Assassination attempt against Mr. Jose Ely Garachico / Kidnapping of Mrs. Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado and Mr. Nilo Arado

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in the Philippines:

Brief description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights (KARAPATAN) about the assassination attempt against Mr. Jose Ely Garachico and the kidnapping of Mrs. Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado and Mr. Nilo Arado, three human rights defenders in the area of Iloilo.

According to the information received, on April 12, 2007, while these three human rights activists were returning to their residence, they were stopped in Cabanbanan, Oton, Iloilo, by three armed men who shot several times against their vehicle and injured seriously Mr. Jose Ely Garachico, public information officer of KARAPATAN and member of Society of ex-Detainees for Liberation, Against Detention and for Amnesty (SELDA). He is currently hospitalised with traumas at the left side of his neck and at his lungs. Mrs. Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado, also a member of SELDA, and Mr. Nilo Arado, member of the Peasant Movement of Philippines, were abducted on the spot. As of the time of issuing this urgent appeal, they remain missing. The vehicle in which they were travelling was found burnt down in the area of Barangay Guadalupe, 33 km northwest of Iloilo city.

According to the information received, Mr. Arado had already received death threats in December 2006 for his action in favour of a genuine agrarian reform while Mr. Garachico and Mrs. Posa-Dominado, participating in campaigns for the release of all political prisoners in Philippines, were known for their action against the use of torture.

The Observatory is deeply concerned about the continuing attacks targeting human rights defenders in Philippines and fears for the physical and psychological integrity of the two human rights activists whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Actions required:

Please write to the authorities of Philippines urging them to:

1. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs. Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado, Mr. Nilo Arado and Mr. Jose Ely Garachico;
2. Take prompt action in order to locate Mrs. Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado and Mr. Nilo Arado, make public their whereabouts, and ensure their immediate release;
3. Conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the incident in order to identify those responsible, bring them to justice and pronounce sentences proportional to the gravity of their crimes;
4. End all forms of harassment and ill-treatment of human rights defenders in the Philippines, and guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders and organisations are able to carry out their work without any hindrance;
5. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels” and article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;
6. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by the Philippines.

Addresses :

• H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic, New Executive Building, Malacanang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila, Philippines ; Tel: +632 564 1451 to 80 ; Fax: +632 742-1641 / 929-3968 ; Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462 ; E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph / kgma@yahoogroups.com;
• Mr. José de Venecia Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rm. MB-2, House of Representatives, Constitution Hills, Quezon City, Philippines ; Tel: +632.9315001;
• Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, SAAC BUIlding, Commonwealth Avenue, U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines ; + 632 928 5655 ; Fax: 632 929 01 02;
• Mr. Raul Gonzales, Minister of Justice, Department of Justice, Building Padre Faura, 1004 Manila, Philippines ; Tel: +63 (2) 5238481 ; Fax: +63 (2) 521 1614 ; Email: sechbp@info.com.ph
• Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 716 19 32, Email: mission.philippines@ties.itu.int
• Embassy of the Philippines in Brussels, 297 Avenue Moliere, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 340 33 77 / 2 340 33 78, Fax: +32 2 345 64 25.

Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Philippines in your respective countries.

***

Geneva - Paris, April 17, 2007

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.

The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Email : Appeals@fidh-omct.org
Tel et fax FIDH : + 33 1 43 55 55 05 / 33 1 43 55 18 80
Tel et fax OMCT : +41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29