Extrajudicial Killings

Philippines: ‘A vote for Bayan Muna is a vote against political killings’

Dear kababayan,

The May 14 elections is an opportunity for Filipinos to say NO to
extrajudicial killings. The government must respect and uphold human
rights and civil liberties, including those of critics and activists.
Genuine democracy demands respect for oppositionist and critical
voices.

As of today, 838 civilians have been slain. Among them are 130 members
of Bayan Muna, one of the groups critical of the Arroyo government,
and which champions the Politics of Change vis-a-vis traditional
politics. International and independent probes have pointed at the
Arroyo government and the military for the failure to stop the
violence and for having the motive to kill the activists.
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IFJ Calls on Philippines President to Stop the Bloodshed

BRUSSELS — The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands the Philippines president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo act immediately to protect media safety, following this week?s distressing news of the murder of journalist Carmelo Palacios, and attempted murder of journalist Delfin Mallari Jr.

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Philippines: Killings of Activists, Journalists Severely Damages 2007 Election Credibility — Bayan

MANILA — The killings of activists and journalists have become so untenable that it would be enough to destroy the credibility of the upcoming May 2007 elections.

This was the warning aired by the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) as cases of killings and attempted murders of activists and journalists escalated over the past two weeks.

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Philippines: Justice Chief Chastised for Insulting IPU Officials

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino ?Nene? Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) today castigated Justice Secretary
Raul Gonzalez for using uncouth language during his
conversation with three visiting officials from the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) who are conducting an
inquiry into allegations of political persecution of
leftist party-list lawmakers and other human rights
violations.
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Philippines journalist killed, another wounded in separate shootings

New York ?The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Philippine government to ensure prompt and thorough investigations into two separate shootings this week, one of which took the life of radio reporter Carmelo Palacios. Police have assigned the cases to a special task force that investigates attacks on journalists.

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