UPDATE (Philippines): Attempt on the life of a human rights lawyer working for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers 

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]

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the attempt on the life of Atty. Romeo Capulong, a senior legal consultant for farm workers on strike in Hacienda Luisita, at midnight on 7 March 2005 in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Mr. Capulong was among the people who were heading the investigation into the violent confrontation that broke out between the protesters (workers) and government forces broke out on 16 November 2004, which killed seven people and severely injured 10 others.

It was reported that Mr. Capulong and other human rights workers have been continuously receiving threats since they started the said investigation. Previously, two persons – a council member of Tarlac City, Abelardo Ladera, and the chairman of the peasant alliance in Central Luzon, Marcing Beltran – were slain on 4 March 2005 and 8 December 2004 respectively. (See further: UA-34-2005) The AHRC also reported that Fr. William Tadena, who supported workers on strike in Hacienda Luisita, was also killed on 13 March 2005 (See further: UP-26-2005).?

On March 14, Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, chief of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) issued a statement to the media blaming a vigilante group called Nagkakaisang mga Biktima ng Karahasan ng NPA (United Victims of NPA Violence) for the killing of Councilor Ladera and Fr. Tadena. He did not call for further investigations.

Councilor Lader and Fr. Tadena were victims of false accusations linking them to communist movement New People’s Army (NPA), such misleading accusations led the public to discredit them in their struggle to support the workers. This also seriously affects the conduct of investigation in the case.

The authorities must be held responsible for their failure and inaction in preventing the violence against human rights activists. Arrest and prosecution of the vigilante group, who claimed responsibility, must be taken immediately. The government must not tolerate extra-judicial killings.

A special body to investigate these cases of killings and violence against human rights activists must me created if justice is to prevail. Further, sweeping statements that mislead the public and defeat the purpose of impartial investigations, must be stopped as at once.

Urgent Appeals Desk
AHRC Urgent Appeals Programme
———————————————————

DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Romeo Capulong, Senior legal consultant of workers on strike in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac
Date of the Incident: 7 March 2005, at around 12:00mn
Place of the incident: at his residence along National highway, Nueva Ecija
Perpetrators: unidentified forces

ON 7 March 2005, an attempt was made on the life of Romeo Capulong, a senior legal consultant for the workers on strike in Hacienda Luisita. This follows series of killings of known labor leaders and activist who supported the farm workers on strike in Hacienda Luisita.

Reports said a red Revo van coming from the direction of Cabanatuan and driving west in the direction of La Paz, Tarlac slowed down in front of his house before driving past.?After some minutes, it returned and slowed down again.?The occupants of the red Revo van rolled down the windows.?Two guards provided to Atty. Capulong Joson raise their rifles.?Upon hearing the clicking of the rifles, one of the car occupants was heard by a guard to remark, “Ay may tao pala!” [Oh, there are people around!].

The suspects were described as tall and burly. They did not alight from the van. Before the incident, several men were witnessed in the area seemingly conducting surveillance on Capulong’s house.

In the past two weeks, there have been an unusual number of ambulant vendors in the area, purportedly selling taho [soya drink], walis tambo [broom], pots and pans, etc. However, they did not appear to be selling the items.

There has been a spate of human rights violations in the past few months.?The killings of Marcelino Beltran, Tarlac City Councilor Abelardo Ladera and Fr. William Tadena remain unsolved. Thus, the attempt on Capulong’s life must be dealt with quickly as a matter of genuine and great concern.

As President of the Public Interest Law Center, Capulong led a fact-finding mission into the Hacienda Luisita Massacre on 16 November 2004. It must be noted that Councilor Ladera, together with Bayan Muna Congressman Satur Ocampo, went to the house of Jose Cojuangco, one of the owners in Hacienda Luisita, in Dasmarinas Village in Makati, Metro Manila the same day the violent dispersal broke out to seek a negotiated solution. This attempt, however, failed.

Capulong, Councilor Ladera and Congressman Ocampo have been attacked verbally in statements and in documents release by the military.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has warned the government of the ‘irrevocable end’ of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations should ‘any physical harm be done to Capulong’.

Capulong is the legal consultant of the NDFP. He is a part of the negotiating panel in the Peace Negotiations between the Communist Party of the Philippine-New Peoples Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) and the government.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or e-mail to the following authorities and express your concern about this case.

 

 

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