Love of justice filled life of slain human rights defender
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By: Father Shay
Not long ago I wrote about the notorious practices of the security forces in the Philippines practicing curbside executions especially far south in Davao City. For several years, a dreaded death squad has been killing hundreds of people, shooting them down in broad daylight. A killing field with skeletons of men and women and a child was found in a police firing range. None have been caught and there is no successful police investigation to any of the killings. Many people reasonably suspect there is state approval and involvement.
The Davao business elite applauds and encourages it as the best way to curb crime in the face of the claim of the business leaders that the police can do nothing else but shoot the suspects as they incompetent and untrained to investigate and solve crimes in the professional way and bring suspects before the court. Others believe this is too harsh a criticism, others say it is too generous.
Opinions abound about a few high ranking police being coddlers of criminals and drug traffickers and are eliminating the opposition drug gangs and pushers with the death squad. No evidence is available to prove this one way or the other, as critics are prime targets themselves.
The situation is reaching alarming heights and international human rights agencies like Amnesty International is deeply concerned and Human Rights Watch. The European Union is raising the issue with the Philippine government who habitually turn a blind eye to such executions in Davao and elsewhere.
The practice is fast spreading since the mayor of Davao was praised by president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and appointed a presidential security advisor. Would-be aspirants to the halls of power just need to let the bodies pile up to get choice appointments ion the palace it would seem. All this had led to a shoot to kill policy of government police officers.
It is not criminal suspects who are being killed because no one has proved who they are anyway. Defenders of human rights were gathered in Davao City to attend a meeting against the death penalty and the death squad.
Rashid Manahan, known as "Jun", staunch human rights defender, and outspoken against the death squad was on his way to that meeting in the University with Prof. Nymia Simbulan, Executive Director of Philrights, and Ms. Martha Alvarez, a representative of the European Union. They were waiting for a taxi on the curb side when a motorcycle suddenly came roaring up and a hail of bullets hit June killing him instantly and the killer then drove away. There has been widespread protest at this terrible killing coming as it has after a rash of unsolved murders of out spoken journalists around the Philippines.
He was a brave and dedicated Filipino, committed to defending the rights of the poor, the exploited and victims of human rights violations. He died in a brutal and shocking death in public view. It was a noble death because he was at the time trying to prevent more killings and expose the vicious and evil death squad that killed him as he stood bravely against it.
He has become a victim of this notorious gang of killers that are a disgrace to the Filipino people, that destroy all that is good and beautiful in the courageous character of Filipinos who love the truth and justice and strive to do good and love others. He was an outstanding example of the best in the Filipino personality and human rights worker.
We have to condemn the mastermind behind the death squad and their brutal killing which now, once and for all, shows that the death squad is a tool of the politicians who use it as a weapon to eliminate there critics, silence the voices crying for justice and truth and execute with impunity the innocent.
The international community UN Committee on Human Rights has to take notice and bring this to the attention of the Philippine government and demand an answer as to why a death squads can operate in a with such impunity, above the law, and act as a power and a rule unto themselves picking their victims and killing them in broad day light.
What does that say about the President who allows it to happen apparent satisfaction and without comment or condemnation. Silence gives consent to crime. It is a violation of all the international obligations of the Philippines.
Rashid lives on in his friends, in the legacy of his work, in the inspiration that he has given to so many. He was a person who fought, lived and died, for these rights. His death is the worst the death squad can do. It will lead to its exposure and end. May his spirit rest in peace when his killers are finally brought to justice.
To the family and comrades of Rashid Manahan, our deepest sympathies for the untimely death and violent death of a man who stood for human rights. A shocking reality that we're all facing and being challenged. What can we do to assist the family?[End]
