ACTION ALERT & UPDATES:

CPA Action Alert

Continuing harrassment and surveillance of CPA staff

Justice for Rafael Markus Bangit! Justice to all victims of state terrorism

MAY 2006 Updates on the surveillance and threats to Cordillera political activists

APRIL2006 Updates on the surveillance and threats to Cordillera political activists

Cordillera political activists targeted for liquidation! Condemn the killing spree of the GMA regime!

On the 34th commemoration of the Martial Law declaration, we remember the thousands of victims of the Marcos dictatorship, whose demands for justice remain unanswered. We hold fast in our memory the legacy of their martyrdom: justice, peace and the right to life. On September 21, 2006, as we continue our quest for justice, we will not forget the 753 victims of political killings under the administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Of this number, 96 indigenous peoples were slain under this reign of terror. In the same manner, we remember the tens of thousands of orphaned families and communities as a result of the continuing spate of political killings.

As we remember our martyrs, WE RESIST THE MARTIAL LAW OF THE ARROYO REGIME.

There is no let up on the killings, as the death toll keeps mounting, and as the human rights violations escalate in intensity and form. There is no let up in the Arroyo regime’s campaign of political killings and repression in the guise of an anti-insurgency campaign, the Oplan Bantay Laya, and the so-called war on terror.

In the Cordillera, human rights violations also happen through militarization and political persecution of communities and individuals who defend their ancestral territories against destructive projects, such as mining and dams. It is clear that the GMA regime will continue in its witch hunt of so-called “terrorists” and “enemies of the State”, who are in fact fighters for the people’s interest and welfare. GMA has unleashed her dogs of war in regions and provinces where the people’s voice against the regime’s injustices is both strong and resounding.

In the region, the intensive surveillance, harassment, and the presence of a military hitlist of leaders of the Cordillera mass movement still persists. Never has the sanctity of life been so outrightly violated after the dictatorial regime. GMA has surpassed any record in Philippine history in terms of human rights violations in such a short time. No Philippine president has been so rabid a human rights violator such as Arroyo, even with the question on the legitimacy of her presidency. The killings precisely serve her interest to remain in power, as her regime remains on the brink of collapse. It also manifests her subservience and commitment to US President George Bush’s “war on terror”. To have a legal license for the killings and the eradication of civil liberties, the GMA regime is hell-bent on fast-tracking the Anti-Terrorism Bill and Charter Change, which means gross violation of people’s comprehensive rights and national oppression of Cordillera indigenous peoples.

IN OUR OUTRAGE, LET US UNITE FOR JUSTICE TOWARDS ENDING THE KILLINGS IN THE COUNTRY.

The only remaining act there is for the public, the families, and friends of the victims, the thousands of civilians sacrificed in the altar of the regime’s “war against terrorism”, is to come together and struggle for the justice and for a stop to the killings and state terrorism. The international community, such as Amnesty International, the World Council of Churches, the Uniting Church of Canada and the European Commission, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples, to name a few, has spoken and taken on the people’s side in this quest for justice and towards ending political killings in the Cordillera region, and in Philippines. We only have to gather our voice and add to the snowballing calls for justice, which is NOW, before any more killings occur. The ultimate solution lies in our urgent action.

Let us unite to seek justice for Alyce O. Claver, the frustrated assassination of Dr. Constancio “Chandu” Claver, Romy Sanchez, Pepe Manegdeg III, Albert Terredaño, Jose Doton, Markus Bangit, and Gloria Casuga, and the rest of the 753 victims. We say ENOUGH OF GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, ENOUGH OF THE KILLINGS. All peace and justice-loving people in the Cordillera are enjoined to participate in this struggle for the ouster of GMA. There will be no genuine or sincere act towards justice for the victims whilst the very perpetrator remains in power.

Stop the killings now. Respect the sanctity of life. Uphold human rights.

Justice to all victims of political killings and state terrorism!
Resist the undeclared martial law of the fascist GMA regime!

CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE
CORDILLERA HUMAN RIGHTS ALLIANCE
21 Sept 06