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2016 Year End ReportFinal
2016 Year End ReportFinal
1.
Change is coming! This was the electoral mantra that ushered Rodrigo Roa
Duterte to Malacanang. His victory is a testament of the Filipino peoples
deep yearning for change. This yearning for change is brought about by
worsening economic condition felt by the majority. While the Duterte
government postures that change is here upon his assumption to power,
KARAPATAN says, change is where?
Today, as we hold this assembly in anticipation to the 68 th International
Human Rights Day come December 10, 2016, we also took notice that this is
the 158th day of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Malcanang. From the lens
of KARAPATAN, change has not yet come. The records of human rights
violations under the Duterte regime shows that there is not much change in
the statistics on extra-judicial killings, frustrated extra-judicial killings,
forcible evacuation, threat-harassment-intimidations, etc., Impunity have not
decreased. The paramilitary groups especially the New Indigenous Peoples
Army for Reform (NIPAR) still roams freely raising havoc amidst lumad
communities in San Fernando, Bukidnon even if two warrants of arrest are
now standing against its leader Aldie Butsoy Salusad. AFP troops continue
to sow fear among communities as they conduct census even during night
time and profiles their organizations and their leaders and encamp at
community facilities in violation of international humanitarian law.
For the common Filipino, nothing has changed. Majority are still in the
quagmire of poverty. Lumads and peasants are still landless. Workers still
underpaid. Education still is expensive. Basic services are not accessible.
Human rights violations continue.
Moreover, as human rights violation in the countryside continue human
rights violations escalate in the cities as Duterte implements his war on
drugs resulting to the impunity of thousands of drug related killings.
KARAPATAN maintains that the drug problem cannot be solved by violating
human rights. Rather, it will be solved by promoting the economic and social
rights of the people, eliminating the economic base of illegal drug trade.
KARAPATAN rages together with the Filipino people with the Supreme Court
decision and the silent approval of Malacanan to a heros burial for the
1
dictator Marcos. This is an insult to the patriots who stood up and fight for
human rights during the martial law period. The president must set aside his
political patronage to the Marcos family and instead uphold justice for the
martial law victims.
2.
CASES
Extra-Judicial Killing
Frustrated EJK
Death in Evacuation
Strafing
Forced Evacuation
Demolition
Physical Assault
Trumped-Up Charges
Illegal
Arrest
and
Detention
Arrest and Detention
THI
Coercion
Violation of Domicile
Violation of Childrens
Rights - Orphaned
Violation of Childrens
Right to Education
Use of Civilians as
shield or guide
Destruction
of
Properties
Divestment
of
Properties
Illegal
Search
and
Seizure
Total
3
3
1
1
6
1
1
2
INCIDENTS
TOTAL
UNDER
INDIVIDUA
DUTERTE
LS
ADMINISTRATI
AFFECTED
ON
5
2
17
2
3
1
8
1
1,890
2
348
1
8
1
13
1
3
8
1
1
6
82
1
9
2
2
x
x
4
35
x
x
58
58
13
14
38
2,489
18
1,286
TOTAL
INCIDE
NT
INDIVIDUA
LS
AFFECTED
4
15
3
8
798
348
8
1
10.
CONCLUSION. Changing the Philippines to a better society that
upholds human rights cannot be achieved by merely voting a more
popular leader of the nation. A strong leader is not enough. Political will
is not enough. Especially if the oppressive social structures are not
fundamentally changed. History has taught us, the peoples will is
decisive. When the majority of the Filipinos led by the oppressed will
unite and decide to fight for the legitimate and democratic rights of the
people real change will be achieved.
Karapatan, karapatan, karapatan ng mamayan, ipaglaban!
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