MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Philippines

19.1.2010

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Martin Kastler, Mario Mauro, Cristian Dan Preda, Bernd Posselt, Monica Luisa Macovei, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Tunne Kelam, Jean-Pierre Audy on behalf of the PPE Group
Charles Tannock, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0043/2010

B7‑0046/2010

European Parliament resolution on the Philippines

The European Parliament,

_    having regard to the Declaration by the EU Presidency of 25th November 2009 on the killings in the Maguindanao, Philippines and to the statement of Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, of 2nd December 2009,

_    having regard to the UN Covenant on Civil and Political rights and the Additional Protocol thereto to which the Philippines are signatory,

_    having regard to the European Commission's Country Strategy Paper 2007-2013 for the Philippines,

_    having regard to the Financing Agreement for the EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme intended to speed up judicial proceedings against the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings, signed in October 2009,

_    having regard to its previous resolutions on the Philippines,

–    having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas on 23 November a large group of people, composed of family members (including his wife and several close relatives) and supporters of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmail Mangudadatu (who planned to run for provincial governor in elections next year) as well as journalists, was abducted, some of them raped and subsequently killed by about 100 armed men, led by Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.,

B. whereas Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr is now under arrest for having orchestrated the massacre and could face multiple murder charges; whereas the Ampatuan's family history of using private militias to maintain their dominance in Maguindanao gives every reason to fear for the safety of witnesses and the protection of evidence,

C. whereas the brutal killings in Maguindanao constitute a major setback for peace and democracy in the Philippines and a clear sign of failure of governance and the rule of law in the province of Maguindanao,

D.  whereas in the 2007 campaign for the mid-term elections about 60 candidates were killed,

E.  whereas in the 2004 election campaign 41 candidates were killed,

 

1.        Strongly condemns the brutal killing on 23 November of more than 60 civilians including some 30 journalists and members of a local politician's family preparing to participate in the electoral process in the southern province of Maguindanao;

 

2.        Welcomes the initial response of the Philippine government to the massacre and stresses that the police investigation must be comprehensive and independent and that it must be followed by effective prosecutions of all those responsible for the murders;

 

3.  Calls on the government of the Philippines to accept international assistance in conducting the technical aspects of this investigation;

 

4.                   Welcomes the fact that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) was asked to join the inquiry to ensure transparency and impartiality;

 

5.        Requests the government's decisive action to immediately prohibit and disband paramilitary forces and local militias and to ensure effective protection of human and civil rights, particularly in the election period;

6.        Calls on the authorities responsible in the Philippines to do their utmost to identify all perpetrators, including members of the security forces, and bring them to justice without delay; further requests that the government ensure an urgent protection of witnesses to the 23 November massacre;

7.  Calls on the government to increase efforts to eliminate instances of political violence in order to assure the future of the democracy in the Philippines;

8.  Calls in particular on the authorities to establish a high-level task force with broad political support in order to urgently put in place measures to prevent election-related violence in the months ahead of the May 2010 elections and to take steps designed to protect the media and the freedom of expression in general;

9.        Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the President and Government of the Philippines, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the governments of the ASEAN Member States.