US says ‘rights’ abuses continuing
March 30, 2008 -- Got something to say?
Print This Post
By Jose KatigbakWASHINGTON - Arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings by elements of the security forces and political killings, including killings of journalists continue to be a major problem in the Philippines, the US State Department said.
Despite intensified government efforts to investigate and prosecute these cases many went unresolved and unpunished in 2007, it said in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
The report cited a litany of abuses against members of the security services but applauded steps taken by the government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to reign in rouge elements.
The report issued recently said security forces committed acts of physical and psychological abuse on suspects and detainees and there were instances of torture. Arbitrary or warrant-less arrests and detentions were common. Trials were delayed, and procedures were prolonged.
Prisoners awaiting trial and those already convicted were often held under primitive conditions.
It said corruption was a problem in all the institutions making up the criminal justice system, including police, prosecutorial, and judicial organs. In addition to the killings leftwing and human rights activists were often subject to harassment by local security forces.
Problems such as violence against women and abuse of children, child prostitution, trafficking in persons, child labor, and ineffective enforcement of worker rights were common.
The report also slammed the New Peoples Army, the military wing of the Communist Party or the Philippines.
It said in addition to killing soldiers and police officers in armed encounters, the rebels killed local government officials and ordinary civilians, including through the use of landmines, and were suspected by the government in many of the killings of leftwing activists.
To invigorate the investigation and prosecution of cases of extrajudicial killings the government has advised AFP officers they would be held accountable for not taking preventive or corrective action when they have knowledge that crimes are committed by subordinates, the report said.
Also the Supreme Court has issued rules on amparo, which provides citizens with the courts protection.
The full results of these reforms in terms of indictments and convictions are not yet visible, but government agencies, human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and even some of the governments critics have noted a significant decrease in the number of killings, the State Department report said.
A nations path to a future of human rights protected by law is neither smooth nor straight. Along the way, there are bound to be stumbles and setbacks,” said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in announcing the publication of the 2007 report which assesses the human rights records of 193 countries.
Even under the best of circumstances, it is not easy to transform democratic ideals into effective democratic institutions,” she said.
Share This
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...Comments
Got something to say?
Recent Post
- ABC interviews Pinoy talents
- Heirs of other air crash victims seek payment
- Filipinos world’s more environment-conscious people
- Pope, Bush discuss immigration
- Philippine government to send medical team to China
- 3 branches of Philippine gov’t sign agreement of cooperation
- Philippines might have landslides and floods in coming days: weather bureau
- Scorched Earth Politics
- Abused women can get green cards
- Arroyo coming to DC?
- Cannes brings cheer to ailing Philippines film industry
- Typhoon Rammasun maintains strength toward northern Philippines
- Dengue cases in Philippines rise by 34 percent: government
- Missing Briton located in Philippines
- Another OFW seeks aid; Holgado dies
- Focus on Filipino American Organizations
- UN adopts RP report on ‘rights’
- Jamby left out of will, Collantes gets mansion
- Economics in Santa Banana
- The grand deception
