Posts by tag: Extrajudicial Killings

16 years ago

Justice sought for murdered peasant leader

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WE WANT JUSTICE! Militants and relatives of Celso Pojas, the slain secretary general of Farmers Association of Davao City-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, hold a picket here on Friday, May 16. They demand justice for the peasant leader, who, according to the rights group Karapatan, is the first activist killed in Davao city and the 14th killed in the country this year alone. They condemn the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo government’s Oplan Bantay Laya (Freedom Watch) which they say, already claimed close to a thousand lives of progressive leaders and members since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo rose to power. Pojas was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding men on Thursday morning, outside their office in Maa. He is the first victim of political killings, just three days after Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano replaced Gen. Hermogenes Esperon as the AFP Chief-of-staff.(davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)

16 years ago

Leader of farmers’ group shot dead in Davao City

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BREAKING NEWS | Celso Pojas was the secretary-general of the Farmers’ Association of Davao City and spokesman of the KMP in Southern Mindanao. He was the first militant leader assassinated in Davao city, according to Karapatan-Southern Mindanao.

Slain farmers’ leader Celso Pojas during the peasant month press conference in October last year. The words on his hat reads “Land, not bullet.” (davaotoday.com file photo by Barry Ohaylan)

16 years ago

Killings in Philippines leave deeply entrenched fear, distrust

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At the height of the escalating incidents of the murder of activists, there was strong condemnation, both within and outside the country that forced the government to do something to stop the killing. Now that the number of killings has declined, condemnation has also decreased and discussion into finding reasonable remedies and redress for the victims had waned. It has even prompted the government to take the credit for the decline in the number of killings as proof of the improved human rights conditions in the country.

17 years ago

Lawyers say HSA worse than martial law

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During the commemoration of the 35th year of declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, different lawyers’ organizations in Davao City came together at the Centennial Park not only to light candles for judges, lawyers, and paralegals who were victims of the abusive law. They were also there to denounce the Human Security Act, which they called “illegal.” The lawyers describe the present state of the country as even worse than during martial law. They see more human-rights abuses under the law. On the same occasion, the lawyers launched HOTLINE 296-0070; people who are faced with HSA-related violations can call and ask for help. (davaotoday.com photo by Cheryll D. Fiel)

17 years ago

Video: Short films on human rights in Philippines banned

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This short film, by the independent filmmaker Jon Red, is one of the public service advertisements on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines that were banned for public exhibition by government censors, who said these films “are presented unfairly, one-sided and undermines the faith and confidence of the government and duly constituted authorities for public exhibition.” Click here to view the other films.

17 years ago

Hongkong rights group slams Davao for killings

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“In Davao City in Mindanao, several corpses were found bearing placards similarly suggesting they that were criminal offenders. What is shocking is the implied acceptance by the authorities and the public regarding this practice without seriously reflecting on the tremendous implications if it is allowed to continue,” says the Asian Human Rights Commission.