The killings must be stopped immediately The movement in the Philippines is growing despite the repression and the killings. Demonstrations continue to call for an end to the killings and an end to the Arroyo Presidency. International human rights groups have called for an end to the political murders and for indepenedent investigations. It is essential that people here in the US – the biggest supporter of Arroyo – add our voices and demand that the human rights violations be stopped immediately and that the perpetrators be held accountable and be brought to justice. What you can do: 1. Call the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate and Demand a Stop to the Killings. In Washington DC: (202)467-9300 or (202)467-9417(fax). In SF: (415) 433-6666 / fax number (415) 421-2641 2. Demand that the US congress investigate the use of US funding for death squads under Philippine government policy. http://www.house.gov/writerep 3. Get in touch with GABRIELA Network, we’d love to speak to your group, rally, class or event! email: sfbayarea@gabnet.org 4. Stay updated with the latest news on the political repression: http://sfbaygabnet.pbwiki.com [We] must condemn the killings of political activists and baseless prosecutions of elected legislators and acknowledge the overwhelming evidence that the killings are being carried out by the Philippine military and para-military death squads under the Philippine government policy. Seeking Answers – An All Women Human Rights Delegation Report on the Philippines, 9/21/2006 Activists are says it is fighting against the 37-year old insurgency led by the Communist Party of getting murdered in the Philippines and its New Peoples Army the Philippines! In the past (NPA), it is in fact attacking a broad variety 5 years – since Gloria Macapapgal Arroyo of popular legal organizations. The militarytook office-there have been over 765 has particularly focused on the left opposi “extra-judicial” killings. In a country of 80 tion electoral parties and their organizers. million it’s as if 3000 activists had been These parties are: Bayan Muna (People murdered in the U.S. since 2001. First), Gabriela Women’s Party and Anakpawis (Toiling Masses). Over 190 people were assassinated this year alone. It’s gettting to the point that 80 women have been murdered, half from several people are assassinated every the GABRIELA women’s party, one of week. On July 31st – in just one 24-hour the only all women’s electoral parties in the period - three people were killed in three world. 58 children are victims, not includdifferent provinces. ing those who have been orphaned. Ten judges and at least 15 attorneys have been Activists, community leaders, peasant killed. Six journalists were assassinated in and labor organizers, women and human 2006, alone; 46 since Arroyo came to power. rights workers and students, have all In fact the Philippines is now considered the been targeted. Although the government second most dangerous country for journal ists after Iraq. The government kills with impunity The government says that the movement iskilling itself, but all evidence points to the military and paramilitary. In its August 2006 Report on the Philippines, Amnesty International stated: The attacks are not an unconnected series of criminal murders but constitute a politically motivated pattern of killings. Hooded and disguised men on motorbikes drive by in broad daylight and shoot people down. The victims have often been singledout and labelled as insurgents and/or their names have been placed on military hit lists called the “orders of battle.” Whole communities have been under attack resulting in the displacement of thousands of families. In 2002, the Arroyo government released its Oplan Bantay Laya – Operation Plan Freedom Watch- which proposed a “holistic approach to combining the political, security, socio-economic, psychosocial elements” and which would make no distinction between armed combatants and civilians. OBL identified seven “NPA stronghold” regions as priority areas of implementation. Not surprisingly, the killings have escalated exponentionally in these areas. Arroyo is widely believed to have won pines by 2000% in the last five years. Theher last election by fraud. Perhaps this Philippines is now the 4th largest recipiis one reason why she’s so determined to ent of US foreign military assistance. US crush the left. In July, she gave the Phil-troops conduct Balikatan war games in Over 190 people were assassinated in the past 9 months alone. ippine military and police $20 million more in counter insurgency funds. This, at a time when the country has a 80% rate of poverty. She justified the expenseby proclaiming: “Fighting terrorism is the glue that binds the counry together.” Does this sound familiar? Arroyo claims she wants the killings stopped, but so far not one perpetrator has been brought to trial or removed from military service. General Jovito “the butcher” Palparan, the military officeraccused of signing the death sentence of hundreds of activists, has been promoted time and time again. Mrs. Arroyo is one of George Bush’s biggest allies. Together they have designated the Philippines the second front in the war on terror. As a result the US has increased its military aid to the Philip- the Philippines on a regular basis. Thecurrent constitution forbids permanent bases, but the 1999 visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) has ensured that the US has mobile facilities throughout the archipelago. The Philippines is Selling Its Women The Philippines is facing grave economic and social crisis. The cost of living isrising while social services continue to decline. As usual it is the women who are the most affected. The entire country isrunning on remittances and is based on the export (sale) of its people. Last year one million left for jobs overseas. Of these 75% (750,000) were women. Most went to work as domestics; but at least 30% went to the so-called sex industry. Overseas workers send back over 12 billion dollars a year. Without them, the economywould collapse. The Specter of Martial Law The conditions in the Philippines are onceagain reminiscent of those under the hated dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. In February 2006, Arroyo declared a State of Emergency. The provisions were largely based onthe 1972 declaration of Martial law including those for warrantless arrests, suspensions of demonstrations and a crackdown on the media. Although the SOE was lifted, many of its provisions remain in place. Six congress people, including Liza Maza, the sole women’s sectoral representative, are still facing charges of rebellion. 73-year-old Crispin Beltran, another of the six, remains in custody to this day. Just as under Marcos, Arroyo now wants to rewrite the 1987 Constitution and extend her term indefinitely. But perhaps evenmore significantly, the new constitutionwould once again allow permanent foreign military bases on Philippine soil and would remove all restrictions to trade and investments.