1. Impact and Implications on Civil and Political Rights of the Global Economic Crisis and Conflicts on Peace and Human Development Presented by MARIE HILAO-ENRIQUEZ Chairperson, KARAPATAN to the Fifth Conference of Lawyers in Asia-Pacific (COLAP V) 18 September 2010 Manila, Philippines

2. “War on Terror” the expression of the intensified imperialist plunder waged by the prime imperial power in the world today – US imperialism.

3. In Asia and the Pacific, the American imperial design is to reign supreme in the region so that the American government has waged invasion and wars in this part of the world packaging its moves in its politico-military design of a “war on terror.”

4. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines, historically America’s neo-colonial ward, has been easily made to toe this line under a totally subservient Arroyo regime.

5. By 2002, the regime has conveniently hatched the counter- insurgency program called Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Plan Freedom Watch), a brutal and bloody campaign against so-called insurgents but which lumped together into the categories of “enemies of the state” or members of “front organizations of the communists” those who are leaders or key members of legal organizations critical of the government policies.

6. This campaign engendered the spate of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and grave human rights violations under the US-Arroyo regime.

7. Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances 1,205 victims of extrajudicial killing and 206 enforced disappearance under the Macapagal- Arroyo administration Social activists, media persons, church people, lawyers, doctors, among others have fallen victim to the OBL

8. Table 1 Victms of EJK and ED under GMA Presidency (by region) January 21, 2001 to June 30, 2010 RegionEJKED Ilocos72 Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR)352 Cagayan Valley304 Central Luzon15466 National Capital Region (NCR)416 Souhern Tagalog (ST)17930 Bicol19910 Eastern Visayas12627 Central Visayas284 Western Visayas326 Northern Mindanao322 Caraga3511 Socsksargen275 Western Mindanao2910 Southern Mindanao10613 Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)1458 Total1,205206 Organized47568 Women15331 The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have identified target areas for the OBL which the military considered as “strongholds” of the CPP-NPA-NDF where inordinately large number of troops are deployed.

9. Moves of the regime to curtail civil and political rights. 2005 – Revival of BP 880 with Calibrated Pre- emptive Response; Executive Order 464 (EO464) which violates the right to information 2006 - a state of national emergency was declared through Presidential Proclamation 1017 2007 – Anti-Terror Law with a vague definition of “terrorism” 2009 - Presidential Proclamation 1959, declaring a state of martial law in the province of Maguindanao

10. Fabricated/Trumped Up Charges against leaders of People’s Organizations Trumped-up charges were systematically, and are still being systematically, filed in courts against the government's staunchest critics 2006 – creation of the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG), which was abolished in 2009 upon recommendations of UNSR Philip Alston legal offensives continue, and blanket charges are still being filed against leaders and members of the democratic movement.

11. Incitement against personalities, surveillance and harassment of human rights defenders and activists The labelling of leaders and human rights defenders as “enemies of the state” or members of “front organizations” The AFP has appointed spokespersonfrom the highest level to battalion command. The military has also set-up radio programs in regional centers which regularly air and churn out tirades against persons in the open democratic movement, especially those listed in the “order of battle.” Vilification campaign

12. Torture a deliberate form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment purposely inflicted by military or State agents to obtain information, extract a confession, implicate self and others, break the spirit and/or turn the victim into a military asset. The AFP continues to deny that its officers and soldiers were involved in the torture of victims.

13. Torture In the case of Melissa Roxas, who was abducted by state agents in 2009, the military even accused Roxas as a member of the NPA and that she was abducted by NPA themselves. Raymond Manalo, who was abducted 2006 with his brother Reynaldo, also testified that he and his brother were severely tortured by soldiers under the command of Gen. Jovito Palparan.

14. Illegal Arrest and Detention By the end of the Arroyo presidency, there are a total of 2,070 documented victims of illegal or arbitrary arrest. Some of the victims have been abducted, “picked up,” taken into custody or “invited” for questioning by State agents. Blanket warrants using generic names were utilized

15. An illegal arrest is often “cured” by subsequent issuance of a warrant, or filing of charges. Such is the case of the illegal arrest, detention and torture of the 43 health workers, now called as the Morong 43.

16. Forced Evacuation The OBL targets whole communities with the deployment of troops. In Mindanao, the Arroyo government shifted from a supposed policy of comprehensive political settlement through peace negotiations with the MILF, to a narrower framework of disarmament, demobilization and reintigration, returning to the militarist approach of resolving the Moro conflict. Military operations also intesified in the provinces identified by the AFP as focal areas for counter- insurgency.

17. Forced Evacuation Soldiers claim that they came as “Research Teams for Peace and Development,” tasked to “identify development projects” for communities. Soldiers would forcibly stay in civilian homes, schools and other public places Curfew hours are implemented; checkpoints are set up The military imposed food restrictions The military also conduct town meetings or “pulong- pulong” Vilification of local community leaders Coercion to join paramilitary groups

18. Thus, despite the moves of the State to impose repressive measures, the people have organized themselves and assert their rights and freedoms utilizing the different local and international fora and resources open to them.