Philippine Death Squads: Government & Rebels both point fingers
It has many on the sidelines puzzled who is really behind the wave of killings hiting the Philippine countryside and cities. At present some groiups seeing the reports from UNHCR and others are pressing the US, EU, and Australia to stop military aid until the situation improves. Three years ago the first international reports came out citing the increasing levels of vioence. The report however focuses more on the plight of children and concern over the welfare of those orphaned in the growing conflict and return of a more violent insurgency.
They UNHCR in 2003 did note a "State reforms" but, " lack of appropriate measures to investigate crimes allegedly committed by state security forces and agents"
" Positive aspects "
1. The Committee appreciates the progress made by the State party to reform its domestic legal order to comply with its commitments under the Covenant. It welcomes, among other actions, the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Covenant in August 1989. The Committee considers that the process of reform should be accelerated and strengthened.
2. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State party has facilitated international assistance in relation to education and training on the protection of human rights.
" Principal subjects of concern and recommendations "
" The Committee is concerned about the lack of appropriate measures to investigate crimes allegedly committed by state security forces and agents, in particular those committed against human rights defenders, journalists and leaders of indigenous peoples, and the lack of measures taken to prosecute and punish the perpetrators. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned at reports of intimidation and threats of retaliation impeding the right to an effective remedy for persons whose rights and freedoms have been violated. "
" The State party should adopt legislative and other measures to prevent such violations, in keeping with articles 2, 6 and 9 of the Covenant, and ensure effective enforcement of the legislation. "
But the recent level of violence is seen not only as a Government issue - the cycle of violence has grown to a level that is alarming.
On one side the Government points to mass graves and claims a purge versus their effective infilltraition of rebel groups has proof of rebel killings of leaders who are becoming mainstream or shying away from armed fighting.
PURGE: "Rebels are killing off their own"
" Palparan…. claimed the killings were part of another round of a bloody purge in the Communist Party of the Philippines and its allied organizations. " adding " This is Operation Missing Link Part two,” Palparan said. The first part, known then as Kampanyang Ahos, happened in the 1980s, mostly in the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions." he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
But this is something the Rebel movement denies; claiming it is only a cover story…
The National Democratic Front (NDF) deny a purge within the NPA.
“The government’s false allegation of a purge within the revolutionary movement is meant to further justify more extrajudicial killings,” Luis Jalandoni, the NDF chairman of peace negotiating panel, said in a statement. Jalandoni said the allegations of a purge are part of a propaganda campaign launched by the military.
"The preposterous claim of a purge within the revolutionary movement has long been exposed as a lie by the thinly veiled and arrogant boasts of [Maj. Gen. Jovito] Palparan,” - Manila Times
Maj. Gen. Jovito Parlpalan is the focus of the rebel leaders reactions after he revealed the new discoveries of mass graves and alleged new plot to purge rebel ranks.
Parlpalan has taken pains to secure sites recovered and brought government forensic teams as well as intenrational Human rights groups to the sites of "Mass Graves" his troops have uncovered in the Countryside. Media groups have also focused in the Philippines their attention on Gen. Parlpalan.
Someone - is killing militant leaders that is clear Bulatlat.com reports the figure is up to 97 members of organizations killed on the left of the spectrum of Philippine Politics. It also reports that 3 have been killed and others wounded in the last three days.
" … 97th victim either of killing or involuntary disappearance in Central Luzon since 2005.
Last year, 52 members or leaders of Bayan in the region were killed and seven were abducted and remained missing. Since January of this year, 26 have been killed while 13 were abducted… "
Meanwhile a press release say a "independant group" will carry out its investigation into the both the death squad reports and mass graves and killings. The commision is planning to look into various reports - but both sides the Military and the leftist groups seem so intent at pointing a finger at each other that one wonders if there will be a clear result to this.
Reports like this one however continue to puzzle me… 40 or more bodies none of whem are listed on the cause oriented groups list of people killed. Read more »
Philippine Death Squads: International ‘think tank’ & UNESCO monitoring ‘Dangerous Islands’
The numbers of killings taking place in this country versus Political Activists and Journalists is noted on a report of the normally conservative private think tank STRATFOR For the first time I have seen at least; a indication that even conservative think tanks have been watching the activities with interest.
Philippines: Left-Wing Leader Killed
May 19, 2006 15 43 GMT
The leader of Filipino left-wing Kaisa Ka women's group and the Movement for National Democracy was killed May 19. Annaliza Abanador was shot by unidentified gunmen in the latest in a string of killings targeting political activists and journalists in the Philippines. Local human rights group Karapatan has listed nearly 600 civilians, mostly left-wing activists, killed by suspected government forces since 2001. The military, which refers to left-wing groups as fronts for communist rebels, has denied involvement in the killings.- Stratfor report
However the web site report is also not taking into account those on the right wing and military killed in similar small unit target assasinations. Nor the killings by "vigilante' groups in Davao, Cebu, and elsewhere
Overall statisitics of numbers of people killed in Insurgency related violence - a source told me if all the figures are added a marked escalation can be seen for the first six months of this year.
Even the UN education service UNESCO and also UNHCR is adding its voice to the situation:
“When violence poses a permanent threat for journalists, it poses a threat to the whole of society,” UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said in a statement. “When crimes against journalists remain unpunished, the future of a country is endangered and organized crime or corruption become the main beneficiaries of this impunity.”
Albert Orsolino was shot and killed by in his car in Calooncan City by two unknown assailants on 16 May and Mr. Matsuura reiterated his concern over the particularly violent conditions under which journalists work in the Philippines.- UNSECO STATEMENT
Meanwhile one side of the Government security services seems to be toning down a statement on allegations of a NPA and rougue Military officers plot to target highly placed officails though a uraban Assasination squad leading to some confusion.
The Armed Forces chief and Police inteligence units are looking into reports quoting the Philippines National Security advisor claiming a top level insurgent leadership plot to Assasinate both Administraition and Opposition leaders. While not dismissing a statement of the Philippines National Security advisor on the mater the Military seems to be looking into the situation intently.
The Dangerous islands: killing spree continues
Another day another set of ambushes and killings on both the left and right side of the philippine street- also yesterday. A Killing in the middle of the road- another Journalist wrote 30.
Two were gunned down in Mindanao. Two were shot and one killed in Pangasinan
The NPA meanwhile denies there is a purge on … killings are being blamed on all sides and new shadowy groups as well.
Gen. Avalino Razon has his hands full; but he is resourceful- his work is credited for the capture of the likes of Ramsey youseff and others even across borders - so am sure something will come of his investigation.
the targeted killings have been something of a daily occurance so far this year - its happening on all sides of the politcal sepctrum, media also is not spared. So we all balance our reports well… not knowing if what we write or report will put us some strange groups list.
A good sample of balanced reporting and comentary s Dan Mariano's column
I wonder how long the average New York or Los Angeles Journo would last in this environment?
May 17th, 2006 | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, asia, war on terror, war, philippines, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., freedom of speech, republican, al qaeda, Palawan, abu sayyaf, fil-am, filipino-american, Jemaah IslamiahMonday, May 15, 2006
The dangerous life is back...Terror from all sides: Mass Graves reported; Purge w/in NPA ranks claims Military, Gov’t - while left claims 93 militants killed by right wing death squads.
Last Friday I put up a post after getting two calls and couple of text messages from Mindanao. Another call came from Tarlac,
Today the first media reports on 'mass grave s' having been found one containing as many as 20 murdered victims, 20 victims, nothing reported in the so called mainstream press or television; Why? good question, perhaps because so many killings are taking place 93 militants, I can't even remember how many people anymore in my profession, journalism in the last two years.
This discovery came after a couple of text messages and emails, the CDO mass grave contained a number of victims; in media we know about this occurring the late and mid 1980's BUT these graves contents I am told were New.
The grave(s) alleged the caller were victims of a left wing purge inside the leftist movement, or, so the first caller claimed - a report today in the Philippine Star - said that the Armed forces according to national security advisor Norberto Gonzales had recovered a series of small graves and that Police and the NBI were investigating;
That a NBI medico Legal teams was on site; the findings showed the contents to have been from the last few months. On the other hand I am sure there is always a possibility of some extent of truth to the Military's reports. But, with all the other killings many in broad daylight the tactics of 'right wing' militia like attacks. One wonders just how many more sites are out there awaiting discovery from too many factions within armed groups to mention.
The discovery also is coming on heels of 93 deaths of leftist group members in the country shows a pattern of a 'dark side' of insurgency is rising to the surface.
Of assassination teams on the right and left some perhaps also might group in those of the middle or Vigilante groups- adding all those numbers and bodies and you get a figure of over 600 victims in the last three years more or less.
Groups it seems are 'taking out' opponents with impunity. Add to this the specter of reports I had received last year of new "sparrow type" and 'eagle squad' units being trained by all sides and factions from rebel groups to militia units and a specter of a new wave of violence is coming to fold.
So far, the opposing death squads seem to be focusing on people within the organizations on both sides - so Military, Media, and, Police reports claim. On wonders when the squads will go after more visible targets, so far the units have been acting on localized vendettas and attacks, there is no clear pattern investigators say; But so far little of this is being pulled together.
Lets take the last week alone- a pastor and his wife were gunned down in Misamais oriental he had ties to a labor group, a 6 members of leftist 'peoples' groups killed, these new graves discovered with some fifty bodies, 5 more reports in rural areas of killings and shootings, a mayor almost hit south of manila in Laguna.
One thing is clear - there is a growth industry - in death by gunfire this month. Most of it out of public view, all of it on top of insurgency related clashes and attacks, then don't forget the other insurgency in Mindanao. The violence is growing; lets hope as is traditional the rainy season cools off the killings. Even though the rains themselves bring death from floods and landslides and ships sinking - the purges, death squads, and vigilantes show clearly that; 'The dangerous life' is back in the Philippines anew.
May 15th, 2006 Posted by mikeinmanila | Uncategorized, news, News and politics, asia, war on terror, Views, philippines, immigration, Filipino, Bush, Rants, Raves, Whathaveyou..., al qaeda, abu sayyaf, filipino-american
posted by MikeCohen-at-large @ 4:15 PM
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