Nagbigay-pugay ang mga kaanak, kaibigan, at progresibong grupo sa martir ng sambayanan at mahusay na lider na si Randall ‘Ka Randy’ Echanis mula sa pinagburulan nito hanggang sa kaniyang huling hantungan sa Loyola Memorial Park sa Marikina noong Agosto 17.
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They urged the Philippine authorities “to carry out an immediate, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into Alvarez’s murder, to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and sanction them as provided by the law.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – International human rights organizations called for an end to what they described as “cold-blooded killings” of activists in the Philippines.
This is after the killing of another activist, Zara Alvarez, in Bacolod City on Aug. 17. A week earlier, Anakpawis Chairperson Randall Echanis was also murdered inside his rented apartment in Quezon City.
Alvarez is the 13th human rights worker killed under President Duterte’s administration.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor posted on Twitter, Aug. 18, “So terrible to hear that woman human rights defender Zara Alvarez of Karapatan was shot and killed in the Philippines last night.”
Lawlor added that Alvarez had been “smeared, red-tagged and threatened for years.”
In a statement, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) condemned the killing of Alvarez saying that “human rights defenders, farmers, farmworkers and civilians are being slayed one after the other with brazen impunity.”
“The Duterte government’s policy of political killing merits international condemnation. These are our colleagues and fellow human rights advocates who are being killed like cattle,” ICHRP Chairperson Peter Murphy said in a statement.
Murphy said as a paralegal, Alvarez has helped in bringing the cases of human rights violations in Negros to the UN Human Rights Council. In December 2019, a high-level delegation of lawmakers, church people, and trade unionists visited Bacolod City with the help of Alvarez who at that time was also a victim of harassment and red-tagging.
“This is so tragic,” said ICHRP vice-chairperson Rev. Jeong Jin Woo said who was then part of the high-level delegation last December.
“Zara was a brave defender of the poor and their rights. We witnessed in our visit in Negros her undeniable dedication to human rights work,” Woo added.
Butch Olano, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director, said that under the Duterte administration, there is no end in the cold-blooded killings of human rights defenders, activists, lawyers, farmers and the urban poor under the Duterte administration. This even as the country is facing health crisis, he said.
“This cycle of bloodshed cannot be allowed to continue,” Olano said.
He said the the international community should launch an urgent independent investigation into extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the country “to put an end to overwhelming impunity and deadly violence under the current administration.
“Establish the facts, and take steps towards ensuring justice for victims and their families,” he added.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) also expressed their strong condemnation to the killing of Alvarez.
They urged the Philippine authorities “to carry out an immediate, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into Alvarez’s murder, to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and sanction them as provided by the law.”
The group urged Philippine authorities “to adopt effective measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders in the country, as well as to ensure proper investigations into such killings and attacks.”
Human Rights Watch’s deputy director for Asia Division Phil Robertson said that the killings of Alvarez and peace consultant and peasant leader Randall Echanis “underscores widespread impunity for killing of leftist activists in the Philippines.”
Robertson also pointed out how the new Anti-Terrorism Law can be misused as the Anti-Terrorism Council who will implement the law has the power to designate individuals perceived to be “terrorist.”
“The council is composed of officials from the executive department – some of whom belong to agencies long engaged in red-tagging,” he said.
Robertson added “the government has an obligation to ensure that all activists in the Philippines have the full protection of the law, and not be subject to harassment, attack, and murder.”
Several other international human rights groups also expressed solidarity with human rights movement in the Philippines such as the International Service for Human Rights, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
“The death of even one human rights defender is way too many…We demand justice for Zara along with other human rights defenders who have been victims of extrajudicial killings,” APWLD said in their statement.
Meanwhile, Viva Salud, Karapatan’s Belgium-based partner organization also expressed their solidarity. “My thoughts go out to Ka Randy and Zara’s families and comrades in the Philippines. I feel their sorrow,” said Wim De Ceukelaire, director of Viva Salud in a Facebook post.
He said that he is also worried about his friends in the Philippine movement who might be fearing for their lives too. But, he said, he is “convinced that international solidarity encourages them to continue their fight for the right to health and a just and lasting peace.”
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By JOSE MARI CALLUENG
Bulatlat.com
Just like any of our witnesses in a case that seeks the high court to grant us the privilege of Writs of Amparo and Habeas Data last year, Zara Alvarez had a vivid memory of all the attacks she received, ranging from being tailed on her way to work to receiving horrifying death threats. It was perhaps because she experienced first-hand how to be wrongly accused and detained over malicious and fabricated charges.
When our lawyer was asking questions, Zara was quick to tell her narrative with precision. She detailed every part of the event that led to the death of Atty. Ben Ramos as well as that of Escalante Councilor Bernardino “Toto” Patigas and many more, all gunned-down by still unknown assailants. But what she knew is that, before their unspeakable murder, Ramos, Patigas, and other human rights defenders including herself were all included in posters plastered all over Negros, vilifying them as leaders of communist groups. This is why she wanted to come to the court and testify about all these occurrences that claimed the lives of our friends committed to advancing the cause of the oppressed. She feared she would be next.
Sadly, even before Zara and our witnesses could speak in court, the Court of Appeals was quick to dismiss our Amparo case; a legal remedy that should’ve granted protection to us, human rights defenders, the likes of Zara, from being targeted by the state. Even more outrageous, Zara was gunned down last night, making her the 13th human rights defender to be murdered under the Duterte regime.
There is only one clear motive in all these killings, to threaten those who go against the state. This signals that we could be next. In one way or another, that might be true. And I cannot tell that I am not scared. But more than being scared, I am fuming with rage.
Zara may never be able to testify again, in court or in the streets where her voice can be heard loud and clear. But her death will be a living testimony that terror-tagging is dangerous, that senseless murders happen under a regime that does nothing but to sow fear among the people.
The draconian Anti-Terrorism Law took effect just a couple of weeks ago, and we have seen bloodshed already. For young people like me who took the path of defending the cause of human rights, the repressive legislations coupled with all the killings day and night attempt to intimidate us, but we will not cower. Grieve if we must, but we take courage, rise, and fight back. There will certainly be a day of reckoning.
Zara feared for her life before she was killed. We got that on record. But what is also on record was her undying love for the masses and the dedication she had in advancing the people’s rights and welfare.
Rest in power, Zara!
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By DEE AYROSO
The post Health workers’ lives matter! appeared first on Bulatlat.
While it is only logical to say that complete educational overhaul can only happen upon the realization of socio-economic reforms, it is equally logical to seize this chance to work on its initiation.
Members of Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) distribute free face masks and pocket-size alcohol to public utility jeepney drivers along San Pedro Street on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, to help fight the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), as the city faces a rising count of infections that have reached 1,000 this week. (Kath M. Cortez/davaotoday.com)
The international human rights community expressed concern on the killing of Karapatan paralegal and health worker Zara Alvarez, as various organizations in the Philippines and abroad conducted a global day of action today, August 19, against extrajudicial killings in the country.
May isang litrato na kumakalat sa social media kamakailan na magsasalarawan kung gaano kabaluktot ang polisiya ng rehimeng Duterte sa pampublikong transportasyon ngayong panahon ng pandemya.
Ang larawan: isang military truck, puno ng mga sibilyang manggagawa at komyuter na nakisakay dahil walang pampublikong transportasyon. Siyempre, walang pisikal na pagkakalayo sa isa’t isa o physical distrancing. Agawan sa pagsakay angmga tao. Tabi-tabi kasama ng ilang sundalong nakasakay na sa trak.
Malamang, ipinagmama-laki ng militar ang pagtulong diumano nito sa mga naiistranded na mga pasahero. Matatandaang inanunsiyo ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) kamakailan na pakikilusin daw nito ang mga yunit ng militar, kabilang ang medikal na tauhan nito, para ayudahan ang medical frontliners sa mga ospital at komunidad sa pagharap sa coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19).
Pero kasabay nito, mariin namang tumindig ang Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), na pinamumunuan ng dating mga opisyal ng militar, na bawal pa rin ang pampublikong transportasyon sa ilalim ng modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ, orihinal na tinakda mula Agosto 4 hanggang 18). Kasama na siyempre ang mga jeepney at bus. Kahit pa sinisiguro na ng mga drayber at operator ang physical distancing sa mga pasahero nito (sa kabila ng pagkabawas ng pasahero at kita nila).
Isa pang nakakatawa, kung hindi man nakakapanlumo, na eksena noong nakaraang linggo: ang paggiit ni Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. (at dating AFP chief of staff) at pangalawang tagapangulo ng IATF na si Eduardo Año na dapat may barrier pa rin sa mga nagmomotorsiklong may angkas. Minodelo pa mismo ni Año ang barrier (habang wala siyang suot na helmet). Sa kabila ito ng mga reklamo ng mga motorista, at kahit na mga eksperto: Sumasalo ng hangin ang barrier at may dagdag panganib sa motorista.
Saan nanggagaling ang nakakakamot-ulong mga ideyang ito ng IATF? Ang pagbabawal sa jeepney, malinaw ang pinagmumulan. Minamaksimisa nito ang pagkakataon para tuluyan nang alisin ang pampublikong jeepney sa mga kalsada kapalit ng “moderno” kunong mga jeepney na monopolisado ng iilang maykayang bumili ng maramihang prangkisa at yunit. Ito lang ang posibleng dahilan kung bakit ipinipilit ito sa kabila ng kawalan-ng-lohika sa pagbabawal sa mga jeepney, at sa kabila ng hirap na dinaranas ng napakaraming manggagawa na pinapapasok pa rin kahit MECQ.
Pero may pakay pa ang pagpupumilit na paggamit ng barrier sa mga motorsiklo. Ganito rin ang pakay sa nakapagtatakang pag-obliga ng pagsuot ng face shield sa mga pasahero ng pampublikong transportasyon daw (ano’ng pampublikong transportasyon, eh ipinagbawal nga ninyo ang jeepney, bus at taksi?) at sa mga lugar-pagawaan at saradong lugar (tulad, halimbawa, ng groserya). Ganito rin kahit ang ipimungkahi ni Año na pagsuot daw ng face masks kahit nasa loob ng bahay. Ito’y ang pagpasa sa ordinaryong mga mamamayan sa responsabilidad na labanan ang Covid-19. Dahil hindi pa rin makontrol ang pagkalat ng sakit, tila sinasabi ng IATF na bahala na ang mga tao na kontrolin ang Covid-19. Ang tungkulin na lang nila, lalo na ng mga militar at pulisya, siguruhing susundin ng mga tao ang itinakda nilang mga patakaran.
Militarista ang kanilang tugon sa isang dating pangakong malawakang mass testing (pareho pa rin ang polisiya sa testing). Kamakailan, inamin na rin ng Department of Health na hindi itong contact-tracing team. Kanya-kanya naman ang lokal na mga pamahalaan sa pagtatakda ng isolation centers o polisiya sa paghihiwalay sa mga maysakit sa kanilang mga lugar. Samantala, sinasabi naman ng Pangulo na wala na raw pera para sa ayuda.
Iginigiit ngayon ang mga drayber na makapagbalik-pasada. Suportahan natin ang mga panawagan para igiit ang tama at nararapat: ang kagyat na pagbalik ng abot-kayang pampublikong transportasyon, habang patuloy na iginigiit ang tamang medikal na tugon sa pandemya at kinokondena ang rehimen na nagpapalala sa krisis sa ekonomiya at pagkalat ng sakit.