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THE
kidnapping of farmer-activist Jonas Burgos has
exacerbated worries of the European Union about the
state of human rights respect and protection in the
Philippines, citing the apparent existence of a “culture
of impunity.”
The EU,
which provided a €900,000- (about P58 million) grant to
help the Commission on Human Rights and its counterparts
in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia to raise human
rights standards with focus on common concern for the
region, cited the quick response of the CHR, though, to
cases brought before it, such as the April 28 abduction
of Burgos, son of the late world press freedom icon Jose
Burgos Jr.
Ambassador Alistair Macdonald of the Delegation of the
European Commission emphasized the need to strengthen
human rights protection in Southeast Asia, citing the
Philippines as having the most alarming situation due to
the spate of abductions and extrajudicial killings
mostly targeting militants and journalists.
“Here in
the
Philippines,
hardly a day goes by without a fresh reminder of the
essential importance of human rights. Just this week,
we’ve seen the appalling case of the abduction of Jonas
Burgos and two companions, here in
Quezon City,”
said Macdonald in a speech at the CHR office in
Quezon City.
The EU
and the CHR signed a memorandum of understanding that
seeks to strengthen the human rights mechanism of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Macdonald said, “I was pleased to see that the
Commission on Human Rights is looking into this, but
frankly I’m shocked about what this case suggests about
a culture of impunity in this country.” |
