Rally at the Consulate TO, 1st Int’l Day to End Impunity

Rally at the Consulate TO, 1st Int’l Day to End Impunity

By Joseph Smooke

Protesters picket the Philippine Consulate to demand a stop to impunity. PHOTO: JOSEPH SMOOKE

CHANTING SLOGANS of “no justice, no peace” and “stop killing journalists,” outside the Philippine Consulate, protesters attracted the attention of passers-by and the Consulate General to the first International Day to End Impunity.

Although unable to take a position himself, Toronto’s Consulate General from the Philippines, Pedro Chan, agreed to forward a letter from protesters to President Benigno (Noynoy) Aquino III demanding an end to human rights abuses in the Philippines.

A vocal and spirited group of more than a dozen protesters representing Filipino-Canadian organizations marched and chanted outside the office tower that houses the Philippines Consulate demanding an end to extrajudicial killings, and demanding that those who are responsible for the Maguindanao Massacre and other abuses of power be brought to justice. They presented a letter to Consulate General Chan asking him to send it to Malacañang Palace. Bayan Canada and Migrante Canada coordinated similar actions in Vancouver and Ottawa.

CHICA-CHICA. Consul General Pedro Chan chats with Jom Carpio while mom Cathy stands by outside the Philippine Consulate. At right is Chris Sorio of Migrante Canada who just handed to Chan a petition to stop human rights abuses addressed to President Benigno Aquino III. In background is Rolly Magante of the Consulate. Photo: Joseph Smooke

The letter demands President Aquino “to investigate, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of and accessories to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations.” The letter also urges the President “to continue the prosecution of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her cohorts, not only for the crime of electoral sabotage, but also for other heinous crimes she committed against the Filipino people…” The letter is co-signed by Bayan Canada, Anakbayan Toronto, Gabriela Ontario, Migrante Canada, Philippines Network for Justice and Peace, and the Community Alliance for Social Justice.

Cathy Carpio of the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Movement (Migrante Canada) intoned “We will not tolerate a regime that sustains itself on violence and brutality. We condemn its oppression and injustice. We will not cease to resist. We take to the streets. And we assert peoples’ democratic rights. The culture of impunity must end.”

“Stop the killings in the Philippines! Justice now!” Jonathan Canchela of Bayan Canada’s voice lit up the cold grey scene. “We call on the governments of the world, especially the government of Noynoy Aquino to end impunity in the Philippines. To stop killing journalists; to stop killing activists; to stop killing farmers; to stop killing lawyers who are fighting for justice, who are fighting for justice for the people.”