Letter to the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver
RE: Political repression and state-directed killings in the Philippines

April 7, 2005

HAND DELIVERED

Suite 1405 700 West Pender Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1G8

Attention: Consul Zenaida Tacorda-Rabago

Dear Sirs / Mesdames:

On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we wish to convey to you as the representative of the Philippine government in Vancouver our strongest condemnation of the recent killing spree and campaign of terror perpetrated by the Arroyo regime against progressive organizations and individuals.

The attached statement outlines in further detail our position and analysis on the worsening human rights situation. This statement will be distributed throughout Vancouver, as well as throughout Canada. We also intend to bring our concerns about the Philippine government to the attention of the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We expect that you will acknowledge receipt of this letter and enclosed statement. We also expect you to immediately convey to your superiors in the Department of Foreign Affairs our concerns as overseas Filipino workers, women and youth, as well as Canadians working in solidarity with the Filipino people's struggle for human rights, genuine freedom and national democracy.

Finally, we expect that you will relay your response and that of the Philippine government to our concerns as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Barbara Waldern
Chairperson

Signed on behalf of the following organizations in Vancouver: · BC Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines · SIKLAB (Filipino Migrant Workers Organization) · Filipino Nurses Support Group · Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance · Philippine Women Centre of BC

Enclosures (1) Copies to: The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada