The World Probes GMA: International inquiry on political killings kicks off : QC IMC

Exasperated by the politicking and delays caused by allies of the Arroyo administration, at the impeachment hearings at the House of Representatives, people’s organizations worldwide have taken upon themselves to unearth evidences and witnesses on rampant political killings in the country, one of the grounds for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s impeachment.

Human rights activist Marie Hilao-Enriquez, secretary-general of Karapatan and one of the spokespersons of the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) 2005, alleged that one of the reasons why the President wants to dismiss the amended impeachment complaint filed before Congress is because “she is afraid to face the widespread human rights violations charged against her”.

“But GMA could not save herself from the people’s fury because the international delegates of the ISM are inclined to give her a day in court,” said ISM spokesperson Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan). The ISM delegation issued a written indictment against Pres. Arroyo during the press conference, which would be formally delivered to the President before the International Peoples’ Tribunal on August 19.

“Over three thousand recorded human rights violations (HRVs) related to political repression are enough to seriously indict a President”, declared Pagaduan-Araullo at the launch of the ISM 2005 today in Quezon City.

Hilao-Enriquez added that it was “high time to probe into the culpability for the 3,560 recorded HRVs, including killings of 20 human rights workers since 2001”.

The probe will proceed as planned from August 14 to 19 with 85 foreign and local delegates representing 17 countries worldwide. The ISM 2005 delegates will visit five areas where the grossest human rights violations (HRVs) under the Arroyo administration were recorded: Mindoro Island, Hacienda Luisita (Tarlac), Samar Island, Surigao del Sur, and Jolo Island, she said.

The group announced it will submit its reports to the impeachment prosecution team. These, Hilao-Enriquez said, could be used as evidence for the impeachment complaint.

“The international community will be reviewing reports and visiting and interviewing witnesses to the political killings, abductions, and harassments of political dissenters including priests, judges, lawyers and journalists. We have international human rights lawyers, academicians, expatriates, journalists, and clergy from all over the world who want to know the truth about the bloodshed in the Philippines, and who is responsible for all of these”, she declared.

Speakers at the press conference included international experts such as Australian human rights lawyer Atty. Peter Brock, Turkish forensic expert Prof. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, and New Zealand academician and author Mary Ellen O’Connor, Rev. Canon Barry Naylor of the Diocese of Leicester, United Kingdom, progressive Filipino-American Kawal Ulanday, Chairperson of BAYAN-USA, and Rep. Teddy Casiño of BAYAN MUNA Party List.

“These international experts and many other delegates will also probe the President’s culpability in the rising trend of political killings”, Pagaduan-Araullo said. “Political killings are the most grievous among the crimes charged against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It surpasses cheating, lying, and corruption in terms of gravity and effect on people’s lives,” she added.

The data collated during the ISM 2005 may possibly be included as evidence in the ongoing impeachment case against Pres. Arroyo. “The rising trend of killings since 2001 is alarming and unprecedented enough; these could not have possibly escaped the President’s attention without her consent,” Hilao-Enriquez said.

The ISM 2005 will end with an International Peoples’ Tribunal at the University of the Philippines Film Center on August 19, where a jury composed of distinguished international delegates will issue their verdict based upon the body of evidence gathered during the ISM 2005.