PHL 004 / 1007 / OBS 120
Harassment
Philippines
October 2, 2007
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and
the World Organisation Against Torture OMCT), requests your urgent
intervention in the Philippines.
Description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by the Alliance for the Advancement of
Peoples’ Rights (KARAPATAN) of threats and acts of harassment against
Mr. Roman Polintan, Chairperson of BAYAN in Central Luzon and regional
coordinator of Bayan Muna [1] ; Mr. Joseph
Canlas, chairperson of the Peasant Alliance in Central Luzon (/Alyansa
ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson –/AMGL), a regional chapter of the
Philippines Peasants’ Movement (/Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas/ -
KMP) and regional coordinator of ANAKPAWIS [2]; Ms. Angelina Ladera, chairperson of
WAR3 [3] and Jovelyn Suson, a staff
member of BAYAN.
According to the information received, on September 20, 2007, Messrs.
Roman Polintan, Joseph Canlas, Ms. Angelina Ladera and Ms. Suson,
noticed two men, who hurriedly passed by them, as they were leaving
Armando’s Pizza in Angeles City, where they had held a press conference
on the protest rally to be held the following day in commemoration of
the declaration of the Martial Law. As they were about to board their
vehicle, they noticed the two men ride a blue motorcycle, with plate
number OH5948.
As they were driving in the direction of San Fernando , Pampanga, they
noticed the blue motorcycle following them; it overtook them and then
ran alongside their vehicle. The two men even tried to have a look
inside the van by staying close to it. The men continued to tail the
group until they reached Plaza Miranda in Brgy. San Nicolas, Angeles
City , where the four human rights defenders took refuge at Police
Station I to report the incident. When the men who were following them
saw that they had entered a police station, they went back to a one-way
street. However, as the group left the police station they were
followed by two other men driving another motorcycle.
The day before the incident, Mr. Polintan had talked at Infomax 8, a
radio station, about the Martial Law. He had shared some analysis made
by Bayan and invited the listeners of the program to join the
mobilisation on September 21, 2007, in commemoration of the 35^th year
of martial law. Mr. Polintan, Mr. Canlas and Ms. Ladera have also
denounced the activities of then Major General Jovito Palparan Jr.
during his stint as Commanding General of the 7th Infantry Battalion
based in Nueva Ecija as well as the continuing human rights violations
against their colleagues and members by elements of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines.
In a context of extreme violence, which includes extra-judicial killings
and enforced disappearances of human rights defenders involved in the
defense of peasants’ rights in Central Luzon, the Observatory expresses
its concern with such intimidation acts and recalls the obligation of
the Philippines State to protect human rights defenders, according to
article 12.2 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by
the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, which states that “the
State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the
competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with
others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de
jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as
a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred
to in the present Declaration”.
Action requested:
Please write to the Philippine authorities asking them to:
i. guarantee in all circumstances the physical and
psychological integrity of Roman Polintan, Joseph Canlas, Angelina
Ladera, and Jovelyn Suson;
ii. conduct a fait and independent investigation into
those acts of harassment in order to identify those responsible, take
them to trial and g them before a competent and impartial tribunal and
apply to them the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided
by the law;
iii. End all forms of harassment and ill-treatment of
human rights defenders in the Philippines , and guarantee in all
circumstances that they be able to carry out their work without any
hindrance;
iv. Conform with all the provisions of the UN
Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, especially its Article 1, which
states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association
with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation
of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and
international levels” and above-mentioned Article 12.2;
v. More generally, ensure in all circumstances
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with
international human rights standards and international instruments
ratified by the Philippines.
Addresses:
– H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,* *President of the Republic,
New Executive Building, Malacanang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel,
Manila 1005, Philippines. Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / + 63 2 564 1451 to 80;
Fax: +63 2 736 1010 / 742-1641 / 929-3968; Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 /
(+63) 917 839 8462; E-mail: corres op.gov.ph
“http://us.f584.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=corres@op.gov.ph” /
opnet ops.gov.ph
“http://us.f584.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=opnet@ops.gov.ph” /
kgma yahoogroups.com;
– Mr. José de Venecia Jr., Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Rm. MB-2, House of Representatives, Constitution Hills,
Quezon City, Philippines; Tel: +632.9315001;
– Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing, Commissioner, Commission
on Human Rights, SAAC Building, Commonwealth Avenue, U.P. Complex,
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines; Tel: + 632 928 5655 / 926 6188; Fax:
632 929 01 02; drpvq yahoo.com
– Mr. Raul Gonzales, Minister of Justice, Department of Justice,
Building Padre Faura, 1004 Manila, Philippines; Tel: +63 (2) 523-8481;
Fax: +63 (2) 521-1614; Email: sechbp info.com.ph
– Director General Oscar Calderon, Chief of the Philippine
National Police (PNP), Camp General Rafael Crame, Quezon City,
Philippines; Tel: +632 726-4361/4366/8763; Fax: +632 724-8763; Email:
bluetree73 gmail.com
– Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Permanent Mission of the
Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202
Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 716 19 32, Email:
mission.philippines ties.itu.int
– Embassy of the Philippines in Brussels , 297 Avenue Moliere,
1050 Brussels , Belgium , Tel: +32 2 340 33 77 / 2 340 33 78, Fax: +32 2
345 64 25.
Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of the
Philippines in your respective country.
Notes
[1] “mhtml:mid://00000649/#_ftnref1” BAYAN is an alliance composed of
organisations of peasants and workers, and Bayan Muna is a political
party that promotes the rights and welfare of the marginalized sectors
of the country.
[2] “mhtml:mid://00000649/#_ftnref2” ANAKPAWIS is a national political
party that promotes, advocates, and advances the patriotic and
democratic aspirations of marginalized sectors of workers.
[3] “mhtml:mid://00000649/#_ftnref3” WRA3 is a trade union alliance
promoting and defending the rights and welfare of workers and union
members in Central Luzon region.
Geneva - Paris , October 2, 2007
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection
of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in
their time of need. The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human
Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail: Appeals fidh-omct.org
Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29
Isabelle Brachet
Desk Officer for Asia
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
17, passage de la Main d’Or
75011 Paris – France
tel : + 33 1 43 55 25 18 / fax : + 33 1 43 55 18 80
www.fidh.org