Political mass slaughter

Political mass slaughter

Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights

The occasion of the 61st anniversary of the International Declaration of Human Rights becomes significant only because the provisions in this Declaration have been violated in so many countries and against so many peoples.

On this day, the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CP-SHR) honours the oppressed and exploited all over the world who continue to assert their sacred human rights against all odds, as individuals, and as peoples fighting for the collective right to self-determination and freedom from foreign domination.

The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights points to the case of the Philippines under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Just two weeks before International Human Rights Day, a political mass slaughter of 57 Filipinos (57 at the last count) broke into the international headlines. The victims included 30 journalists, 2 women lawyers, 22 women and dozens of supporters of local politician Mangudadatu who was challenging the dynastic rule of the Ampatuan clan. The Ampatuan clan is described as a military and government sponsored warlord. Witnesses point to the Ampatuan clan and the military and its para-military units as the assassins. Reports say that the women were either molested or raped, their bodies mutilated and then the bodies were buried in shallow graves.

The formulaic response of the Arroyo government to go after the perpetrators has been heard all too often. The gross violations of human rights under the current regime have surpassed that of all of Arroyo’s predecessors, and the fact remains that no one has been punished and that no one victim has been rendered justice. Arroyo declares martial law in Mindanao, her knee jerk reaction when violent protest and public opinion locally (and overseas) threatens to undermine her rule and in this case, uncover more of her collusion and collaboration with the suspect Ampatuan clan.

Philippine President Arroyo fans the culture of impunity which reigns supreme in the Philippines. Arroyo’s counter-insurgency operations involving the military, para-military and warlords like the Ampatuan clan have intensified attacks against the ordinary citizens and a people’s movement struggling to assert and defend their rights.

The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights calls for justice for the victims of the massacre. We call for the disbandment of all paramilitary and armed civilian organizations, including private armies of local politicians.

We join the voices of the Filipinos in their call for the ouster of President Arroyo and for her being brought to justice for all the corruption, fraud, and human rights violations she has committed against the people. We support the right of the Filipino people to be free from such a tyrant.
10 December 2009