Philippines churches demand no return to martial law

-30/09/06

Church leaders in the P


Philippines churches demand no return to martial law

-30/09/06

Church leaders in the Philippines say President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s government needs to learn to deal with dissent if it is to avoid a repeat of the iron-fist rule of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial rule 34 years ago ñ writes Maurice Malanes for Ecumenical News International.

“For peace to reign in this land, the government must let democracy work rather than curtail it,” Roman Catholic Bishop Carlito Cenzon told ENI. “We need more participation, even from dissenters and critics, for real democracy to work.”

Cenzon’s comments follow the 34th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on 21 September 2006 and allegations that Arroyo’s government is trying to silence critics through a series of extra-judicial killings that have alarmed the international community. “This government must learn to deal and relate with all kinds of dissenters – be they political activists or critical journalists,” said Cenzon.

Arroyo denies there is any policy of extra-judicial killings and her military chiefs have instead blamed the political killings on the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the clandestine Communist Party of the Philippines.

Still, the Geneva-based World Council of Churches recently called on Arroyo’s government to disband “death squads”, private militias and paramilitary forces operating outside the official chain of government command, and hold accountable any members of the military found to be involved in extra-judicial killings.

Philippine human rights watchdog Karapatan has reported that 319 political activists were among 752 people who it says have died in extra-judicial killings since 2001, including 21 church workers, priests and pastors.

“Despite our long list of victims and the continuing threats to our workers, we are committed to exercising our prophetic role of condemning all extra-judicial killings and of defending life,” said Bishop Mar Inong of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

He was speaking at a forum where participants pledged to oppose any new forms of martial law. They recalled the era of Marcos who jailed many critics, while scores of others were summarily killed or disappeared without trace. Marcos was overthrown in February 1986.

With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.

[Also on Ekklesia: Philippines churches appeal to UN on human rights abuses 28/08/06; United Methodists ask Bush to help stop Philippines killings 23/08/06; Methodist missionaries call for end to Philippines killings 19/08/06; British MP shocked at mining destruction in the Philippines 15/08/06; Church worker killings continue in the Philippines 10/08/06; Catholic bishops accuse Philippines government of ‘dirty tricks’ 27/07/06; Churches seek investigation into Philippines killings; Church leaders call for change in the Philippines; Catholic bishops in Philippines speak of imprisonment fears; Da Vinci code provokes debate in traditional Philippines; Call to catch killers of Philippines church workers; Philippines ceasefire a sign of hope, say aid and mediation groups; Methodists call for end to killings in the Philippines; Christian charity says children still illegally imprisoned in the Philippines; Act on civilian deaths, churches ask Philippines government; Asian churches to challenge violence against children; Ecumenical loan fund backs Philippines small businesses]


Philippines churches demand no return to martial law

-30/09/06

Church leaders in the Philippines say President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s government needs to learn to deal with dissent if it is to avoid a repeat of the iron-fist rule of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial rule 34 years ago ñ writes Maurice Malanes for Ecumenical News International.

“For peace to reign in this land, the government must let democracy work rather than curtail it,” Roman Catholic Bishop Carlito Cenzon told ENI. “We need more participation, even from dissenters and critics, for real democracy to work.”

Cenzon’s comments follow the 34th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on 21 September 2006 and allegations that Arroyo’s government is trying to silence critics through a series of extra-judicial killings that have alarmed the international community. “This government must learn to deal and relate with all kinds of dissenters – be they political activists or critical journalists,” said Cenzon.

Arroyo denies there is any policy of extra-judicial killings and her military chiefs have instead blamed the political killings on the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the clandestine Communist Party of the Philippines.

Still, the Geneva-based World Council of Churches recently called on Arroyo’s government to disband “death squads”, private militias and paramilitary forces operating outside the official chain of government command, and hold accountable any members of the military found to be involved in extra-judicial killings.

Philippine human rights watchdog Karapatan has reported that 319 political activists were among 752 people who it says have died in extra-judicial killings since 2001, including 21 church workers, priests and pastors.

“Despite our long list of victims and the continuing threats to our workers, we are committed to exercising our prophetic role of condemning all extra-judicial killings and of defending life,” said Bishop Mar Inong of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

He was speaking at a forum where participants pledged to oppose any new forms of martial law. They recalled the era of Marcos who jailed many critics, while scores of others were summarily killed or disappeared without trace. Marcos was overthrown in February 1986.

With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.

[Also on Ekklesia: Philippines churches appeal to UN on human rights abuses 28/08/06; United Methodists ask Bush to help stop Philippines killings 23/08/06; Methodist missionaries call for end to Philippines killings 19/08/06; British MP shocked at mining destruction in the Philippines 15/08/06; Church worker killings continue in the Philippines 10/08/06; Catholic bishops accuse Philippines government of ‘dirty tricks’ 27/07/06; Churches seek investigation into Philippines killings; Church leaders call for change in the Philippines; Catholic bishops in Philippines speak of imprisonment fears; Da Vinci code provokes debate in traditional Philippines; Call to catch killers of Philippines church workers; Philippines ceasefire a sign of hope, say aid and mediation groups; Methodists call for end to killings in the Philippines; Christian charity says children still illegally imprisoned in the Philippines; Act on civilian deaths, churches ask Philippines government; Asian churches to challenge violence against children; Ecumenical loan fund backs Philippines small businesses]