The Philippines does not have a reputation as a safe haven for human rights defenders. And the situation has only deteriorated further in recent weeks. Fortunately, courageous changemakers are still there to defend the rights of the people.
The emphasis on violence has gradually shifted towards violence and indiscriminate repression against social organisations that defend the democratic rights of the people.
From bad to worse
Since the current president, Rodrigo Duterte, came to power in 2016, the human rights situation has deteriorated. His ‘violent war on drugs’ has already claimed 13,000 lives.
These are mainly innocent people or petty criminals, while the big gangsters are left untouched. Furthermore, the emphasis on violence has gradually shifted towards violence and indiscriminate repression against social organisations that defend the democratic rights of the people.
In recent weeks, we have seen an escalation in repression and threats against grassroots organisations and social movements. On 31 October, 57 people were arrested during raids on the premises of trade unions and social organisations in the city of Bacolod, on the island of Negros. Among them were 14 minors and 21 workers who had been dismissed from a transport company: they happened to be at the KMU trade union offices to discuss their dispute with management.
A few days later, on 5 November, it was the turn of the offices of the social organisation BAYAN in Manila. The police raided the premises in the middle of the night, searching for weapons and explosives. Three activists who were present were arrested. In both Bacolod and Manila, the searches were ordered by the same judge, who announced in advance what types of weapons would be found there. Human rights organisations suspect that the police planted the weapons that were found.
All communists, all terrorists
Human rights defenders are also at risk. Honey Mae Suazo, former regional director of the human rights organisation Karapatan, disappeared on 2 November on the island of Mindanao. There has been no news of her since. Two days later, trade union leader Rey Malaborbor was murdered outside his home in Laguna province, not far from Manila.
All this is taking place in an atmosphere of suspicion towards social organisations. The army's top brass describes them as front organisations for “communist terrorist groups”. On 5 November, General Basiao made another presentation to the parliamentary defence committee in which he accused 18 Philippine organisations of being the vanguard of “communist terrorist groups”. Among others, he mentioned the Protestant church leadership and various development organisations.
He also presented a list of 31 international organisations allegedly funding these groups, including the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, a budget line of the European Commission, Oxfam International and various branches of Caritas. It would appear that any form of defence of the poorest is tantamount to supporting communists and terrorists.
This is also why, since this summer, we have been campaigning on behalf of Rachel Mariano, a development aid worker at a health organisation who was also accused of belonging to an armed communist organisation. In September, she was released due to lack of evidence. And who was murdered a few weeks later, on the very day that General Basiao was speaking before the House committee? The judge who released Rachel.
Courageous human rights defenders
It goes without saying that this climate of fear has an impact on the work of social organisations in the country. But despite this, many of them refuse to be intimidated. People are becoming increasingly angry. One can only admire their courage.
One such courageous organisation is the human rights organisation Karapatan, which we at Viva Salud have been supporting for years. Karapatan, which means “right” and is currently led by Cristine “Tinay” Palabay, was founded in 1995 and now has 40 member organisations and 16 regional chapters across the country. It is now recognised as a leading human rights organisation in the Philippines, both domestically and internationally.
Together with the women's organisation Gabriela, also a partner of Viva Salud, Karapatan has launched a campaign called #TogetherWeDefend. The aim is to encourage all human rights defenders. Their work remains extremely important, even more so in these difficult times. And that is precisely the message we want to convey here in Belgium: #OnlyFightersWin.
