Attacks On Members Of Congress In The Philippines

EDM number 1882 in 2005-06, proposed by Neil Gerrard on 22/03/2006.

That this House notes with serious concern the detention of opposition politicians and trade union and community leaders during the recent State of Emergency declared by President Arroyo in the Philippines (Presidential Proclamation 1017); notes that many of those arrested remain in detention despite the lifting of the State of Emergency, and in particular Congress member Crispin Beltran, who is 73 years old and a long-time trade union leader and representative of workers and farmers in the Philippine Congress; notes with concern that five other members of the House of Representatives (Satur Ocampo, Teodor Casino, Joel Virador, Liza Maza and Rafael Mariano) are unable to leave the Congress building, which is surrounded by police under orders to arrest them, despite the fact that no judge has issued any arrest warrant; notes the rising number of disappearances and killings of trade union and community leaders in the Philippines, including Napoleon Pornasdoro, Secretary of the Teachers' Alliance in Southern Luzon, who was gunned down on 28th February, immediately after he criticised the government's proclamation of a State of Emergency; and urges the Government to express to President Arroyo and the government of the Philippines its deep concern at the ongoing attacks on human rights in the Philippines, the continued detention of Congressman Crispin Beltran, and the current harassment of senior opposition politicians.

This motion has been signed by a total of 42 MPs.