Joint Press Statement
March 23, 2005

Justice for all victims of human rights violations
HK-based Filipinos call for an end to killings in the Philippines

The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Migrante Sectoral Party Hong Kong and the United Filipinos in Hong Kong condemn in the strongest possible terms the growing spate of killings and human rights violations of political activists, peasant rights advocates and sympathizers, lawyers and priests in the Philippines.

As of date, around 26 people have been killed, 18 of which just occurred in the last two weeks. Seven have been abducted while four others remain illegally detained. Some have survived the attacks with one internationally-recognized lawyer reporting the assassination attempt on his life. Yesterday, a member of the Bayan Muna party-list survived an assassination attempt.

These killings and violations cannot be treated individually as they all are politically motivated.

Some of those murdered were in the most heated cases in the country. Fr. William Tadena of Philippine Independent Church and City Councilor Abelardo Ladera, two of the 26, were supporters of the Hacienda Luisita farmers and workers campaigning for wage increase. Some others exposed the military in their respective provinces for the latter's alleged harassment and intimidation.

Many of them were members and leaders of Bayan Muna and other progressive party-lists, trade unions, student and youth organizations and supporters who have continually been tagged by the government as communist fronts.

This red-baiting fuels the legitimacy of attacks on their persons and their lives. This we see as part and parcel of the intensifying state terrorism launched by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself.

Her own cabinet members and military have been implicated in several of the cases yet she remains unalarmed.

Such an unabashed attitude from the leader of the state is as condemnable as the attacks themselves.

Her denial and refusal to take action is as condemnable as her inaction to the growing demands of those these killed people have supported genuine agrarian reform, just wages and jobs, among many others.

We call on the international community to join us in this campaign to stop the human rights violations in the Philippines and give justice to those who have suffered and died.

An international fact-finding mission, aptly named International Solidarity Mission, shall be in full swing August of this year and we invite everybody to take part in this initiative.

These killings and violations shall not go unnoticed. We shall not keep our eyes or shudder in fear for we will bite the bullet ourselves.

The fascism that has wrought our motherland and our loved ones shall fuel our resolve to fight for justice.

End the killings now! Justice for all victims of human rights violations! #