Death by Democracy

This is a sample letter that you may want to use when contacting the organizations, political figures, the media, or anyone else for that matter.

Dear _______________,

I am writing you in regard to the ongoing and unabated killings and abductions of journalists and political activists in the Philippines. According to Karapatan, a Philippine-based human rights group, since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency of the country in 2001, 740 Filipinos have been murdered in extra-judicial killings. Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo’s program of wiping out opposition in two years’ time has brought about this orgy of killings. The victims of these brazen acts of violence were all unarmed citizens: lawyers, judges, journalists, medical practitioners, members of cause-oriented groups, priests, church-workers, human rights advocates, laborers and farmers. According to the New York- based Committee to Protect Journalists, the Philippines is fast becoming “the most murderous place in the world for journalists”. It is widely believed – and the country's own Human Rights Commission's findings support this belief – that state security forces are complicit in these crimes. The political killings will further be bolstered with the recent allocation of P1 billion to the military budget for counter-insurgency. Gen. Jovito “the butcher” Palparan, Jr., who is implicated in the recent abduction and disappearance of two female university students, and for most of the more than 700 killings as commander of the 7th Infantry Division, has just been appointed to the country’s National Security Council by Pres. Arroyo.

No amount of condemnation from the Philippine media, the Catholic Church and the general public is making the Arroyo rethink its all-out war policy and stop the slaughter of unarmed civilians.

The Arroyo government has abolished the death penalty. Bishop Emeritus Julio Xavier Labayen of the Roman Catholic however had this to say,” The all-out war declared by Pres. Arroyo is a contradiction of her own actions. She has abolished the death penalty but the all-out war promotes death.”

This is therefore an appeal to your organization, to look into the present human rights situation in the Philippines.

If you require more information, you may want to visit the following site: http://deathbydemocracy.blogspot.com

I also invite you to go to the Asian Human Rights Commission's petition to stop extra-judicial killings in the Philippines: http://www.pinoyhr.net


Sincerely yours,
________________________________



References:
Amnesty International Philippine Reports
http://web.amnesty.org/library/eng-phl/reports
United Methodist bishops urge Bush to press Philippines to curb violence
http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2027463/k.41E7/Bishops_urge_Bush_to_press_Philippines_to_curb_violence.htm
United Church of Canada calls for Canada and the United Nations to take action
http://www.united-church.ca/action/philippines/060724.shtm
Arroyo hitmen Make Farce of Melo Commission - opinion piece by Amando Doronila
http://opinion.inq7.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=16720
Our Very Own Dirty War - opinion piece by Walden Bello
http://opinion.inq7.net/inq7viewpoints/columns/view_article.php?article_id=10363
Human and Right - opinion piece by Conrad de Quiros
http://opinion.inq7.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=15469
Rage against the Dying of the Light - opinion piece by Patricia Evangelista
http://opinion.inq7.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=16249
Left-Wing activist shot in the Philippines
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asiapacific/detail.asp?GRP=C&id=88627
Church groups worldwide air concern on killings in RP
http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/08/24/MAIN2006082472492.html

The University of the Philippines demands the release of two abducted students.

We church leaders, gathered here in Manila, July 12-16, 2006, represent churches throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and North America. We have been gathered here in prayer and for critical reflection on the way military, economic and cultural forces of US imperial power bring death and destruction to so many peoples and nations of the world.

We are shocked and dismayed by the news that at least 690 people have died as a result of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines - men and women, diverse activists, journalists and organizers throughout Filipino communities.

Of particular concern are our sister and brother church workers who have been slain by death squads that seem connected to powerful economic, military and political interests in the country. Eighteen church people have been murdered in the last two years, 15 of whom were working for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).

All of these were innocent, guilty of nothing save their resolve to be faithful in securing justice and fullness of life for the disenfranchised and repressed communities of their nation.

We give thanks for these activists' lives, for our church workers' prophetic witness in the name of justice, love and life - for the gospel. May their deaths not be in vain, bearing fruit for the ongoing restoration of all Filipinos seeking justice and freedom from poverty, discrimination and exclusion.


We pray for this violence to cease. May the families of the slain be comforted. May Filipino churches, media and society remember them by name, and begin the truth-telling that identifies their killers, so as to bring healing for all who love them and value their work.

We are strengthened in our resolve to resist the global empire's brutal political economy of poverty, repression, torture and assassination suffered by activists for justice and peace. We remain inspired today by the struggle waged and the sacrifice made by these faithful church workers.

Signed:



Rev. Park Seong-Won, Young Nam Theological Seminary, World Alliance of
Reformed Churches, South Korea
Dr. Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar, United Theological College (Bangalore), India
Rev. Dr. Karen Bloomquist, The Lutheran World Federation, USA/Switzerland
Ms. Omega Bula, The United Church of Canada, Canada
Rev. Jameson Buys, Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa, South Africa
Bp. Erme Camba, Silliman University, Philippines
Rev. Cheryl Dibeela, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa,
South Africa
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Duchrow, Kairos Europa, Germany
Dr. Chris Ferguson, World Council of Churches/Jerusalem, Canada
Mr. Muto Ichiyo, Asian Peace Alliance, Japan
Ms. Carmencita Karagdag, Peace for Life, Philippines
Rev. Dr. Keum Jooseop, Council for World Mission, South Korea/Great Britain
Prof. Dr. Kim Yong Bock, Advanced Institute for Integral Study of
Life, South Korea
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, St. Scholastica's College, Philippines
Prof. Ninan Koshy, Political Commentator and Author, India
Ms. Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, World Alliance of Reformed
Churches, Guyana/Switzerland
Rev. Dr. Mark Lewis Taylor, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA

--
CONTAK Philippines
(Church Office for International Network in the Philippines)
2/F UCCP National Offices
877 EDSA, West Triangle
Quezon City PHILIPPINES

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Hello, I came across a website about the current situation in the Philippines, and I thought I should pass it on to you. Since the 4th quarter of July 2005, one person has been killed every two days due to their political affiliations. If you are interested in reading more about it and signing a petition, go to http://deathbydemocracy.blogspot.com. Thank you.

South-North Exchange of Peoples Organizations in Belgium, the Transnational Institute in the Netherlands, and the Finnish-Philippine society are among the signatories in this open letter to President Arroyo.