Justpeace Blog

Jan 13, 2007 (Democratic Voice of Burma)—China and Russia exercised their veto power as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council yesterday to prevent the passing of a US-backed resolution on Burma.

In a landmark Security Council vote on the situation in the country, China, Russia and nonpermanent member South Africa opposed the passing of the resolution that called on the Burmese military to allow political dialogue and reform.

All three countries contended that the situation in Burma was not a threat to international or regional peace and security and was therefore not an issue that should be dealt with by the council.

Three countries—Indonesia, the Republic of Congo and Qatar—abstained from voting on the resolution with the remaining nine members of the council—Belgium, France, Ghana, Italy, Panama, Peru, Slovakia, UK and US—voting in favour.

Under Security Council rules only nine positive votes are needed for a resolution to pass but a negative vote from a permanent member cancels the action.

Before voting on the resolution, Chinese ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya told the council while international interest in the situation in Burma was “quite understandable,” China remained firmly opposed to the passing of a resolution on the issue.

Wang said US and UK efforts to pass the resolution were neither logical nor reasonable, sentiments backed up by the Russian delegation.

In a surprise move, South Africa also spoke out against the resolution before the vote, saying the country did not consider the situation in Burma to be a threat to international peace and security and that the passing of a resolution on the issue could hamper attempts at dialogue through the UN secretary general’s good offices mandate.

“. . . We believe this resolution will compromise the good offices of the secretary general in dealing with sensitive matters of peace, security and human rights . . . This resolution, if adopted might close forever the window of communication opened by (under secretary general for political affairs) [Ibrahim] Gambari,” South African ambassador to the UN Dumisani Kumalo said.

After the vote, the United States expressed severe disappointment at the failure of the council to pass the resolution, with acting ambassador to the UN Alejandro D. Wolff reminding the council that the Burmese military, “arbitrarily arrests, tortures, rapes and executes its own people . . .”

Wolff later directly addressed the people of Burma during a media stakeout, saying, “This was an attempt to bring the situation to the attention of the world community, to send a clear signal that we have not forgotten you. We won’t forget you.”

Wolff told reporters the split vote did not send a mixed message about how members of the council feel about the situation in the country and instead reflected disagreement over the jurisdiction of the council.

Burmese ambassador to the UN Kyaw Tint Swe, who was present during the vote, said the Security Council should be proud to have rejected the move and that the resolution was based on “patently false” information.

After months of US and UK attempts to secure to support of the council on the issue, several members described the lack of consensus as a failure.

But Yvette Mahon, director of the Burma Campaign UK, said in a statement late yesterday, the blocking of the resolution was “a blow, but not a knockout”.

“The majority of the Security Council voted for this resolution. Russia and China lost the argument, and were forced into the desperate measure of using the veto,” Mahon said.

“The biggest shock is that South Africa, of all countries, would vote for dictatorship . . . Given their history they should know better. Every South African should be ashamed of what their government has done.”

The issue of Burma remains on the agenda of the Security Council.

4 January 2007
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PHILIPPINES: Extra-judicial killings; violence against activists, need for effective police investigation, protection to families of the dead, complete collapse of rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) informs you regarding the further killing of eight persons, six of whom activists, one driver and one journalist, in separate incidents that took place between December 12 to 31, 2006. These cases were received from reliable sources and information from various media sources.

CASE DETAILS:

On December 12, 2006 at around 9:55am, human rights lawyer Gil Gojol and his driver Danilo France were shot dead by four armed men riding on two motorcycles in Barangay (village) Carriedo, Gubat, Sorsogon. Gojol and France had just left the Municipal Trial Court after attending a court hearing when they were ambushed while traveling in their service vehicle.

According information from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples' Rights) quoting accounts from a witness, the attackers shot first France which made the van come to a stop. Gojol then tried but failed to escape from his attackers. Both died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds. The place of the incident is about 200 meters away from the army detachment of the 22nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, in San Ignacio of the said town.

Lawyer Gojol was a former local government official who had served as a Provincial Board Member for the 1st District of Sorsogon. He was also a former President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Sorsogon Chapter and a legal counsel for ADLO-KMU (Association of Democratic Labor Organizations-Kilusang Mayo Uno). At the time of his death, Gojol had served as counsel to cases involving defense of the rights of the poor. Gojol was also a legal counsel for Sotero Llamas, a consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF) who was also killed in May.

A day before Gojol was killed, 35-year-old Crisanto Frivaldo, a law student at the Aquinas University College of Law, was also shot dead by hooded gunmen inside his house in San Julian, Irosin, Sorsogon. Frivaldo died from five gunshot wounds one to his head and four to his chest. Frivaldo was the younger brother of former Councilor and Bayan Muna Municipal Coordinator Maximo Frivaldo who was also shot dead in January 30, 2006. Frivaldo was tending to his two-month-old baby inside their home when he was murdered.

Also on the same day, at around 6pm Renato Estrella (58), a barangay (village) chief of Atlag, Malolos City, was shot in the head at close range by a gunmen in Sitio Buhangin. Estrella died while being taken to the Santos General Hospital in Malolos City. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Although the police initially claimed Estrella's death could have been perpetrated by a rebel "hit squad", according to the group, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) in Central Luzon Estrella had received threats on his life, allegedly from the military. It is reported that Estrella was opposed to the deployment of government troops in his area.

On December 20, 46-year-old Andres Augusta, a radio broadcaster for dzJC Action Radyo, an affiliate network of the Manila Broadcasting Company was brutally stabbed by unknown assailants. Augusta died at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital in Batac at around 10:30pm.

It is reported that Augusta was on his way home after attending a Christmas party when unidentified men stabbed him. He managed to reach the nearest hospital on his own onboard a motorcycle but he died later. The motive behind his killing has yet to be determined.

On December 22, Francisco Bantog, a municipal coordinator for a party-list group Bayan Muna in the province of Sorsogon, was shot dead at around 10am. He was at the Donsol Tourism Office at the time he was attacked. Bantog was also a party-list' provincial auditor.

It is reported that Bantog was shot 20 times by three motorcycle-riding gunmen. At the time of his death, Bantog was also a "Butanding" interaction officer (BIO). Butanding is the local name for whale sharks. Bantog was with three other BIOs when the assailants, who were wearing motorcycle helmets attacked him. Police have recovered spent .45-caliber cartridges at the scene.

On December 24, 59-year-old Juan Sanggalang was shot dead by soldiers, allegedly attached to the 59th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, who reportedly had sought refuge at the victim's house a day before in Sitio Pinag-apugan, San Diego, Lian, Batangas. The military unit was believed to be under an officer named Colonel Felix.

It is reported that it was around 4:00 a.m. when Sanggalang and his companion, Roberto Espaldon (57), were attacked. Sanggalang died while Espaldon survived the attack but suffered gunshot wounds to his leg and stomach. At the time of his death, Sanggalang was a member of HABAGAT (Haligi ng Batangenyong Anak Dagat), a local chapter of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), A nationwide federation of fisherfolk organizations.

According to the information received from KARAPATAN-Batangas Chapter, the three soldiers attached to the said military unit sought refuge at Sanggalang's house on December 23 at around 8:00 p.m. and left the next day, December 24 at around 4:00 a.m. The victims were shocked when the same soldiers opened fired at them. It is reported other soldiers, who were apparently their companions, also positioned themselves beside the victim's hut and opened fired at the victims.

After the shooting incident, the victims' family immediately went to Sitio Pinag-apugan, San Diego, Lian, Batangas where the shooting took place to help their relatives. When they arrived in the area, Sanggalang was already lying dead. His companion, Espaldon, managed to run for safety towards a nearby coastal area. The victim's family even saw the soldiers leaving the crime scene after the shooting.

Soon after, the village's Chief Carlito Caisip together with policemen from the Lian town arrived in the area. A mobile phone reportedly owned by Colonel Felix was recovered by police investigators beside the victim's house. The mobile phone was found to belong to Colonel Felix when Caisip tried to make phone calls to the former. The police likewise recovered several items belonging to the military which had been left in the area.

It is reported that some members of the Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), who are also attached to the same military unit, may have attempted to take vital pieces of evidence from the crime scene. They were together with Caisip and the policemen when they were seen to be looking for something. It was found out later that it was their intention to find and retrieve Colonel Felix' mobile phone had it not been found by the police investigators first.

After the incident, a military officer, General Mesa of the 202nd Brigade, Philippine Army, quickly declared to the media that the shooting incident was an encounter between the New Peoples Armed (NPA) rebels and their troops. Days after the incident, posters and pamphlets appeared containing messages critical of village chief Caisip, Isabelo Alicaya, the town's vice mayor Roberto Cunamay and Joe Cabadin, accusing them of being supporters of the rebel group scattered in Lian town.

On December 31, a reliable source reported that Rodolfo Alvarado, Jr. (a.k.a. Pong), was shot dead by unidentified armed men at around 5:00 p.m. in his house in Barangay (village) San Lorenzo, Ligao City. Alvarado died from eight gunshot wounds to different parts of the body.

At the time of his death, Alvarado was a regional project coordinator for Bayan Muna, a party-list organisation. He was also the 6th nominee and a potential candidate to represent the party before the House of Representatives.

Asian Human Rights Commission