organizations of workers and peasants, or the Filipino people.

Hence, there is not an iota of evidence pointing to perpetrators other than the AFP.

Unfortunately, instead of acting decisively on the recommendations, the government thru its spin doctors Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez have been scrambling on their feet to discredit Prof. Alston and his initial findings. It is sickening to hear Gonzales ranting and calling Prof. Alston a muchacho after the Philippine government has invited him to do investigations on the killings. This callous attitude speaks so much of the lack of sincere efforts and political will of the Arroyo government to resolve the political killings.

As a member nation, it is very ironic that Gonzales and Esperon would exhibit utter disrespect to the United Nations. For all its worth, the Arroyo government has once again bared itself to the international community, who is watching closely the human rights situation in the Philippines.

It is high time that the Arroyo government heeds the recommendation of various international groups and individuals such as Prof. Alston, the Amnesty International, Asia Human Rights Council, the 150 million-strong International Confederation of Trade Unions (now called ITUC) and church groups to act decisively on the climate of impunity in the country. Even the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has also called for the immediate release of KMU Chairman Emeritus and Anakpawis Representative Crispin Ka Bel Beltran, who is still presently under hospital detention on trumped-up charges following Arroyo's declaration of PP1017. Arroyos continued disregard on the wanton human rights violations will surely have strong repercussions in the global arena.

We are among those who presented our cases with Prof. Alston and we are very thankful that he took time to listen to us. In Sept 2006, KMU submitted a complaint to the International Labor Organization (ILO) against the killings of trade unionists, informal workers and activists. At the time of the submission of the complaint, we have recorded 64 victims
in the labor sector under Pres. Arroyos term. Yet, the government did not even bother to send its comments to the ILO. By the time of Prof. Alstons visit, we have recorded 83 killings in the labor sector. This means that almost 4 people in a month or 1 person in a week have been killed in the last 4 months.

We welcome the initial report of Prof. Alston and we cannot wait to hear his full report. That, we are sure, would unload tons of data that should help unravel the truth behind the extra-judicial killings and hopefully give justice to the victims and bring the perpetrators to jail.

In a country such as the Philippines where living and fighting for basic democratic rights is a dangerous business, the UN fact finding mission shed a glimmer of light and hope. We must continue and face up to the challenges posed by the Gloria Arroyo government and the AFP and let our voices be heard in this wilderness. With our continued vigilance, solidarity and action, all is not lost.

(Sgd)
Tess Dioquino
Secretary
International Department, KMU