Our national heroes of the past, like Gat Andres de Castro Bonifacio, have raged and organized against the trampling (what we now call as impunity) of human dignity during the Spanish and American colonial periods. We take continuous inspiration and courage from the women and men who fought for individual and national freedoms and justice and broke through the impunity of their times. Human rights defenders of today cannot but be enthused by their examples of unselfish and determined struggles to uplift our common humanity and dignity. Human rights defenders must be unwavering in their goal to break impunity.

Impunity Cutting Across All Human Rights

Armando Dolo rosa, A leader of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW), Eric Cabanit, staunch peasant leader of UNORKA and Kathy Alcantara, a woman leader-organizer of the Pambansang Kilusan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKMM)- [National Movement of Nationalist Farmers] – victims of extra-judicial killings - are among the several hundreds of persons who were known for their open stand and advocacy for fundamental freedoms, social justice and human rights. They are usually, among others, women and men leaders of people’s organizations and / or cause-oriented groups, farmers, workers, youth, professionals, journalists, church people killed by hooded men. Their deaths, often vilified beforehand, remain unresolved, with no perpetrators brought to justice, much less convicted. Such incidents entrench deeper the culture of impunity.

The extreme violation, which is the taking of their lives, underscore the indivisibility of human rights. The killings, which are classified as violations of civil and political rights, are closely linked if not actually caused by or rooted in the victims’ struggles for economic, social and cultural rights. In fact, impunity, especially in extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture, often presuppose a history of impunity in economic, social and cultural rights.

Mass Murder in Maguindanao: No Room to Challenge Impunity?

Maguindanao is, by any measure, one of the poorest political territory in the Philippines. The national and local authorities have colluded, in their interest, to “keep their electorate poor, hungry, ignorant and unhealthy” (PDI, Nov.29). The Maguindanaoans’ poverty is an assault to their dignity with impunity. An electoral challenge must not only be not only be a change of political leadership, but an assurance that economic and social rights and wellbeing will be the conduct of governance. The condemnable mass murder of the 57 persons demands not only justice to the victims and their families, but the progressive realization of the Maguindanaoans’ rights to their fundamental freedoms and peace.

The horrific mass murder in Ampatuan, Maguindanao is defying a challenge to the coercive environment and impunity that envelops not only Maguindanao but the whole country. It defies any challenge to a one-clan dictatorship. It is a challenge hurled at the national level. This is made more pronounced when Ms. Arroyo, as Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the AFP, cloaked DILG Secretary Reynaldo Puno “with full powers of supervision”.

Human Rights Defenders must rage and organize against impunity!

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) calls on all Human rights defenders not only to rage against the mass murder in Maguindanao, but against all violations done with impunity.

PAHRA calls on all people working for the upliftment of human dignity and struggling for the human rights of all to set up formations of human rights defenders in all sectors, institutions and in all levels of society to prevent and to break impunity.

MABUHAY ANG ATING MGA BAYANING IPINAGLABAN ANG DIGNIDAD NG TAO AT NG BAYAN!

MABUHAY ANG MGA LUMALABAN PARA SA LAHAT NG KARAPATANG PANTAO PARA SA LAHAT!

Max De Mesa
Chairperson