Winnipeg Free Press (April 12, 2008-news clip)

Satur hails Canada’s stand on RP human rights situation before UNHRC

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo expressed gratitude to the Canadian government’s stand on the current state of human rights in the Philippines.

During the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review last Friday, the Canadian government expressed concern over the state of impunity prevailing in the Philippines, including the impact of Pres. Arroyo’s Administrative Order 197 on the Writ of Amparo. AO 197 declared that operations and any information related to extra judicial killings and enforced disappearance are confidential in nature, thereby, preempting the submission of evidence in an amparo petition.

“I am very thankful that the Canadian government has taken that position. It looks like the Canadian government is going to recognize the validity of our complaints and that something must be done,” says Ocampo, who is in Canada in a “Human Rights Mission” together with Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan.

Ocampo, Beltran, and Ilagan will meet with the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa today, April 15.

“Our reason for coming to Canada was to make an appeal to the Canadian Parliament to accept pressure on the Macapagal-Arroyo government to stop the killings. And more than that, to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.”

This comes after UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston attributed the killings to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Ocampo said not a single case has been properly investigated and that any soldiers involved with the killings have been exonerated. He also said that the Arroyo government has charged opposition leaders, including himself, with rebellion.

“Although the Philippines is seeing some positive developments,” Ocampo said “Bayan Muna will not stop campaigning until the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances stop.”

He said the Arroyo government protects state security forces and ignores protests until international organizations get involved.

“Unless, and until, the government has taken very concrete steps to end impunity, to arrest and paralyze the perpetrators, the killings may never stop,” he said.