0704: Detained solon hits rising military-led abductions, cautions Senate vs passing Anti-Terror Bill to delay total breakdown of civil liberties
From the Office of Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
Tel. # (+632) 931-6615 Email: crispinbeltran@gmail.com
URL:http://www.geocities.com/ap_news
NEWS RELEASE
July 4, 2006
Detained solon hits rising military-led abductions of civilians under GMA administration,
cautions Senate vs passing Anti-Terror Bill to delay total breakdown of civil liberties
Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran condemned the abduction of seven officers and members of the transport group PISTON-Central Luzon in Pampanga yesterday, saying that the rising military-led abductions of civilians signalled the further breakdown of civil liberties under the Arroyo administration.
The seven PISTON members were abducted at around 11 am to 12 noon yesterday at Brgy. Malabianas, Angeles City, Pampanga, allegedly by elements belonging to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the 56th and 69th IBs of the AFP. Prior to this, UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno and Manuel Merino, researchers for the farmers group Alyansa ng Mamamayan Para sa Pantaong Karapatan (ALMMA-Bulacan), have remained missing since June 25, after being abducted by alleged military troops. Another activist, Leopoldo Ancheta, was recently abducted by armed men aboard a silver Revo van in Guigunto, Bulacan, on the evening of June 24.
"General Jovito Palparan and the PNP should be held accountable for the recent abductions, and should be compelled to surface the victims. These alarming abductions, killings, and other human rights violations against civilians in Central Luzon all coincided with the deployment of more military troops under his command into the region," Beltran said.
"Abductions and enforced disappearances are among the most cruel of human rights violations that can happen to anyone. Yet the government has done nothing to decisively confront the suspected perpetrators from the military and hold them accountable for these abominable and inhumane deeds," Beltran said.
Beltran also slammed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's call to the Senate to pass the pending Anti-Terror Bill, saying that "the 690 extrajudicial killings of civilians and 175 cases of enforced disappearances from 2001 to June 27, 2006, all committed under the overall all context of the government's war against terror, should be reason enough for lawmakers to reject the Anti-Terror Bill".
"The Senate should not allow the bill to pass, for the sake of protecting civil liberties and basic human rights against the draconian assaults of the Arroyo administration. GMA only wants the legislative branch to serve as a rubber stamp for the perverse and bloodthirsty tactics she is employing against the broad number of people who are calling for her to step down from office. It will only complement the repression sowed by extrajudicial killings and abductions," Beltran said.
"The Anti-Terror Bill has not even been passed, but already the Arroyo administration is dangerously branding lawmakers who are supporting the resumption of peace talks such as Sen. Jamby Madrigal as treasonous and deserving of sanctions. Our well-meaning colleagues from the Senate and the Lower House might even become unwitting victims of the Anti-Terror Bill which the Arroyo administration has pressured them into supporting," Beltran cautioned.
"The passage of the Anti-Terror Bill will only bring upon an unprecedented wave of legislated political repression, in addition to the killing spree that GMA's rabid dogs of war are waging in the provinces," Beltran said.###
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
Tel. # (+632) 931-6615 Email: crispinbeltran@gmail.com
URL:http://www.geocities.com/ap_news
NEWS RELEASE
July 4, 2006
Detained solon hits rising military-led abductions of civilians under GMA administration,
cautions Senate vs passing Anti-Terror Bill to delay total breakdown of civil liberties
Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran condemned the abduction of seven officers and members of the transport group PISTON-Central Luzon in Pampanga yesterday, saying that the rising military-led abductions of civilians signalled the further breakdown of civil liberties under the Arroyo administration.
The seven PISTON members were abducted at around 11 am to 12 noon yesterday at Brgy. Malabianas, Angeles City, Pampanga, allegedly by elements belonging to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the 56th and 69th IBs of the AFP. Prior to this, UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno and Manuel Merino, researchers for the farmers group Alyansa ng Mamamayan Para sa Pantaong Karapatan (ALMMA-Bulacan), have remained missing since June 25, after being abducted by alleged military troops. Another activist, Leopoldo Ancheta, was recently abducted by armed men aboard a silver Revo van in Guigunto, Bulacan, on the evening of June 24.
"General Jovito Palparan and the PNP should be held accountable for the recent abductions, and should be compelled to surface the victims. These alarming abductions, killings, and other human rights violations against civilians in Central Luzon all coincided with the deployment of more military troops under his command into the region," Beltran said.
"Abductions and enforced disappearances are among the most cruel of human rights violations that can happen to anyone. Yet the government has done nothing to decisively confront the suspected perpetrators from the military and hold them accountable for these abominable and inhumane deeds," Beltran said.
Beltran also slammed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's call to the Senate to pass the pending Anti-Terror Bill, saying that "the 690 extrajudicial killings of civilians and 175 cases of enforced disappearances from 2001 to June 27, 2006, all committed under the overall all context of the government's war against terror, should be reason enough for lawmakers to reject the Anti-Terror Bill".
"The Senate should not allow the bill to pass, for the sake of protecting civil liberties and basic human rights against the draconian assaults of the Arroyo administration. GMA only wants the legislative branch to serve as a rubber stamp for the perverse and bloodthirsty tactics she is employing against the broad number of people who are calling for her to step down from office. It will only complement the repression sowed by extrajudicial killings and abductions," Beltran said.
"The Anti-Terror Bill has not even been passed, but already the Arroyo administration is dangerously branding lawmakers who are supporting the resumption of peace talks such as Sen. Jamby Madrigal as treasonous and deserving of sanctions. Our well-meaning colleagues from the Senate and the Lower House might even become unwitting victims of the Anti-Terror Bill which the Arroyo administration has pressured them into supporting," Beltran cautioned.
"The passage of the Anti-Terror Bill will only bring upon an unprecedented wave of legislated political repression, in addition to the killing spree that GMA's rabid dogs of war are waging in the provinces," Beltran said.###
posted at 10:13 AM
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