CHR to NPA rebels: Stop extorting from bets

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) yesterday called on the New People’s Army (NPA) to cease and desist from extorting money from politicians through so-called permits to campaign.

The CHR also called on the government and its security forces to carry out their obligations under human rights laws by ensuring that the candidates and political parties are allowed unhampered access to all areas, including those supposedly controlled by the insurgents.

The CHR, in a statement, said peace and order must be secured especially in areas where the communist insurgency is active, stressing that the right of suffrage of all citizens must be protected.

“It is not enough to simply condemn and hold accountable those candidates who give in to this extortion. The government must also create an environment where candidates can exercise their own human rights, free from fear and intimidation, so that (they) can resist these attempts at extortion without having to pay for it with his or her own life, the lives of supporters or their loved ones,” it added.

Two months ago, the CHR said it issued an advisory that condemned the practice of soliciting money from candidates of the May 10 national and local elections in return for allowing them to campaign unmolested in certain areas.

The condemnation was directed primarily at the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA and other armed groups.

The CHR said it sought to make it perfectly clear that these so-called permits to campaign and permits to win are absolutely repugnant to the rule of law, to the democratic process, and especially to human rights.

“It is crystal clear that these extortion schemes violate human rights. Candidates have the right to liberty and security of person. They have the right to freedom of movement and freedom of expression,” it said.

“It is prohibited to discriminate against them on the basis of property. And in particular, they have the right to directly take part in the conduct of public affairs, and the right to be elected at genuine periodic elections,” it added. –Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star)