Human Rights Violations In The Philippines

EDM number 897 in 2006-07, proposed by Neil Gerrard on 19/02/2007.

That this House notes with concern the continued political killings of leaders and members of progressive organisations and political parties critical of the administration of President Arroyo which according to the Philippine human rights organisation Karapatan reached a total of 830 between 21st January 2001 and 31st January 2006 with 207 persons disappeared; notes that other human rights violations such as arbitrary detention, warrantless arrest, and harassment by military and police agents are also increasing; notes the report issued by Amnesty International in July 2006 entitled `The Philippines: Political Killings, Justice and the Peace Process', which seriously criticises the climate of impunity in the Philippines; notes with concern that these attacks are intensifying as the May 2007 elections approach, seriously affecting the capacity of some parties to be able to campaign effectively; notes with alarm the detention of Member of Congress Crispin Beltran, who is 73 years old and a respected representative of workers and farmers in the Philippine Congress, which continues despite the lifting of the State of Emergency (Presidential Proclamation 1017) and the subsequent decision of the Supreme Court that its implementation was unconstitutional; and urges the UK Government to express to the government of President Arroyo the need to ensure that political killings stop, to bring to justice those responsible, and to release Congressman Crispin Beltran.

This motion has been signed by a total of 62 MPs.