HRW alarmed at culture of impunity under Aquino

A prominent human rights watchdog has voiced disappointment over the slow-paced progress in addressing human rights violation and extra-judicial killings under the government of President Aquino.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) viewed with alarm the continuing culture of impunity in the Philippines amid pledges by Aquino to eradicate violations committed by security forces and government-backed militias.

“Human Rights Watch has seen little progress on key issues, including impunity for extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, continued use of abusive paramilitary forces, the false tagging of children as rebel fighters, and the unlawful use of schools as camps or detachments,” HRW said in a statement.

“We urge you to protect students and teachers by ordering the armed forces to respect the law and to stay out of educational facilities. Putting schools and their students in the line of fire places them at grave risk,” HRW said in a letter to the Philippine military chief.

Nearly two years into the presidency, Aquino has yet to take sufficient steps to hold perpetrators of killings and other abuses accountable.

Even the United States is not happy with Aquino’s performance, withholding $3-million worth of defense

assistance because of his government’s failure to produce more extrajudicial killing convictions.

While the number of alleged extra-judicial killings has gone down significantly in recent years, HRW said the military has failed to address the longstanding problem of impunity.

The public rhetoric of senior military officers has improved since Aquino took office almost two years ago. But the public statements have not resulted in better military cooperation with investigating authorities, comprehensive internal investigations of implicated military personnel, or increased openness within the military structure, Human Rights Watch said.

HRW described specific actions that the military leadership should take. These include issuing a public order to all forces stating clearly that political activists, unionists, and members of civil society groups are not to be targeted as part of efforts against rebel fighters. The armed forces leadership should fully comply with all civilian inquiries and assist authorities in apprehending members of the armed forces, regardless of rank, implicated in extra-judicial killings and other serious human rights violations.

The Philippines faces multiple insurgencies from the communist New People’s Army and other armed groups that have been responsible for many serious abuses. In addressing these insurgencies, the government should respect its legal obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, HRW said.

HRW deputy Asia director Elaine Pearson called on the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take concrete steps to hold accountable soldiers responsible for human rights abuses.

Pearson said AFP Chief of Staff Jesse Dellosa “should make a professional, accountable military his legacy.”

“As a first step, the military needs to be cooperating with, rather than obstructing, civilian investigations,” Pearson said, quoting a part of HRW’s letter to AFP.

Pearson lamented that the Filipino people have yet to see better military cooperation with investigating authorities, comprehensive internal investigations of implicated military personnel, or increased openness within the military structure.

To improve its image and erase negative public perception, HRW said the military should issue a clear statement that political activists, unionists, and members of civil society groups are not to be targeted as part of efforts against rebel fighters.

In addressing insurgencies, it said the government should respect its legal obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.

HRW also expressed frustration over the government’s failure to capture retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, who remains at large despite an arrest warrant issued in December 2011 for his involvement in the 2006 kidnapping and illegal detention of two university students.

Pearson said Dellosa should publicly announce to all military personnel that assisting Palparan in evading arrest or failing to cooperate with civilian authorities is obstructing justice and subject to prosecution.

“Every day that Palparan avoids arrest further damages the military’s reputation,” Pearson said. “The armed forces leadership needs to send a message that they, and not abusive officers, are in control.”

Earlier, the same human rights group scored Aquino for reneging on his campaign pledge to do away with the paramilitary forces, which the HRW also pointedly asked the military to address abuses committed by paramilitary forces, such as Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGUs) and Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVOs).

“We recognize that the Philippines continues to face genuine internal security threats. However, Philippine history shows that seeking to replace professional armed forces and police with armed yet untrained or barely trained civilians is dangerous and counterproductive,” the organization said.

Aquino, instead of delivering on his campaign promise to do away with the paramilitary forces, had them stay, saying that the state is fighting insurgents.

Later he said the paramilitary forces are needed to provide protection for mining companies, which is hardly the task of such parmilitary forces.

The paramiliary units are also expected by the Aquino administration, its police and military forces and politicians who utilize the same Cafgus and CVOs are expected to take an active role in the 2013 elections, which would spell more violence. –Michaela P. del Callar, Daily Tribune