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UPDATE (Philippines): Another human rights activist killed in Visayas

May 13, 2005

UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM

Update on Urgent Appeal
13 May 2005

[UA-34-2005 Killing of a labor rights activist for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in Tarlac City; UP-26-2005 Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed and two others wounded; UP-29-2005 Two more leaders from the Bayan Muna party are killed in Baguio and Tacloban City]
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UP-59-2005: PHILIPPINES: Another human rights activist killed in Visayas

PHILIPPINES: Extra-judicial killings; Human rights defender; Impunity; Government inaction; Rule of law;
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) that another priest, who is also a human rights activist, was killed in Visayas on 12 May 2005. Rev. Edison Lapuz was shot dead by unknown gunmen, making him the latest victim of killings against human rights activists in the Philippines.

Lapuz, a father of two children and the main convenor of 'Justice for Atty. Felidito Dacut Alliance', was the latest victim of killings in Eastern Visayas following the death of human rights lawyer Felidito Dacut in 14 March 2005 (please see also UP-29-2005 for details).

Since March this year, the AHRC has reported on the killings of Lawyer Abelardo Ladera (UA-34-2005), Romeo Sanchez (UP-29-2005), Lawyer Felidito Dacut and Fr. William Tadena (UP-26-2005). Please also see our statements on this phenomenon AS-40-2005 and AS-42-2005. So far, only a suspect for Fr. Tadena's killing has been arrested, while the other cases remain unsolved. Despite this phenomenon the Philippine government has not done enough to afford assistance to victim's family, provide adequate protection to threatened activists and initiate immediate measures to prevent such incidents from occurring. The process of investigation and to identify the perpetrators is also insufficient.

We therefore urge your immediate intervention asking the government to initiate urgent measures to address the phenomenon of unrestrained killings of political and human rights activists. They must immediately undertake a public policy focused at creating a special body to investigate cases, prosecute perpetrators and implement preventive measures to avert similar incidents. It must actively engage in this undertaking with the victim's family.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION

Name of the victim: Rev. Edison Lapuz, pastor for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and leader of Bayan Muna in Eastern Visayas chapter
Wounded: Alfredo Malinao, a barangay official
Date and place of incident: May 12, 2005 at around 5:30pm in San Isidro, Leyte
Perpetrators: unknown
Status of incident of killings: Lapuz became the latest human rights activist being killed in Leyte, Visayas.

(Based on the statement by Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, PCPR chairperson)

On 12 May 2005 around 5:30pm, Rev. Edison Lapuz was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while attending burial rites for his father-in-law in San Isidro, Leyte. The shooting also injured Alfredo Malinao, a barangay official, who was also in the area at the time of incident.

Rev. Lapuz became the latest victim of killings against human rights activists in Eastern Visayas following the death of human rights Lawyer Felidito Dacut in 14 March. Being the main convenor of 'Justice for Atty. Felidito Dacut Alliance' at the time of his death, an alliance of human rights organization, he had been very vocal against the killings and harassment of activists in the region. Lapuz was also consistent in supporting human rights victims and their families, according to Rev. Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, PCPR chairperson.

Rev. Arcebuche believes that the perpetrators behind the brutal killings of Atty. Dacut and Rev. Lapuz are one. It was reported some forces belonging to the military had been closely monitoring Lapuz' movement prior to his death. Lapuz once reported to the national officers of PCPR regarding the recent harassment by military towards activists and church people in Leyte and Samar.

The name of Lapuz was reportedly included in the military’s Order of Battle and his photo was reportedly seen displayed at the camp of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG), a special police unit.

In February 18, Fr. Allan Caparro, a priest for the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and his wife Aileen, survived an assassination attempt (please see UA-30-2005 for details). But up to now, an investigation to identify the perpetrators has not yet occurred. Rev. Arcebuche also added that Leo Davis, a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippine (UCCP) in the area, was believed killed by military agents just two weeks past.

Rev. Arcebuche and his group suspects the killings and harassment of political and human rights activists happening in Eastern Samar, Visayas are in some way connected to Major General Jovito Palparan, chief of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Catbalogan, Samar.

The group's demand to have Maj. Gen. Palparan, who was accused on 21 April 2003 of the killing of human rights activists Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy in Mindoro province, investigated over suspicions of involvement in the killings and harassment of human rights activists, have gone unnoticed.


Suggested letter:


Dear ____________,

Re: PHILIPPINES: Another human rights activist killed in Visayas

I am writing to draw your attention to another case of murder of a human rights activist on 12 May 2005 in San Isidro, Leyte. Rev. Edison Lapuz, a pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and leader of Bayan Muna in Eastern Visayas, became the latest victim of the unrestrained killings.

The killing of Rev. Lapuz took place after another Bayan Muna leader, Atty. Felidito Dacut, was also killed on 14 March in Tacloban City, Visayas. However, none of Dacut's perpetrators were arrested and the investigations unto this show no progress. I also learnt that most of the cases of murder against human rights activists remains unsolved and perpetrators at large.

I urge your immediate intervention to ensure that a thorough and impartial investigation is conducted into Lapuz's death. His family must also be afforded with immediate assistance specially his two children who will now suffer for the loss of their father.

I also ask your immediate action to pressure the Philippine government to initiate immediately a policy agenda that will address the specific matters to investigate, prosecute perpetrators, afford assistance to the victim's family and ensure measures to prevent incidents of killings. The cases of killings involving political and human rights activists must be afforded utmost priority and urgency.

Further I urge that an inquiry should be conducted into Major Gen. Jovito Palparan, chief of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, regarding suspicions of his alleged involvement in the killings and the alleged harassment by his men and paramilitary units against human rights activists in Eastern Samar. The government, and in particular the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), must take this allegations seriously by initiating appropriate action.

The Commission on Human Rights, Regional Office VIII, must investigate the allegations of the military's involvement of harassment, killings and threats towards activists. It must undertake measures in coordination with relevant agencies in the government to ensure that rights of people are protected. It should also recommend for provision of assistance and protection to victim's family.

Finally, I ask that you pressure the Philippine government to issue an official statement that condemns the killings of political and human rights activist. In doing so, it must outline immediate measures to prevent incident of harassment, threats and killings of political and human rights activist from happening.

I trust that you will take action in this serious case.


Yours truly,

________________

SEND A LETTER TO:

1. Ms Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President
Malacanang Palace
J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, NCR 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2929 3968

2. Commissioner Purificacion Quisumbing
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102/928 0848
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph

3. Secretary Avelino J. Cruz Jr.
Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Bldg.,
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com

4. P/DIR Gen. Arturo Lumibao
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp Crame, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763

5. Mr. Paquito Nacino
Regional Director
Commission on Human Rights (CHR VIII)
3rd Floor, R. Yu Salazar Annex Bldg.
Salazar Street, Tacloban City
Philippines
Telefax: +63 053 321 3396

6. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Ben Majekodunmi
Room 1-040, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
E-mail: bmajekodunmi@ohchr.org 

7. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Atten: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Desk
AHRC Urgent Appeals Programme

Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Update
Document ID :
UP-59-2005
Countries :
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.