HONG KONG SAR: Police brutality and inhuman
treatment of WTO protestors condemned
A Statement by the
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
December 18, 2005
The brutality and inhuman
treatment of the protestors against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by
the Hong Kong police comes as a shock and must immediately be stopped. On
December 17, 2005 unarmed protesters attempted to enter the Hong Kong
Convention Centre, where the WTO ministerial conference is being held. The
response of the police was to use pepper spray and tear gas on the
protesters. Due to this excessive reaction, it was reported that some
protesters removed some wooden fences on the streets, resulting in minor
clashes between the protesters and the police. Despite the protesters being
unarmed, the Hong Kong police commissioner declared the peaceful
demonstration as a violent riot against Hong Kong law and pledged to take
serious action against the protesters. At about 4am on December 18 about
500-600 protestors, mostly South Korean, were arrested and detained in
various police stations, including Kwun Tong police station. They have now
been taken to the Kwun Tong Magistracy. Another group of about 400
protesters of various nationalities, including Hong Kong residents, who
staged a peaceful sit-in on the streets were also surrounded by the police
and barred from returning to their homes and hotels. At the time of writing,
these people remain on the streets, without access to food or blankets.
The Asian Human Rights
Commission (AHRC) has been closely watching the protests relating to the WTO
in Hong Kong, and several staff members have witnessed various incidents of
excessive police violence, particularly on December 17. On that day, the
protestors had a clear objective: to reach the venue of the WTO ministerial
conference and make their voices heard. The entire objective of the police
however, was to deny the protestors their right to movement. The protestors
then confronted the police lines and tried to push through the police
barricades to move closer to the Convention Centre.
During these
confrontations, the police were visibly armed with protective gear including
helmets, gas masks, shields and batons. The police also used water cannons
on the protesters near the designated protest area, provoking the
protestors. This also outraged many local bystanders, who began shouting
'Don't hit/attack people!' to the police. While the use of water cannons was
an unnecessary and disproportionate response to the demonstration, it was
also evident that the officers could not even control the water cannons
effectively, at times directing the water at journalists and other
supporters of the demonstrators. Pepper spray was also excessively used on
the protesters, despite earlier criticisms from civil groups regarding
police usage throughout the week.
At about 5:30pm on December
17, protestors began taking different routes towards the Convention Centre,
overpowering some police lines. Staff of the AHRC witnessed protestors
walking and running along the streets with flags and drums, causing no
disruption to any local property. Plain clothed police however, were seen
yelling at MTR (Mass Transit Railway) staff near the Wan Chai Playground to
close the gates of MTR entrances when the unarmed protestors were peacefully
going along the streets. A little later, a group of police officers in riot
gear began marching along the street, yelling at bystanders--mostly Hong
Kong residents--to move away. The police were clearly nervous and
overreacting, even though they outnumbered the approximately 1,000 un-armed
protestors three to one.
When the protesters
approached closer to the Convention Centre and clashed with the police, the
police used tear gas for the first time. The protesters continued to remain
on the streets while police cordoned off the area and surrounded them. A few
hundred South Korean farmers were arrested and they were herded into police
buses with their hands tied behind their backs.
Also on December 17, the
Hong Kong police surrounded about 400 protestors who were sitting on the
streets. Among the protestors are South Korean farmers as well persons of
various nationalities including Indonesians and Hong Kong residents. They
have been kept on the streets for over a period of 12 hours, without food,
sanitation or blankets. Even those who wanted to return to their homes or
hotels have not been allowed to leave. They will most likely be arrested
soon.
The AHRC unequivocally
condemns such inhuman and forceful treatment of unarmed protesters by the
Hong Kong police. It is evident that far from the professional and rational
behaviour expected of the police, they have provoked violence, overreacted
and used excessive force. It is essential that the Hong Kong Police respect
the rights of all persons in Hong Kong, regardless of their nationality,
including their freedom of expression, assembly, movement and right to
protest. All those at present protesting against the WTO are doing so
because their livelihoods are being threatened. They are not sure for fun.
Fellow poor farmers in South Korea donated money to pay for the South Korean
farmers to come to Hong Kong. As they are barred from voicing their concerns
at the actual conference, protest is a legitimate means through which they
can he heard.
The AHRC therefore demands
that all protesters, including South Korean farmers, detained in Hong Kong
police stations be released immediately and unconditionally. All other
persons on the streets must also be allowed to return to their residences.
The Hong Kong Government must immediately intervene and make assurances that
the rights of all persons in Hong Kong, including the right to protest,
freedom of assembly and movement will be respected. A step in this direction
is for the Hong Kong police to bring an immediate stop to the use of
violence against protestors. They should also publicly apologise for the use
of excessive force against the protestors and their ill treatment.
Privilege speech of
Hon. BARTOLOME R. CASTILLO III
A privilege speech
submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Samar by Board Member Bartolome
R. Castillo III, PCL Provincial Federation President, during its regular
session on December 6, 2005
Good
morning Hon. Presiding Officer and colleagues:
I stand before you this morning as a matter
of privilege.
Lately we are again
hounded by numerous questions regarding a DENR ruling on the lifting of the
logging moratorium in Samar to San Jose Timber Corp. (SJTC). SJTC has
advertised a whole page ad, I read on Bulletin Today daily, which explains
that the change of events has no political connection whatsoever. Protest
against the action of DENR reached national televisions explained by anti
logging advocates from various NGOs and the catholic hierarchy of the whole
Samar Island.
Colleagues, I know that
eventually our stand will be asked regarding this matter, as I was already
been. May I refresh you then that when I signed a moratorium resolution to
this effect last 2003, my assumption then was we were still in the process
of preparing all the safety mechanism necessary to safeguard our forest. But
never had it cross my mind that the moratorium would be permanent, as it now
appears.
Basing on the account of
anti logging and mining advocates, the tragedies of Ormoc, Southern Leyte
and Quezon province, to name a few, prompted them to seek for a moratorium.
They lobbied from this august body to the halls of congress and succeeded.
We overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting the moratorium. Yes we had
a moratorium since then, but what have we done so far to our claim of
denuded forest and mismanaged logging and mining concessions during the
moratorium? I did not see anyone planting trees to our denuded forest, as we
should. We have not submitted before this august body a recommendation or a
blue print for a sustainable forest management up to this date. Were we just
after a stop of logging and mining, per se? Are we against logging and
mining or the bad effects of it that we do not like? We clamor for the stop
of using our resources but inconsistently shout for a fight against poverty?
If we stop the utilization of these blessings unique to our province then
have we crafted a program to fight against poverty?
Where then is the
direction of this province in our fight against poverty? Do we still need
some years more to craft a viable program to eradicate poverty that is why
we need more time and a longer moratorium? Were three years not enough for
us? What stage are we now on our preparation of the blue print since three
years ago, if there's any? The truth is we have not started yet, or not that
I know. Shall we wait forever? Will poverty be our legacy to the next
generation? Is this not the reason to our advocacy against logging and
mining, protecting and conserving these resources for the next generation?
What legacy then? Poverty? Idle resources? Yes no floods, no mudslides, in a
short term but eventually all these will happen because of illegal loggers
and the absence of a sustainable forest management program. And worst still
the hungry stomachs and the perpetual struggle of our kababayans for their
daily living will be there.
Are we really serious in
eradicating poverty in our province but in contrast we are blocking any
development or utilization of our resources? Much worst, what I am afraid
of, if our good intentions, because of our fears, might just being
capitalized by those who have been constantly against progress then, now and
forever. Will this poverty be our legacy to the next generation on the guise
of passing on these resources to them lying idly before our noses? Will this
be our way of washing our hands by avoiding the responsibility because of
our stubborn ideals? Shall we not embrace and trust new scientific method
and technologies to prevent the occurrence of these tragedies we fear as
effects of logging and mining? Should we give up thinking of ways to make
these tragedies a step forward to a permanent solution than as a disaster?
Should we forget that those lessons can make us more vigilant and cautious
and can keep us wiser in facing the problems that may arise? That it could
inspire us to craft efficient safeguards to guarantee that these tragedies
will not happen during our watch.
Why be afraid of what may
or may not happen? Should we pass on this responsibility to the next
generation? Can't we trust ourselves? What is the guarantee that the next
generation will be wiser than we are, anyway? If we cannot trust ourselves
now how much more if we leave this responsibility to the next generation
when we will no longer be here on earth to see it? Or are we just lazy to
labor for the best of our people now and the next generation? If we had not
wavered to watch the total log ban, why can't we continue to watch the
logging concessionaires comply the regulations we will be crafting? Let us
join hands for progress not stagnation and idleness.
Colleagues we have to
stand firmly to do the right thing for the good of the majority of the
people of Samar, may it be unpopular to the few. Let our constituents enjoy
the fruits of the blessings unique only to our province. We have to remember
that not all provinces in the world have been blessed as we are. Should we
not maximize the utilization of these blessings before God take it back from
us like the parable of the talents? Let us make sure that in doing so we can
solve the prevalent and much pressing problem of poverty now than to fear of
the future that can be avoided. Give our people a taste of progress. Give
development a chance. I am sure this will be the best gift we can give to
the next generation, than passing on to them the poverty we are experiencing
now.
What I am saying,
colleagues, that the effort we use now to block and rally against the full
utilization of our resources is as much the same should we give progress a
chance. Let us not give up. Let us open our minds to new technologies. In
the end, what is important is to embrace development while protecting our
environment. That is my advocacy. This could be done if we are united, NO
PROS NO CONS but open to reasons. Let us trust ourselves. Let us help our
impoverish province rise up, this may be our only chance left. Let us then
harmonize conservation with development.
An Open Letter to our countrymen
By BART
SAUCELO
December 8, 2005
Dear Kababayans,
In our desperation we are
forced to beg for your kindness to give us a chance to be useful and
productive by giving us jobs or livelihood. We have tried what we could do
to support our families. We reached the end of the rope and our last resort
is to beg from our fellow Filipinos who are more fortunate to be in a
position to help. But we do not want dole outs. We want work.
We are millions languishing
in poverty. We desperately need to work and support our families. We do
not want to be parasites of society. We want to contribute to the
development of our country. Give us a chance to prove what we can do. Help
us by creating jobs and we will pay you back with hard and honest work. We
will increase your wealth by our work if you only give us a chance.
We can no longer depend on
our government which is so infested with corruption and burdened by fiscal
crisis. Our only hope lies on our countrymen who have the heart and the
means to help. We are asking for work in order to support our families but
which can also help the economy of our country.
Please create jobs for us
and for our country that we may not continue to wallow in poverty and for
our country to continue to suffer the humiliation of being the sick man of
Asia. We urge you to support and participate in the GLOBAL FILIPINOS FOR
PROGRESS UNITED COOPERATIVES PROGRAM (GFPUCP) which provides livelihood for
the poor like us. Please visit
http://www.globalfilipinosforprogress.org and click on PROGRAMS.
Thank you and may God bless
you with more fortune for your kindness.
The poorest of the poor
Rescind the DENR Order to Resume Logging
Operation in Samar
A Joint Pastoral
Statement of the Bishops and Clergy of Samar and Leyte
December 2, 2005
“Simon, son of John, do you
love me more than these?...Tend my sheep,” (John 21:15, 16).
As pastors of the Lord’s
flock we have the responsibility to listen to his voice in the cry of the
least of his brothers and sisters. No less than that is our duty to care for
the earth, even as we humbly strive to imitate Him who looks after the
“birds in the sky” and the “lilies of the field” to express his greater love
for his people (Mt 6:26, 28).
Moved by this unparalleled
love of the Lord for his flock, we, the Bishops of Samar and Leyte, with the
concurrence of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo and his Auxiliary,
together with our respective Clergies, petition the Secretary of Environment
and Natural Resources, Michael T. Defensor, to rescind his August 15, 2005
Order allowing San Jose Timber Corporation to pursue logging operations in
Samar Island.
There are vital reasons
behind our common stand.
1. In our judgment
rescinding the DENR Order is a demand of the people’s welfare. That welfare,
after all, is the highest law (salus populi suprema lex). As long as
the specter of destruction to life, livelihood and property, to a balanced
and wholesome ecosystem is poised on them by the imminent loss of critical
forest cover and watershed, our people will not be helped even financial or
economic gain. In fact, material benefits alone do not determine our
people’s welfare because even financial and economic considerations cannot
supersede such other vital human concerns as our people’s security,
spiritual and moral health, among others. Working for our people’s true
welfare means respecting our peoples’ true nature; for we not only have
bodies but spirits as well. Physically and spiritually, we need our forest
cover intact and healthy.
2. The issuance of the Order
came in the wake of a morally compromised situation: two public officials
sharing favors that seem mutually related to one another. A Senator of the
Republic helping to confirm the appointment of a DENR Secretary who himself
issues an Order allowing the Senator’s logging company to operate again
clearly does not at all inspire confidence in the absence of
political trade-off between powerful people at the expense of Samar Island
and its hapless people. Nor is it even tolerated by Article 6, Section 14 of
the 1987 Constitution which bans Senators and Members of the House of
Representatives from being “directly or indirectly interested financially in
any contract with, or any franchise or special privilege granted by the
Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof,
including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary,
during his term of office. He shall not intervene in any matter before any
office of the government for his pecuniary benefit or where he may be called
upon to act on account of his office.” Rescinding the Order, therefore,
rights a wrong and rekindles hope. It will, moreover, prove the seriousness
of the government’s thrust against even a semblance of graft.
3. The DENR decision stands
on the wrong side of the moral equation. For example, the Order champions
the supposed “prior rights” of one public official and one corporation but
tramples under foot the “more prior” native rights of the people of Samar
Island. The Order keeps alive a business but it threatens the very survival
of peoples and very precious flora and fauna: 80% of Samar’s old growth
forest, Samar’s critical watershed, 2,400 acknowledged rare species of
blooms, 197 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles and 12 amphibians. A
corporation’s right to exist and to operate had been deemed more important
than the survival of lowland farmers and their families or even of the
Philippine Eagle whose biggest number is in Samar Island, the Philippine
Hawk Eagle and the Philippine Cockatoo.
4. The DENR Order has set
the clock back on social justice in the country. Social inequity in the
Philippines can hardly be uprooted overnight. But it is powerfully given a
boost by the Order. A corporation owned by a member of the country’s elite
is now allowed to rake in more wealth for itself while the masses of Samar’s
poor will only eke out of the crumbs and may even lose the little that they
have of Samar’s God-give natural wealth. The Church which sees the
advancement of social justice as duly constitutive of the preaching of the
gospel (Justice in the World, no. 21) cannot merely view this state
of things and let it be. She must raise her voice and say no.
5. St. Augustine used to
say, “Love and do what you will (Arma et fac quiod vis!) That is what
we are called to do primarily as Disciples of Jesus Christ! Let us love our
God who has given us the earth and everything in it! But let us especially
love our people and do what we must: save their forests and save our
patrimony!
We urge the government and
especially Secretary Michael T. Defensor to do the same. Look beyond mere
political and economic accommodations: Truly love the people and serve
their welfare! How? Rescind the
August 15, 2005 DENR Order
allowing commercial logging in
Samar Island!
May Mary, the Mother of the
Savior, intercede for us and our worthy cause!
|
(Sgd.) |
Most Rev.
Pedro R. Dean, D.D.
Metropolitan Bishop of Palo
Leyte |
(Sgd.) |
Most Rev. Leonardo Y.
Medroso, D.D.
Bishop of Borongan
Eastern Samar |
| |
|
|
|
|
(Sgd.) |
Most Rev. Jose S. Palma,
D.D.
Bishop of Calbayog
Western Samar |
(Sgd.) |
Most Rev. Emmanuel C.
Trance, D.D.
Bishop of Catarman
Northern Samar |
| |
|
|
|
|
(Sgd.) |
Most Rev. Filomeno G. Bactol,
D.D.
Bishop of Naval
Biliran |
(Sgd.) |
Most Rev. Isabelo Abarquez,
D.D.
Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of Palo |
| |
|
|
|
|
(Sgd.) |
Most Rev. Angel T. Hobayan,
D.D.
Bishop Emeritus of Catarman
Northern Samar |
|
Most Rev. Maximiano T. Cruz,
D.D.
Bishop Emeritus of Calbayog
Western Samar |
| |
|
|
|
|
Clergy, |
Archdiocese of Palo
Diocese
of Calbayog
Diocese of Borongan
Diocese of Catarman
Diocese of
Naval |
|
|
BREAKDOWN! A Letter of
Appeal to the Church and Media
A Statement by the Counsels
for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL)
November 24, 2005
The killings continue. And
no solution is in sight.
Today, there is complete
impunity in the Philippines.
An average of one militant is killed every week. Seven lawyers have been
killed since January this year while nine journalists have so far fallen
from assassins' bullets. In many of these cases, no suspects were arrested
nor witnesses found. There are no leads either according to authorities.
No decisive action is
expected from authorities, especially the police and the military. In fact,
many of them are suspects in many of these crimes. The public was shocked
when members of the TMG were seen shooting point blank at fallen suspects.
More shocking is the justification -the suspects were carjackers. Seven
farmers on a highly publicized vigil in Leyte were recently massacred, on
the basis of an alleged 'intelligence report' that they are NPAs. Nothing
was heard of again of the massacre of a Muslim family in Sulu, no less
condemnable than the deadly siege of Bicutan, with its unexplained high
death toll. Julius Babao was nonchalantly labeled a terrorist coddler by
Pres. Arroyo, with no semblance of serious proof for such charges. No
apologies were offered either, after the charge was found to be completely
devoid of evidence. All these in complete disregard of what is decent, fair
and just. The international community will be shocked with how the already
unjust rule of law in the Philippines has completely broken down as killings
of activists, journalists, lawyers, priests and even elected local
government officials continue unabated and unresolved.
The Counsels for the Defense
of Liberties (CODAL) is alarmed with the impunity with which killers get
away with it. The killings are different from ordinary crimes perpetrated by
ordinary criminals or those that result from actual combat between
government and rebel groups. The series of violent killings target unarmed
victims exercising constitutional rights -freedom of assembly, freedom of
expression, freedom of the press. Despite these and attacks against civil
liberties, the government has remained unmoved, unconcerned and inert.
CODAL hopes that a concerted
action by the people, including the church and the media will put a stop to
the breakdown. We appeal to media editors and publishers to give 'extreme'
media attention to the killings and force government to act decisively. We
also ask media editors to devote their Sunday editorial on December 4, 2005
to condemn the killings and urge Pres. Gloria Arroyo to also condemn the
killings and declare that any perpetrator arrested will be dealt with the
full force of law. We also ask the bishops and church leaders to come out on
the same Sunday a strong statement condemning the killings and the
breakdown. We ask peoples' organizations to come out with strongly worded
statements shaming the government into putting a stop to the killings. Maybe
Pres. Arroyo will publicly come out and condemn these atrocities this time.
It is only through a concerted effort by the people, the media and the
church, that we will achieve some respite from the killings, put a stop to
impunity and declare to the killers that they will not easily get away with
it.
