PHILIPPINES: Violence against civilians; threat of possible arrests and torture of scapegoats; a need for a peaceful solution to violence; a need to resume peace negotiations
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to draw your attention to the increasing violence in Mindanao, Southern Philippines. On October 10 and 11, 2006, three separate bombing incidents took place, leaving six people killed and several others injured, in Tacurong City, Municipality of Makilala in North Cotabato and in Cotabato City. All of the victims are civilians.
This is the latest violence to hit Southern Mindanao, an island that had long been torn by the decades-old war and sporadic violence. The AHRC is concerned that even before the police investigations into these bombings are concluded, some local officials are already naming certain groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as possible perpetrators. The Philippine National Police (PNP) initially made pronouncements that an Indonesian-based terrorist group, the Jemaah Islamiya (JI), could be responsible for these attacks following the recent arrest of the wife of a JI bomb expert.
Meanwhile, the fighting has displaced thousands of villagers. The villagers were forced to evacuate empty handed, abandoned they houses, for fear of being caught in crossfire and the spill over of skirmishes. The evacuees were forced to stay at the evacuation centers with meager supplies of food, medicines and other basic needs. The hectares of food crops groan by villagers have been abandoned and have and rotted.
As we are aware, the exploratory talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF has recently gone into deadlock. The two parties could not agree on the terms of expanding the autonomy for the Bangsamoro people. The GRP is insisting that a plebiscite is required before over 613 Muslim-dominated Barangays (villages) can be included under the autonomy, but the MILF does not agree. With the on-going peace talks are facing uncertainties of resumption and violence is occurring. It is extremely likely that an escalation of violence is imminent and this requires immediate peaceful solutions.
Not only does this incident pose threats of a further escalation of violence, often, once there are incidents of bombing, the arrest of innocent individuals occur. Those arrested as alleged bombers are often tortured and forced to admit they are responsible for the crime.
There is the case of three torture victims Jejhon Macalinsal, Aron Salah and Abubakar Amilhasan of General Santos City. They were arrested and subsequently tortured in connection with the April 2002 bombing in General Santos City. (Please read our previous appeals: UA-74-2005). It is also similar to arrest of torture victims Tohamie Ulong (minor), Ting Idar (minor), Jimmy Balulao, To Akmad and Esmael Mamalangkas on April 2003. All of whom were illegally arrested and falsely charged for the March and April 2003 bombings in Davao City. (Please read our previous appeals: UA-69-2005).
Also, on January 9, 2004, torture victim Omar Ramalan and his wife Bairon were illegally arrested over allegations that Omar had perpetrated a deadly bombing in Parang, Maguindanao on January 4, 2004 that killed 22 people and wounded 81 others. It is reported that the court for lack of evidence dismissed charges filed against Ramalan. (Please read our previous appeals: FA-04-2004; UP-09-2004).
Please call on the government to exhaust all peaceful means to resolve the escalating violence in Mindanao. The Philippine National Police (PNP) must refrain from carrying out arrests of individuals without sufficient evidence. The local officials must likewise refrain from arbitrarily blaming any groups for the bombing in the absence of thorough investigations. It should instead encourage the filing of charges to whoever is found to be responsible for these attacks once sufficient evidence is gathered rather than making premature pronouncements.
Once again, the Philippine government must find a peaceful solution to prevent the escalation of violence in Mindanao, one is the immediate resumption of peace negotiations between the MILF and GRP as called upon by religious leaders and civil society. The two parties must consider the welfare of the civilian population who are the usual victims of this senseless death and violence. The people of Mindanao deserve to live in peace. The welfare and safety of civilians must be the utmost priority.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PHILIPPINES: Escalating violence in Mindanao requires immediate action
I am writing to draw your attention to the escalating violence in the island of Mindanao, Philippines. I have learned that on October 10 and 11, 2006 three separate incidents of bombings have taken place that killed six people and injured several others in Tacurong City, Municipality of Makilala in North Cotabato and Cotabato City.
I am deeply concern that even before the Philippine National Police (PNP) completed its official investigation into these bombings, some local officials have already resorted to arbitrarily blaming certain groups such as Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as the possible perpetrators of these bombings. I believe that the government authorities should instead encourage the filing of charges to whoever is found to be responsible for these attacks once sufficient evidence is gathered rather than making premature pronouncements.
I am also aware that once there are incidents of bombings, police authorities often arrest innocent individuals without sufficient evidence. I am deeply concerned of that those arrested persons would once again be brutally tortured and forced to admit to the crimes as in previous cases. I am also deeply concerned of yet further illegal arrests, brutal torture and filing of false charges as in the past. For your information, five persons were arbitrarily arrested without sufficient evidence in connection with the deadly bombing in Davao City on March and April 2003. Three persons were also arrested in connection with the bombing of a Mall in General Santos on April 2002. And, a couple was arrested on January 2004 days after a deadly bombing in Parang, Maguindanao. All of whom were reportedly tortured.
I further urge you to ensure that in carrying out arrests for the would be suspects in the latest bombing attacks, the suspects’ rights, while in police custody, are at all times respected and observed. To deny any arrested suspects of their right to remain silent, to be represented by their legal counsel, their right not to be subjected to torture but to be treated in humane manner, amongst others as in previous cases of arrests, is totally unacceptable.
I was also informed that the fighting has displaced thousands of villagers. The villagers were forced to evacuate empty handed, abandoned they houses, for fear of being caught in crossfire and spill over of skirmishes. The evacuees were forced to stay at the evacuation centers with meager supplies of food, medicines and other basic needs. Not even hectares of food crops grown by the villagers have been saved and harvested. All the food crops were abandoned and have rotten.
In this serious situation, the volatile peace situation in Mindanao requires immediate action to prevent the violence from escalating. I therefore encourage the Philippine government to exhaust all means in finding the peaceful solution to prevent violence. One is for the government and the MILF to resume peace negotiations as they are being called upon by religious leaders and the civil society.
I trust that you take immediate action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
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1. Dr. Purificacion Quisumbing
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com
2. Mrs. Esperanza I. Cabral
Secretary
Department of Social Welfare and Development
3/F DSWD Building, Batasang Pambansa Complex,
Constitution Hills
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 931 7916 / 931 8068
Fax: +63 2 931 8191
Email: eicabral@dswd.gov.ph
3. Mr. Avelino J. Cruz, Jr.
Secretary
Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 911 9281 / 0488
Fax: +63 2 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com
4. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Email: corres@op.gov.ph
5. Mr. Ronaldo V. Puno
Secretary
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
A. Francisco Gold Condominium II
EDSA cor. Mapagmahal St., Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Voice: +63 2 925 0330 / 31
Fax: +63 2 925 0332
Email: rvpuno@dilg.gov.ph
6. Mr. Jesus G. Dureza
Secretary
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP)
7/F Agustin Building I, Emerald Avenue
Ortigas Complex,
Pasig City, Metro Manila
PHILIPPINES
Tel. Nos. +63 2 636 0701 to 06 / 3801 to 06
Fax No. +63 2 638 2216
Email: osec@opapp.gov.ph
7. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon
Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
AFP-GHQ Offices, Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 911 6001 to 50
8. Director General Oscar Calderon
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763
Email: bluetree73@gmail.com
9. Mr. Robert Goldman
UN Independent expert on the protection of human rights
and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 91 38
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
