OFFICIALS yesterday told 14 Asian ambassadors
the surge of extra-judicial executions should be seen in the
context of an ongoing insurgency.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the
ambassadors requested for the closed-door briefing.
"In the same manner that the Armed Forces
offered a briefing (On Feb. 20) to the ambassadors of the
European Union, the Asian ambassadors also requested a briefing.
This is the reason why we are doing this," Ermita said.
Briefed were Ambassadors In May (Cambodia),
Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi (Malaysia), Emaleen Abd Rahma Teo (Brunei),
Asha Dvitiyanada (Thailand), Muhammad Naeem Khan (Pakistan),
Phiane Philakone (Laos), Irzan Tandjung (Indonesia), Muhammad
Abul Qashem (Bangladesh), Rajeet Mitter (India), Lim Kheng Hua
(Singapore), Vu Xuan Troung (Vietnam), Thaung Tun (Myanmar),
Hong Jong-Ki (Korea), and Wijekoon Mudi-yanselage of Sri Lanka.
Joining Ermita as briefers were Armed Forces
chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Defense Secretary
Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.
Ermita said the ambassadors have to be made
aware that there is an insurgency problem in the Philippines for
the past 39 years and a secessionist problem for the past 38
years.
"That’s the reason why they have to
understand that many are getting killed because there is a
conflict going on. But we are not saying that these were
perpetrated by armed services," he said.
Ermita said the ambassadors were also told
the killings were being exploited by the Left for propaganda.
The Melo Commission and UN special rapporteur
Philip Alston have pointed to the military as behind the
killings. They discounted the military position that the
killings were part of a purge in the communist movement.
Ermita said accusations that the military
were behind the killings are being fanned by the communist
movement’s legal fronts. He said the number of victims have even
been bloated by Leftist organizations.
The human rights group Karapatan said it has
recorded over 800 victims of extra-judicial killings since
President Arroyo assumed power in January 2001. The PNP’s Task
Force Usig said there were only 116 deaths.
"This (bloated figure) was also found out by
Task Force Usig so we have to closely look into that so that our
countrymen will not believe that our men in uniform were the
ones responsible for the atrocities against our fellowmen," he
said.
CLEARER PICTURE
Ermita said the Melo Commission, an interim
body formed by the President to look into the killings, is
interviewing witnesses in its continuing investigation so that
they can come up with a "comprehensive report" in 60 days.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP public
information office chief, said the Asian diplomats were
enlightened.
"The briefing provided the diplomats a
clearer picture of what is happening. The briefing also provided
them a clearer understanding of what’s going on," Bacarro said.
During the briefing, the ambassadors were
also informed of the military’s position on the Melo Commission
report.
"Clarifications (were made) on chief of
staff’s response to the Melo report," Bacarro said without
elaborating.
The United States said it will not pressure
the Philippines to resolve the spate of killings.
The US is willing to extend assistance to
stop the killings, said US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop.
"We don’t impose anything (pressure). We
speak frankly and we listen to different sectors," he said.
The US Embassy this week said it is closely
monitoring the human rights situation in the country.
BAD FOR DEMOCRACY
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the US
government is willing to help the Philippines put a stop to the
killings if it asks for assistance.
Lussenhop said the situation is "not good for
the country’s democracy."
He also said the US government is "kept
updated on how the Philippine government is handling the issue."
He, however, said the human rights situation
"has no negative effect in our relations."
Militant activists called on retired Chief
Justice Hilario Davide Jr. not to allow himself to become a
"mouthpiece" of the Arroyo administration defending the latter’s
human rights record before the United Nations.
They warned Davide, permanent representative
to the United Nations, he could "ruin his reputation" if he
insisted on defending the "indefensible."
Ermita on Wednesday said Davide would be able
to defend government before the international body against the
allegations that state forces are behind the killings and the
administration is not doing anything to stop them.
ARROYO MOUTHPIECE
Renato Reyes, secretary general of the
militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said: "Davide should
not be a PR mouthpiece of the Arroyo government. He would just
shame himself if he would defend the heinous (human rights)
record of (President) Arroyo," Reyes said.
Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan information
officer, said Davide has yet to take an active and strong
position against the extra-judicial executions and human rights
violations.
"We hope he would issue a statement against
it and not allow himself be used by the Arroyo government to
defend the indefensible," Cervantes said.
Aurora Broquil, spokesman for Central Luzon
of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, said while Davide
has a "good record" when he was still with the judiciary, this
would not be able to "deodorize" the image of the Arroyo
government before the UN.
DAVIDE’S REPUTATION
Broquil said "The issue remains the same.
Even if Davide is the one appointed (to defend government), the
question will go back to the Arroyo government for its
indecisive actions to stop the killings."
Danilo Ramos, secretary general of the
militant farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said
Davide would just "ruin his reputation" if he would defend the
government before the UN while the killings continue.
"He should just instead urge the UN to
monitor the human rights situation here in the Philippines and
charge Arroyo before the International Criminal Court and the
Permanent People’s Tribunal," he said.
The group Task Force Detainees of the
Philippines, for its part, said: "Not even the former Supreme
Court chief justice can erase the Arroyo government’s guilt and
culpability."
"We find it lamentable that instead of taking concrete steps
to address human rights violations, the Arroyo government seems
to be more concerned with prot. – With Czeriza Valencia
and Reinir Padua
