wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Groups urge Philippines president to probe killings of

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8960 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05547
Oct. 11, 2005

Groups urge Philippines president
to probe killings of activists, clergy
      
by Maurice Malanes
Ecumenical News International  
      
MANILA - Church and development groups from around the world are calling on
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to investigate the killings of
more than 30 human-rights activists, including clergy members, since the
first of the year.   
       
      "We are deeply concerned at the killings of 34 activists in the
Philippines so far in the year 2005," the groups said in Oct. 7 letters to
President Arroyo and to the Philippine army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Generoso
S. Senga. The letters were released by the Geneva-based group, Ecumenical
Advocacy Alliance.  
       
      More than 30 people signed the letters, including representatives of
the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Lutheran World Federation, World
Alliance of Reformed Churches, Franciscans International and the Young
Women's Christian Association. They demanded "immediate and impartial
investigations into all recent extra-judicial executions."  
       
      The signatories cited three recent killings alleged to have been
committed by agents of the military: Diosdado Fortuna was shot in the back on
Sept. 22 in Laguna Province, south of Manila; the Rev. Raul Domingo of the
United Church of Christ in the Philippines died on Sept. 4, two weeks after
being shot in Puerto Princesa in the island of Palawan; and Norman Bocar was
shot in the head on Sept. 1 in Borongan, Eastern Samar, in central
Philippines.  
       
      "We mourn each of those killed and we deplore the ongoing violence and
killing," the signatories said. "We stand in solidarity with the struggle of
the Filipino people to achieve their civil, political, economic, social and
cultural rights."  
       
      The letter referred to the report of a delegation sent to the
Philippines in July by the WCC and the Christian Conference of Asia. That
report observed that increasing numbers of activists, including church
workers, were being murdered, and spoke of intimidation, illegal detention
and torture of peasants working for rich landlords.   
       
      The Oct. 7 letter urges the Arroyo government to promote agrarian
reforms and give rural people greater access to the country's natural
resources. It also calls for the repeal of legislation, including the Mining
Act of 1995, that it claims "puts corporate profit before the interests of
people and the environment."  
       
      Sarah Ford of U.S.-based Lutheran World Relief said: "We are concerned
with the increasing threats to religious leaders and civil society
representatives struggling for their land, property, and cultural rights. We
call upon the government of the Philippines to work with churches and NGO
leaders to bring an end to the violence."

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