One EJK victim each week since ML declaration, says monitor

STREET demonstrations would greet the first year of the Mindanao martial law today even as the human rights watchdog Karapatan announced that it has submitted a report on the alleged civil and political rights violations in letters to at least seven United Nations independent experts and special procedures.

In the report, Karapatan documented at least 49 victims of extrajudicial killings in Mindanao, with an average of one victim killed every week since the declaration of martial law on May 23, 2017.

The group said most of the victims were indigenes and members of local peasant organizations allegedly targeted for their local campaigns for genuine agrarian reform and against militarization.

Karapatan said it also documented 22 cases of torture, 116 victims of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 89 victims of illegal arrest and detention, and 336,124 victims of indiscriminate gunfire and aerial bombings.

At least 404, 654 individuals have been displaced, largely because of these bombings, Karapatan said.

“Many more reported cases reveal a much graver magnitude of the effects of martial law. The dangers of ensuring security in traveling across the area prevent news gatherers and documenters from looking into field conditions so as to fully report on the human rights situation,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.

“The report outlines how the Duterte administration, through his own brand of war-on-terror with the imposition and extension of martial law in Mindanao and the continuing implementation of government’s counterinsurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan, has promoted state terrorism and violence in the Southern Philippines,” said Palabay.

Karapatan called on the officials and UN experts to conduct an independent investigation on the rights violations during the imposition of martial law in Mindanao.

The group called for the immediate lifting of martial law in Mindanao which it said has been used by state security forces as “license to further perpetuate rights violations, the immediate investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.”

It claimed that state forces  have encouraged the use of “hit lists” that target activists and civilians.

Karapatan also urged the government to pursue its commitments under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and to adhere and respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all major human rights instruments that is a party and signatory.

Copies of the Karapatan report were also submitted to Commission on Human Rights chairperson Jose Luis Martin Gascon and to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III in his capacity as chairperson of the government’s peace negotiating panel.

Meanwhile, groups like Sandugo, Bayan and other progressive organizations are set to march to Mendiola in protest of the continuing martial law in Mindanao.

Organizers said the government needs to answer these questions:

• “Why can’t we go back to our homes?”
• “The Isis-inspired Maute group has been defeated months ago — why is there still martial law in Mindanao?”
• “We are not the terrorists, but why are we targeted by the military?”
• “Is it really the Isis or our natural resources?” (hg)