ACCENTS
Letter to the editors of Philippine newspapers
I yield my space to Mary Aileen D. Bacalso, secretary-general of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). AFAD is a federation of human rights organizations concerned with the issue of involuntary disappearances in Asia. AFAD works for the adoption of international instruments in the United Nations aimed at the resolution of cases of involuntary disappearances and preventing their recurrence. It publishes updates on the situation of disappearances in Asia and reports same to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UNWGEID) as well as to other appropriate bodies in the international community
AFAD member organizations are APDP-Kashmir, India (Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons); KONTRAS-Indonesia (Commission for the Disappeared Victims of Violence); FIND-Philippines (Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance); OPFMD-Sri Lanka (Organization of Parents and Family Members of the Disappeared); and Relatives Committee of the May 1992 Heroes – Thailand.
This is a letter to be supported by everyone who values human rights. Read on:
September 28, 2010
Dear Mr. Editor,
October 8 is just around the corner when the first 100 days of Pnoy will be over. For the families of the disappeared in the Philippines and the rest of the world, the president whom they supported during his candidacy, has yet to open the door of his office to the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) and the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) which are repeatedly requesting for an appointment with him during his first 100 days in office.
While the president of the land is extremely busy with matters of utmost concern, families of this very cruel form of human rights violation, i.e. enforced disappearance, equally deserve his attention and action. The pain of waiting; the uncertainty of their disappeared loved ones’ whereabouts; the not-so-remote possibility of death; the absence of closure – all these make enforced disappearance a very cruel form, if not the cruelest form of human rights violation. It is perhaps, for this reason that the late former president Corazon Aquino met with the families of the disappeared during her first days in office in 1986.
The Philippines is a country with outstanding cases of enforced disappearances that date back since the tyrannical and rapacious Marcos regime up to the former GMA administration. Thus, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, in May 2006, requested for an official invitation from the government to visit the country for the second time. Up to this date, the Philippine government has never replied to the still pending request.
Moreover, as then candidate for membership to the UN Human Rights Council, the Philippines pledged to the latter to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. To date, the promise remains unfulfilled. The more than 15-year-old bill penalizing enforced disappearances has never seen the light of day. On the contrary, cases remain unresolved and the number of cases is increasing.
How many Father Rudy Romanos, Hermon Lagmans, Jonas Burgoses and many other desaparecidos (Luisa Posa Dominado and Nilo Arado of Iloilo) will have to be sacrificed before the altar of freedom so that the government listens to the cry of the families of the disappeared?
Yesterday, our neighboring country, Indonesia became the 86th country to sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Indonesia has given a very good example to its neighboring Asian countries such as the Philippines to once and for all eradicate enforced disappearances from the face of the earth.
We will never tire in calling on this new administration to listen to the cry of the families of the disappeared in the Philippines and the rest of the world. But until when shall we wait for the fruits of our struggle?
Sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance without further delay!
Enact into law the more than 15-year-old bill penalizing enforced disappearances!
Signed by:
Mary Aileen D. Bacalso
Secretary-General
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President Noynoy Aquino must not sweep under the rug this letter that is being circulated by FIND-Philippines. Let us see how far this President can go in the protection of human rights.
Email: lagoc@hargray.com
