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European Union asked to support independent tribunal on political killings instead of helping GMA in probing slays

A group representing victims of political killings of leftwing activists on Wednesday urged the European Union to support an independent tribunal that would try government security forces on political killings instead of supporting the Melo Commission created by Malacañang to look into the spate of murder of leftwing activists since 2001.

“The Melo Commission lacks credibility and it has no support of relatives and organizations representing victims of extra-judicial killings across the country. The European Union should take this highly relevant and important concern in taking up the cause for truth and justice,” the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap made the pitch, a day after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced that she would seek the help of European Union to assist in the Melo Commission’s work in probing the left and right slay of leftwing activists.

“The relatives of victims of political killings and their representatives are willing to tell the stories on the 825 cases of political assassinations staged by the Arroyo government, and they would only share their accounts to an independent body free from government intervention, coercion and black propaganda,” Hicap added.

Last year, Pamalakaya sent copies of a primer on political killings published by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to the embassies of Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, The Netherlands, China, Japan, Canada and Australia stating the government’s counter-insurgency plan Oplan Bantay Laya as the bible of the government security forces in killing activists identified with alleged front groups of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The European Union last week reiterated its call to the Macapagal-Arroyo government to stop the murder of leftwing militants and threatened to pull-out their investments in the country if the government fails to stop the killings and hold those responsible accountable.

“The European Union should not allow itself to be manipulated by the criminal government of President Arroyo to cover up its crimes against humanity. Mrs. Arroyo, her generals and military-backed death squads are on trial here for the murderous frenzy over the last five years,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the European Union had hosted before a People’s Tribunal that tried the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos for gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity. The trial was held in the mid-80s prior to the collapse of the Marcos dictatorship.

“We can have a repeat of that and we ask the European Union and the European people’s all-out support for an independent, people-led tribunal in trying the world’s certified human rights violators like the Arroyo administration, its national security officers and military generals,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said an independent people’s tribunal should name President Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Army Major General Jovito Palparan and other military generals and commanders as respondents.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:45 | link | comments |

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