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Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR)
#1- 5687 West Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia V6M 3W7
Email: cps_hr@yahoo.ca
28 August 2014
AN OPEN LETTER
To His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III
Mr. President,
The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR) joins the Filipino human rights defenders, people’s organizations, and international rights groups in strongly condemning the continued military presence in communities endangering civilians especially children.
According to the initial report we received from KARAPATAN, a horrificstrafing of civilian homes happened on the evening of June 7, 2014. Mohammad Panigas and his family were preparing to go to bed, when they heard several shots fired. Mohammad's wife quickly picked up their four-month old baby from the cradle and saw the child wounded in his left leg. The couple sought their neighbors' help to bring the child to the hospital.
Not far away from the Mohammad's home is the detachment of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Philippine Army.
On another incident, Mohammad Abdulkarim and his son Mehad Mohammad were stopped by members of the 45th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army at a checkpoint in Brgy. Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao, on July 3, 2014. Witnesses reported the two were taken into military custody soon after they were stopped at the checkpoint.
Abdulkarim's relative went to the Army's detachment and inquired about the father and son. But, the military reported they already released the two. The whereabouts of Mohammad Abdulkarim and Mehad Mohammad are still unknown as of this writing.
A few days after the abduction, it was noted that soldiers of the 45th IB were seen near the home of Mohammad. The family believes the military may be conducting surveillance activities on their community.
Mr. President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we ask that you order an immediate pull-out of the 45thInfantry Battalion and the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Philippine Army and stop Operation Plan Bayanihan, which has declared all-out war against the people.
We further urge your administration to:
1. Immediately surface Mohammad Abdulkarim and Mehad Mohammad.
2. Accord justice for the child of Mohammad Panigas.
3. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights to look into these incidents of human rights violations; and, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
4. To observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that the Philippine government is a party and signatory to.
Finally we call on your administration and all its institutions to uphold the basic human rights of the citizens whom you have sworn to serve.
The Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR)
Member: International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP-Canada)/ Stop the Killings Network (STKN-Canada)/ Interna
Associate Member: International Migrants' Alliance (IMA)
Proud Supporter of Bayan-Canada and Migrante-Canada
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