Leftist solons to Arroyo: ‘Heed calls to stop killings’ Maila Ager INQ7.net
November 14, 2006
LEFTIST congressmen on Tuesday urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to heed “growing international pressure” to stop the unabated political killings in the country, saying ignoring the growing calls to end the bloodshed could only invite more criticism of the administration.
But administration allies in the House said the families of victims of extrajudicial executions are to blame for the failure of special bodies created to probe the killings to achieve results.
“Criticism is now coming from various parliaments, human rights groups, lawyers’ associations, workers’ unions, and foreign trade associations in all global regions,” Bayan Muna (Nation First) Representative Joel Virador said in a statement. “Even more will be exerted on this murderous regime if it does not put a stop to the killings.”
The latest to join the calls to end the killings were the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) in the country and multinational corporations operating here, which warned that the country risked losing investments and aid if the bloodshed continued.
Before them, officials of US retail giants also wrote Arroyo to protect labor and human rights.
“This is unprecedented. These business groups never criticized the past fascist Marcos dictatorship,” Virador said.
Representative Satur Ocampo, also of Bayan Muna, said the concerns of foreign trade groups about human rights were justified.
“Obviously, the foreign investors see through the cover-up perpetrated by the Melo Commission,” Ocampo said, referring to the body chaired by retired Supreme Court associate justice Jose Melo, which is tasked to investigate the killings.
“This whitewashing machine is not the independent and thorough investigation demanded by the victims' families, human rights organizations and the international community,” Ocampo said.
Ocampo said the truth was the administration has obtained a “zero conviction” rate against all suspected perpetrators and masterminds of the political killings.
But Parañaque Representative Eduardo Zialcita said the refusal of the victims’ families and militant organizations to cooperate with the Melo Commission was hampering the frustrating the panel’s mandate.
“Hence, we urge everyone to be more patient and give authorities enough time to complete their investigation. Let us support them instead of prejudging their work,” he said.
Bulacan Representative Lorna Silverio, for her part, urged the JFC to be “fair” and “open-minded” and not make an end to the killing a condition for investments and aid.
She also lamented how the killings are being used by government critics to discredit Arroyo and her administration.
“The killings should not automatically be considered political just because the victims are activists. Logic and due process dictate that other motives should not be ruled out,” Silverio said.
