Letter
to Professor Philip Alston Attachments |
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17 July
2008
PROFESSOR PHILIP ALSTON
Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or
Arbitrary Executions
Special Adviser, Human Rights Commission
UNITED NATIONS
Dear Professor Alston:
This is in reference to the update on the number of
atrocities committed by the New People’s Army (NPA)
covering the period 20 May-05 July 2008. Based on
various media sources, the NPA committed thirty seven
(37) attacks against government and private entities.
This is in addition to the Twenty One (21) incidents
indicated in our previous letter to you dated 16 May
20008.
The operations group of Task Force 211 also visited two
provinces to work on the cases of five (5) members of
media and three (3) officers from two (2) different
political organizations. The group also met with the
families of these victims to encourage them to work with
the task force for the resolution of these cases.
The latest accomplishment of TF211 is the conviction of
Mr. JOEL FLORES for killing peasant leader JOSE DOTON.
Doton was very active in the advocacy of peasant related
issues. The conviction of Flores is only one of the
victories in the government’s fight against
extrajudicial killings. We shall update you on the
development of cases such as this in our next
communication.
The Philippine government has been intensifying its
efforts in decreasing the capability of the NPA to cause
harm not only on government institutions but most
importantly among communities without sacrificing the
rights of every individual.
The recommendations mentioned in your report to the
United Nations Human Rights Council are being addressed
by the government in the most viable ways. Thank you for
the assistance that you have been giving the government
and we look forward to working with you in the
resolution of these matters.
Truly yours,
UNDERSECRETARY RICARDO R. BLANCAFLOR
Chairman, Task Force 211 (Task Force Against Political
Violence)
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