British Columbia Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP)
Media Statement

Canadian church people add to international pressure to end the political killings and repression in the Philippines

June 3, 2005

More church people have added theirs to the growing voices of disgust and protest over the increasing number of state-directed killings and harassment in the Philippines. Thirty-three (33) delegates composed of
ordained ministers, lay persons, staff and volunteers from the national body of the United Church and coalition partners signed the petition
campaign for justice: “Uphold CARHRIHL, Stop the Killings in the Philippines” at the two-day consultation meeting held in Comox Valley, BC on May 25-26, 2005.

Thus, the Global and Societal Ministries (GSM) of the BC Conference of the United Church of Canada, called on the Philippine government to immediately stop the killings and other forms of political repression.
They characterized the acts of repression as “un-Christian” and immoral.

United Church partner Rev. Edison Lapuz, age 39, is the latest victim in what United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Moderator Bishop Elmer Bolocon calls a systematic elimination of people who are
perceived as "enemies of the state." Lapuz, a conference minister of the UCCP, was brutally killed on May 12 in San Isidro, Leyte. He was an active member of the church organization, Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), the human rights group, KARAPATAN (Alliance of People’s Rights)
and the party list BAYAN MUNA ( People’s First) in Eastern Visayas.

Rev. Lapuz was well-known for his opposition to the militarization, killings and harassment in the region. His death brings the total of political killings to 37 since January of this year.

The GSM of the BC Conference’ participants also reminded the Philippine government of its obligations under the Joint Oslo Statements, as well as under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), in order to facilitate the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

As Canadian and church people, the GSM-BC Conference’ participants called on the Canadian government to suspend and review its foreign
policy in the Philippines, including diplomatic, aid and trade and investment relations with the corrupt and repressive Arroyo regime.

The signatories included /Rev. Dr. Jim Sinclair,/ General Secretary-General Council, /Leslie Windsor and Simone Carrodus,/ coordinators-GSM, /Andrew Church,/ Executive Director-Naramata, /Sandi
Evans,/ KAIROS BC-Yukon and /Megumi Matsuo-Saunders,/ JGER.

Beth Dollaga, who represented the British Columbia Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP) at the conference, applauded the
GSM’s overwhelming support to uphold human rights in the Philippines.

“Philippine President Gloria Arroyo must know that Canadians are well aware of her campaign of state terror against progressive and peace-loving Filipinos,” asserted Dollaga, “The overwhelming support of
the GSM of the BC Conference to denounce the recent killings demonstrates Canadians’ outstanding support for all those struggling for genuine national freedom, democracy and a just and lasting peace in the
Philippines,” she concludes.

The B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines will be joining the International Solidarity Mission to investigate human rights abuses
in the Philippines in August 2005. The organization is also encouraging other organizations and individuals to support the mission.#

For more information, contact bcchrp@kalayaancentre.net or 604-215-1905