NUPGE protests harassment of Philippine human rights leaders

James Clancy sends letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo condemning treatment of political opponents

Ottawa (24 April 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) says armed men have harassed the leader of a human rights mission to Canada since his return to the Philippines and threatened him with arrest.

NUPGE president James Clancy has written a letter to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo condemning the treatment of Satur Ocampo, an elected congressional representative, and expressing concern for his safety as well as that of two outer political leaders who accompanied him, Rep. Crispin Beltran and Rep. Luz Ilgan.

"Representatives of the National Union met with Rep. Ocampo and were impressed by his dedication to the people of the Philippines. As one of the sponsors of the Human Rights Mission to Canada we take this matter extremely seriously," Clancy wrote.

"It is difficult not to interpret these actions as retaliation by the Philippine government for Rep. Ocampo's presentations – that he and the other elected legislators made – to the Canadian Parliament and the Canadian media," he added.

"That Rep. Ocampo's principled and courageous stand against the growing level of violence in the Philippines, which includes extrajudicial killings, would provoke this response from the government is a shameful comment on your government."

Ocampo, is president of the Bayan Muna Party (People First) and the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The two representatives who accompanied him are members of the Gabriela Women's Party.

They toured Canada April 4-18 at the invitation of the Stop the Killings Network and the United Church of Canada. NUPGE was among a number of groups providing financial support for the tour and meeting with the delegation.

During their tour, the visitors informed the Canadian public, the media and MPs of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights that more than 900 extrajudicial killings and 180 enforced disappearances have occurred under the government of President Macapagal-Arroyo. They also spoke of personal harassment, arrests and intimidation.

"It has been reported to me that your government is once again dredging up murder charges against Mr. Ocampo – along with fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casino, Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Liza Maza and former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano – this time for the alleged killing of three rebel returnees between 2001 and 2004," Clancy wrote.

"It is with suspicion that we note that Casino has also recently returned to the Philippines from a trip overseas where he made front page news exposing the human rights abuses in the Philippines during the country's appearance before the Universal Periodic Review on human rights on April 11, 2008 in Geneva," Clancy added.

"This is not the first time your government has tried to arrest and silence Mr. Ocampo and the other progressive party list legislators. Each time the charges have been thrown out of court. We ask that the Philippine government immediately stop the harassment of Rep. Ocampo, Rep. Beltran and Rep. Ilagan, Rep. Casino and the other elected representatives of these Party list legislators."

Specifically, Clancy urged the president to:

● Drop all trumped-up charges against Ocampo and the other elected party list legislators; ● Stop the harassment and intimidation of Ocampo and the other elected party list legislators; and ● Stop the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines and bring those responsible to justice.

"This ongoing harassment of these elected leaders has no place in a country which claims to be a democracy or to respect the human rights of its citizens," Clancys said. NUPGE