Improving government human rights record

EDITORIAL

If the national government wants to improve its human rights record, it should conduct an impartial investigation on the massacre of the Ligiw family in Baay-Licuan, Abra, then make perpetrators account for the crime. 

As things stand now, local folks, cause-oriented organizations and the New People’s Army are blaming elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion for the heinous crime which caught attention of the foreign community.

While this is so, the military is blaming the NPA for the massacre. (Please see details in page 1.)

An impartial investigation by the government should settle the issue, bring justice to the victims and their families and stop public outcry.   

Lately, cause oriented groups have accused the military of “demonizing” leaders of peoples organizations by tagging them as “NPA nga agsusuweldo” (salaried NPA) in posters like those in Banaue, Ifugao containing  faces and names of organizers and development workers.

The military has also been accused of abduction of personalities of dissenting masses like the recent disappearance of a peasant leader in Isabela.

Cause oriented groups have also accused the military of sowing fear among women and children in prolonged military encampments like what is happening now in Baay-Licuan.

According to human rights groups, at least 43 indigenous persons had been killed by armed State forces since start of the present Aquino administration until now.

These series of events, according to activists and concerned individuals and groups, show that the AFP’s record of violence continues. The, military, they claimed is continuing activities of spreading fear, harassment, violence and murder, including that of civilians. These, according to human rights groups, are violations of the CARHRIHL or the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Impartial investigation of human rights violations like the Ligiw massacre must indeed be done by the national government which could tap religious or civic groups to help and stop accusations that such investigations are “lutong macao” (staged or rigged) in favor of alleged government human rights violators like those from the Army.