In Protest of HR Violations BY Philippine Military

OPEN LETTER TO PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
IN PROTEST OF HR VIOLATIONS & ASSASSINATIONS BY THE PHIL MILITARY

H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, Philippines
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Your Excellency:

We find it ironic that a government supposedly part of the war against terrorism should be waging state terrorism. Such a conclusion, however, is inevitable in the light of the following:

** The continuing assassination of peasant leaders and their allies in the wake of a military-paramilitary attack on striking workers of Hacienda Luisita, in which nearly a dozen landless farmers were killed;

** The continuing assassination, arrest and harassment of members/organizers of the partylist BAYAN MUNA, electoral arm of the progressive alliance BAYAN, of whom 48 have been killed;

** The continuing assassination, arrest and harassment of members/organizers of the womens alliance GABRIELA and its electoral arm, GABRIELA Womens party, of whom 11 have been killed, including a vice-mayor.

** The assassination attempt on Atty. Romeo Capulong, legal consultant of the National Democratic Front;

** The disappearance of some 115 men and women during your short tenure as president.

These are taking place in the context of:

** Your administrations attempt to triple the tax burden of the Filipino people through the so-called VAT (Value-added taxes);

** Your administrations negotiations with the US to transfer US military bases in Okinawa to the Philippines, specifically to the oil and natural resources-rich areas of Central and Southern Philippines;

** Your administrations stated intent to export a million Filipinos every year, 65\% women, to cover-up the public treasurys bankrupt state, a result of election over-spending and corruption, and to be able to service the $57 billion owed to the IMF/WB.

We ask that you order the Philippine Armed Forces, its paramilitary units and all its instrumentalities to cease and desist their murderous campaign against BAYAN, GABRIELA and other peoples organizations, as well as progressive electoral parties. In addition, we ask that you hold accountable all military personnel responsible for these continuing human rights violations and assassinations, which are rapidly becoming a hallmark of your administration.

We ask that you look into the link between the presence of US troops in the Philippines and the degeneration of human, civil and womens rights in the archipelago. We ask that you cancel all negotiations to transfer from Okinawa to the Philippines US military bases, as this would indubitably violate the Philippine Constitution you swore to uphold. Indeed, the mere presence of the US military in whatever capacity on Philippine soil already violates your countrys constitution.

By this open letter, we wish to register our condemnation of the murders, arrests and harassment of activists who merely wish to secure for the poor and the powerless access to civil, human and womens rights. We wish to register our protest at your governments cultivation of the culture of impunity, which accepts the extrajudicial execution, arrest and torture of those who dissent.

We ask that you take seriously the oath you took as president -- to protect the constitution, sovereignty, patrimony, territory and interests of the people of the Philippines. Those who unable or unwilling to fulfill the tasks and responsibilities specified in the presidential oath should hold neither the title nor the position.

GABRIELA International Network (GAIN)
Equality in Unity; Justice in Strength
[email protected]