BURMA/PHILIPPINES: A senior police officer threatens to kill activists protesting against human rights abuse in Burma if ‘they don’t behave’

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-011-2014
ISSUES: Human rights defenders,

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a senior police officer has threatened to kill an activist and his group, who were holding protest against human rights abuses in Burma, if ‘they do not behave.’ The group held the protest to coincide the visit of President Thein Sein in Manila in December 4 to 6, 2013. The police officer who made threats was neither subjected to an investigation nor held accountable a month after the incident.

CASE NARRATIVE:

On December 5, 2013, Rasti Delizo, the Political Affairs Coordinator of Sanlakas, a broad multi-sectoral organization, together with members of the Free Burma Coalition (FBC) held a peaceful protest action in front of the main gate of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) building at 2330 Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Delizo acted as the rally’s lead negotiator representing the civil society group.

The FBC organized the mass action in response to the three-day state visit of Burma’s President Thein Sein in Manila from December 4 to 6. Thein Sein visited Manila upon the invitation of President Benigno S. (Noynoy) Aquino III. The rally’s highlight was the formal submission of an official FBC statement addressed to Thein Sein. Specifically, the FBC’s intention was to further highlight Burma’s continuing human rights violations by the country’s military-dominated regime. Also, the FBC aimed to urge the Philippine Government to push for the immediate release of all of Burma’s political prisoners, and to urgently advance a much-needed democratization agenda within Southeast Asia.

Toward the end of the rally, at 11:35 a.m., Delizo happened to be talking with Senior Inspector Charito Estrada. Sr. Insp. Estrada is the Precinct Commander of the Pasay City Police Station’s PCP-1/with operational jurisdiction over the DFA’s premises; and Mr. Felix De Leon, Foreign Service Staff Officer detailed with the DFA’s Office of Intelligence and Security Services/OISS. Delizo directly negotiated with Sr. Insp. Estrada Estrada and gave him an assurance that the rally would be carried out in a peaceful manner. De Leon of the DFA-OISS also joined the conversation as an observer.

Delizo was explaining to Sr. Insp. Estrada the rally’s peaceful nature, as well as its political intentions and democratic aims. Unfortunately, however, Sr. Insp. Estrada reacted badly to Delizo’s assertions. Wearing the full uniform of a PNP Sr. Inspector and on official duty at the time, Estrada told Delizo, in the presence of Mr. De Leon of the DFA, said: “If your group misbehaves, then we will kill you.” He first pointed his finger in the direction of rally, then shifted his finger and pointed directly to Delizo’s face.

In response to Estrada’s threat, Delizo shouted at him and denounced Estrada’s behavior and conduct as unbecoming of a police officer. Delizo told him that he could inform some of Estrada’s officers of his arrogant behavior. At this point, Estrada pleaded with him not to report the incident.

Three of Estrada’s subordinates who accompanied him to the rally site began to feel uncomfortable with the situation themselves. Their conversation between Delizo and Estrada had not yet ended, but the said policemen began to slowly withdraw toward their mobile patrol car parked roughly thirty meters away.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the authorities listed below requesting an immediate investigation into the behaviour of Senior Inspector Charito Estrada (Precinct Commander of the Pasay City Police Station and his unwarranted threats against a peaceful demonstration.

Please note that the AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders calling for her intervention into this matter.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear ___________,

PHILIPPINES: A political activist is threatened with death by a police officer

Name of victim: Mr. Rasti Delizo Political Affairs Coordinator of Sanlakas, a broad multi-sectoral organization; and members in their organization.
Names of alleged perpetrator: Senior Inspector Charito Estrada, Precinct Commander of the Pasay City Police Station.
Date of incident: December 5, 2013
Place of incident: Department of Foreign Affairs, 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila.

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the overt threats to the life of a human rights defender.

I have learned that Mr. Rasti Delizo, one of the leaders of a civil society group actively involved in campaigning against the continuing human rights violations in Burma was threatened by a police officer during a demonstration in Pasay City.

According to the information I have received, while Delizo was reassuring one police officer named Senior Inspector Charito Estrada of the rally’s peaceful nature and political intentions, he intensely reacted to Delizo’s assertions. In the full presence of the public, police officer Estrada told him, “If your group misbehaves, then we will kill you.” At the same time, police officer Estrada first pointed his finger in the direction of rally, then shifted his finger and pointed directly to Delizo’s face.

I have also learned that Rasti’s group, the Free Burma Coalition (FBC) organized the said peaceful mass action to highlight Burma’s continuing human rights violations by the country’s military-dominated regime. The rally’s highlight was the formal submission of an official FBC statement addressed to President Thein Sein during his three-day state visit to Manila. Mr. Delizo also added that one of the intentions also is to urge the Philippine Government to strongly push for the immediate release of all of Burma’s political prisoners, and to urgently advance a much-needed democratization agenda within Southeast Asia.

At present, Mr. Delizo together with other witnesses is planning to file a complaint before concerned government agencies against police officer Estrada.

Therefore, I humbly urge you to initiate an investigation into the said case and that Senior Inspector Estrada should be held accountable for his misbehavior and conduct unbecoming of an officer.

I look forward to your urgent action on this case.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Police Director General Alan LA Madrid Purisima
Chief
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City, 
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 724 8763 / +63 2 723 0401
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph

2. Manuel A. Roxas II
Chairperson, National Police Commission
371 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue
Makati City, 
PHILIPPINES
Email: francisflorentino@napolcom.gov.ph

3. Ms. Loretta Ann P. Rosales 
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Email: rosales.chr@gmail.com

 

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme 
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

Document Type : Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID : AHRC-UAC-011-2014
Countries : Burma (Myanmar), Philippines,
Issues : Human rights defenders,