A Statement from International Peoples Tribunal (IPT 2015) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
We are human rights defenders, peace and justice advocates, lawyers, jurists, academics, church people, and political activists who have come together to convene the International Peoples Tribunal on Crimes against the Filipino People by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III and the US Government represented by Pres. Barack Obama.
We will be holding this tribunal in Washington DC from the 16th to 18th of July 2015 at the behest of victims of human rights violations and other crimes committed under the Presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III in the Philippines. The victims and their relatives –belonging to a wide spectrum of social classes and sectors in the Philippines society – are represented by the Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (EcuVoice), KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), Hustisya!, (Victims United for Justice), DESAPARECIDOS (Families of the Disappeared for Justice), SELDA (Society for Ex-Detainees Against Detention and Arrest), BAYAN (New Patriotic Alliance), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) among others .
The Tribunal’s verdict shall be based on a thorough and fair assessment of the evidence by leading public figures of recognized achievement and high moral stature, in accordance with applicable legal standards.
Like other people’s tribunal, the IPT 2015, as a court of public opinion, derives its legitimacy from the people as the ultimate source of the authority of all national and international laws.
As such the IPT’s findings and recommendations will carry strong moral and persuasive force. We shall transmit these to the United Nations, various Parliaments and government, as well as broad international organisations in order to add pressure on the Philippine government to end impunity in the country. The IPT 2015 shall serve due notice to the perpetrators of gross human rights violations and plunder that impunity shall not go unchallenged by the people.
We call on all freedom loving peoples of the world to support the victims, witnesses and the Filipino people in making their oppressors accountable for their crimes!
The Rev’d Canon Barry Naylor
Chairperson, Global Council, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)
Jeanne Mirer
President, International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)
Vanessa Lucas
Chair, Philippines Subcommittee, National Lawyers Guild
Antonio Tujan, Jr.
Executive Director, IBON International
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BE PART of the IPT 2015!
1. Accompany the witnesses, ATTEND the hearings and verdict from 16-18 July 2015 and be part of the delegation to deliver the verdict to the attention of the Philippine government, US government and the American people on 20 July 2015;
Register now at: http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org/registration/
2. Further ENDORSE the IPT 2015 to your networks, please forward this message to your friends and mailing lists.
3. SPONSOR the organization of the tribunal, adopt witnesses and their legal counsels, contribute to other expenses related to holding the IPT. You may course your donation through http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org/donate/
4. PARTICIPATE in the Social media campaign: Stand Up for Human Rights! Join the #EndImpunity Photo Challenge!
HOW IT WORKS
From June 16, to mark the ONE MONTH COUNTDOWN to the IPT, supporters are called to take a photo that represents the pain suffered by victims of human rights abuses under the Aquino administration.
To participate:
A. TAKE A PHOTO of yourself BLINDFOLDED and GAGGED holding up a sign that reads:
#EndImpunity
#PeoplesTribunal
tinyurl.com/2015ipt
B. POST your photo on social media.
â— for FB– make FB profile pic and/or post on wall
â— for twitter– time TBD, twitter rally (retweet initial photo or tweet photo of yourself), since Wed is better for social media
â— post on instagram, tumblr, and other social media platforms
C. Visit the International Peoples Tribunal Facebook Page <https://www.facebook.com/events/1579657442313012/> for info and instructions on upcoming #EndImpunity Facebook and Twitter rally dates during the 1-month countdown.
Hashtags:
#EndImpunity
#PeoplesTribunal
#BeTheJudge
#AquinObama
IPT url:
tinyurl.com/2015ipt
twitter: Countdown to #PeoplesTribunal Intl community crying to #EndImpunity by prosecuting #AquinObama
FB: Let’s put #AquinObama on trial and #EndImpunity. Justice for all victims of human rights abuses in the Philippines! #PeoplesTribunal
For more information, please visit: internationalpeoplestribunal.org
In solidarity (and on behalf of the conveners),
Angie M. Gonzales
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines
IPT 2015 International Coordinating Secretariat
Paul Quintos
IBON International
IPT 2015 Philippines Coordinating Secretariat
