DAVAO CITY – The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC) decried the government attacks against women activists in the Philippines in a statement on Friday.
The global coalition, which is a a resource and advocacy network supporting women human rights defenders, said it is “dismayed at the increasing malicious attacks and threats perpetrated by State agents against women human rights defenders resisting repression and operations of mining companies in the Philippines.”
It also called on the Philippine government, particularly on President Benigno Aquino III, to stop the attacks against women activists in the country by “immediately and unconditionally (removing) all unwarranted and arbitrary restrictions on peaceful operations of WHRDs.”
The international coalition particularly cited the implication of Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay and Karapatan Southern Mindanao coordinator Hanimay Suazo in the “trumped-up” charges filed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in Davao City to “silence their [her] committed opposition to ongoing militarization in Mindanao and escalating human rights abuses in the region.”
The PNP and AFP filed fabricated charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and violations of the Anti-Trafficking Law against Suazo and fourteen other human rights advocates in the Office of the Prosecutor in Davao City. Palabay and fifty-four (54) other progressive leaders were also implicated in the said charges.
The international coalition also called on the Philippine government to “implement safeguards to provide a conducive environment for all human rights work and start effective investigations into threats and attacks against WHRDs.”
The coalition is composed of 29 organizations. (davaotoday.com)
