Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

STOP THE POLITICAL KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES!

• Community Forum
• Sunday, September 17, 2006
• St. Mary’s Parish, 5251 Joyce Street, Church Basement, 2:00 PM
• Refreshments will be served
• Hosted by St. Mary’s Development and Peace Parish Committee

On September 21, 1972 in the Philippines, former dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law. For 14 years, the Filipino people suffered unprecedented human rights violations and terror — drawing the attention and sympathy of the world. The iron-fisted dictator Marcos was eventually defeated by the Filipino people and the solidarity of peace-loving people all over the world.

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3 August 2006 Baguio City

Dear President Macapagal-Arroyo and Secretary Avelino Cruz,

I am writing to express my grave concern over the unabated political killings here in the Philippines, especially the recent killing and attempted assassination of key leaders of indigenous peoples’ organizations and members of their families here in the Cordillera.

The attempted assassination of Dr. Constancio Claver, M.D. in Tabuk, Kalinga which resulted in the death of his wife, Alice-Omengan Claver and wounding of a bystander, Janet Ewag is the most recent incident which took place in 31 July 2006. This happened just two months after the killing of Rafael Markus Bangit, (8 June 2006) which up to now remains unsolved. To date there are 73 indigenous persons subjected to extrajudicial killings since 2005. Up to now not a single perpetrator has been identified and brought to justice.

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from Monica Urrutia, PSAC Regional Representative

Hi all,

Many of you know that I am very active in the Filipino community. As the press release below states the political killings in the Philippines keeps increasing, so the Filipino community and our supporters and allies are also stepping up starting off with weekly actions at the Philippine consulate. International condemnation seems to be one of the few things the current Philippine President responds or reacts to. With that in mind I am sending this out to those within the PSAC and the labour movement whom I’ve met or worked with and ask for your support.

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Progressive Filipinos in Vancouver will rally outside of the Philippine Consulate offices in downtown Vancouver this Monday to call for a stop to the political killings of activists in the Philippines and for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

According to the human rights group Karapatan, since 2001 when Arroyo came to power, there have been 690 extra judicial killings of political activists and other civilians. Women and children, priests, lawyers, trade unionists, peasants and progressive politicians are included in the list of those killed. The list may be viewed at cp-union.org.

In Vancouver, a mock funeral march and protest rally and vigil will take place in front of the Philippine Consulate offices at 700 West Pender (at Granville) on Monday, July 24, 2006 from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Rallyists will display the names and some pictures of the 690 people killed on tombstones and light candles to protest what they see as the Arroyo-sanctioned killings.

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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — The Philippines is fast becoming the most dangerous place for labor unions after Colombia, a US-based labor rights advocacygroup said Tuesday as members of a 12-nation International Labor SolidarityMission fanned out to various provinces to investigate killings, abductions and other attacks on labor leaders and supporters.

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