Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights
Encyclopedia
The Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR) is a Canadian Human Rights
group which expresses solidarity with the Filipino
people.
in 2006 as a coalition of progressive Filipino organizations from across Canada as part of a larger international campaign to Stop the Killings. A PCTFHR fact-finding mission was organized for November 2006. The group consisted of nine Canadians - lawyers, a teacher, a nurse and other community organizers - who visited victims of the political killings and repression in the Philippines. As well, the group met with members of Congress, Members of the Senate, Peter Sutherland
, the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines.
The group's modus operandi was to split up into groups to evaluate the deteriorating human rights situation in various regions. The areas of Metro Manila
, Cordillera
, Southern Tagalog
and Central Luzon
were selected. One of the congressmen met by the Fact-finding mission was Rep.Crispin Beltran
who had been detained for almost a year. The PCTFHR gained national and international attention after three members were detained by the military for several hours. Maj. Gen. Alexander Yano, head of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), ordered a probe of the incident, "after receiving 'conflicting' accounts of the incident." However, the supposed probe never made its findings public.
The PCTFHR found the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines
responsible for the extrajudicial political killings between 2001 and 2006, calling on Canada to suspend the $22 million dollars in foreign aid until the human rights situation improves. Luningning Alcuitas-Imperial, a Filipino-Canadian lawyer who heads the PCTFHR, explained that, "the soldiers and police accosted [the PCTFHR] as though we were criminals [...] preventing us from speaking to residents of areas where there are reported human-rights violations. They seem to be following orders to bar human-rights observers. Canada's Ambassador to the Philippines, Peter Sutherland, referencing calls by Wal-Mart
, American Eagle
, Gap
and other garment manufacturers to stop the killing of union leaders
, told the group, "when the international business community says something, she (President Arroyo) has to pay more attention."
Presidential Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye
called the group "self-proclaimed human rights activists", "propaganda tools of the revolutionary left", "self-serving" and "arrogant". Further, he deplored the groups', "pseudo investigations on so-called extrajudicial killings ...and... arrogance [...] to turn this issue into a diplomatic matter."
. Other organizations, such as the United Church of Canada
, have also expressed support on this topic, creating a parliamentary petition to be submitted to Canada's parliament.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
group which expresses solidarity with the Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
people.
History
The group was formed in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 2006 as a coalition of progressive Filipino organizations from across Canada as part of a larger international campaign to Stop the Killings. A PCTFHR fact-finding mission was organized for November 2006. The group consisted of nine Canadians - lawyers, a teacher, a nurse and other community organizers - who visited victims of the political killings and repression in the Philippines. As well, the group met with members of Congress, Members of the Senate, Peter Sutherland
Ambassadors from Canada
This is a list of ambassadors and high commissioners from Canada to other countries and entities:- Sources :* *...
, the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines.
The group's modus operandi was to split up into groups to evaluate the deteriorating human rights situation in various regions. The areas of Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, Cordillera
Cordillera
A cordillera is an extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges, that runs along a coastline . It comes from the Spanish word cordilla, which is a diminutive of cuerda, or "cord"...
, Southern Tagalog
Southern Tagalog
Southern Tagalog, or Region IV, was a region of the Philippines that is now composed of Region IV-A and Region IV-B . Region IV was split into the two regions on May 17, 2002...
and Central Luzon
Central Luzon
Central Luzon , also known as Region III , is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon , for administrative convenience...
were selected. One of the congressmen met by the Fact-finding mission was Rep.Crispin Beltran
Crispin Beltran
Crispin 'Ka Bel' Beltran was a Filipino politician and a labor leader. A staunch critic of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, his imprisonment in 2006 and 2007 on disputed charges of rebellion and sedition drew international attention...
who had been detained for almost a year. The PCTFHR gained national and international attention after three members were detained by the military for several hours. Maj. Gen. Alexander Yano, head of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), ordered a probe of the incident, "after receiving 'conflicting' accounts of the incident." However, the supposed probe never made its findings public.
The PCTFHR found the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
responsible for the extrajudicial political killings between 2001 and 2006, calling on Canada to suspend the $22 million dollars in foreign aid until the human rights situation improves. Luningning Alcuitas-Imperial, a Filipino-Canadian lawyer who heads the PCTFHR, explained that, "the soldiers and police accosted [the PCTFHR] as though we were criminals [...] preventing us from speaking to residents of areas where there are reported human-rights violations. They seem to be following orders to bar human-rights observers. Canada's Ambassador to the Philippines, Peter Sutherland, referencing calls by Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, American Eagle
American Eagle Outfitters
American Eagle Outfitters is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1977 by Mark and Jerry Silverman as a subsidiary of Retail Ventures, Inc., a company which also owned and operated Silverman's Menswear...
, Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
and other garment manufacturers to stop the killing of union leaders
Union busting
Union busting is a wide range of activities undertaken by employers, their proxies, and governments, which attempt to prevent the formation or expansion of trade unions...
, told the group, "when the international business community says something, she (President Arroyo) has to pay more attention."
Presidential Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye
Ignacio Bunye
Ignacio Rivera Bunye is a Filipino politician who is currently serving as the Monetary Board Member of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas since July 3, 2008...
called the group "self-proclaimed human rights activists", "propaganda tools of the revolutionary left", "self-serving" and "arrogant". Further, he deplored the groups', "pseudo investigations on so-called extrajudicial killings ...and... arrogance [...] to turn this issue into a diplomatic matter."
Campaign in Canada
The PCTFHR has organized presentations, screenings, concerts, and other meetings to promote the cause of human rights in the Philippines. Meetings with Members of Canada's Parliament has led to increased awareness on the topic and the possibility of a parliamentary hearing on human rights in the Philippines, including Liberal human rights critic, Irwin CotlerIrwin Cotler
Irwin Cotler, PC, OC, MP was Canada's Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 2003 until the Liberal government of Paul Martin lost power following the 2006 federal election. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Mount Royal in a by-election...
. Other organizations, such as the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, have also expressed support on this topic, creating a parliamentary petition to be submitted to Canada's parliament.