B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines Statement

April 7, 2005
For the Vancouver rally against political repression and state-directed killings in the Philippines
Read by Barbara Waldern, Chairperson

As Canadians, we stand today in solidarity with overseas Filipinos in Canada and the entire Filipino people to denounce the government of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In the last three months, the U.S.-Arroyo regime has been responsible for the killings of 29 political activists. Many of their faces are here in front of you - including lawyers, journalists, progressive politicians and churchpeople.

They were killed for speaking out against a corrupt, repressive government that is responsible for the daily violence of poverty and economic crisis affecting the majority of ordinary Filipinos. They were killed for helping to educate and organize their people to understand the root causes of their problems and to actively wage resistance against the anti-people policies of that government. They were killed as part of that government's intensifying campaign of political repression and state-terrorism, a campaign that also includes harassment, torture, abductions and increased militarization in a country named by the U.S. as the "second front" in the so-called global "war on terrorism."

As progressive Canadians, we have a historical and current responsibility to expose and oppose the unjust, undemocratic and increasingly fascist character of the Philippine government. Not only must we send our message to the Philippine government, as we do today by rallying here in front of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver; we must also send our message to our government in Ottawa that is responsible for diplomatic and aid relations with the Philippine government.

There is a long-tradition now within Canada of progressive and peace-loving Canadians working in solidarity with the Filipino people's struggle for human rights, genuine freedom and national democracy. For over 20 years, organizations such as mine have worked in support of this valiant people's struggle. That solidarity movement was borne out of the struggle of the Filipino people against the fascist dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. Our members principally focused on exposing the horrifying number of human rights violations, including killings and detention of political prisoners, used by the Marcos dictatorship as a means of suppressing dissent and a growing movement for national democracy.

Today, over 20 years later, there is an urgent need to renew and reinvigorate our solidarity work with the Filipino people. While the face of the Presidency in the Philippines has changed, the intent and tactics of the government to suppress a growing revolutionary movement has not. We must also understand that the economic crisis in the Philippines (which drives many Filipinos to migrate to Canada to seek a better life) breeds social unrest.

We must also seek to uncover and critically examine Canada's role in the Philippines and its role in exacerbating that economic crisis for the toiling masses in the Philippines. For example, in 2002-2003, Canada sent $22 million in official development assistance to the Philippines. Canadian companies also have $111 million in direct investments in the Philippines. People's organizations in the Philippines have long called the U.S.-Arroyo regime to task for its persistent record of human rights violations.

Even the United Nations Human Rights Committee noted in November 2003 its concern with crimes committed by state agents against human rights defenders; the culture of impunity for human rights violations; and the persistent and widespread use of torture. We must then ask: why does Canada still call the Philippines a "functioning democracy? (CIDA website)" Why does Canada continue to export arms to the Philippines (worth over $340,000 in 2002)? Why should Canada continue diplomatic and aid relations with a government that is proven to be undemocratic, anti-people and corrupt; a government which practices state terrorism and political repression; a government that has a persistent and serious record of human rights violations?

Let us join today with the Filipino people in expressing our horror and outrage at these killings. Let us condemn the U.S.-Arroyo regime for its worsening state of human rights. Let us also call on the Canadian government to stop giving aid to the U.S.-Arroyo regime. But let us also vow to strengthen our ties of solidarity and support with the Filipino people's struggle in the worldwide struggle against imperialism and for a just and lasting peace.