Member organization: Karapatan

Karapatan  deplored the reported wave of arbitrary arrests, detention, killings, and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment of Filipinos in Sabah, as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak refused to stop military operations despite the call for a ceasefire by the Sultan Kiram of Sulu.    Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, said “whether they …

Malaysian and Aquino govts accountable for rights abuses in Sabah Read More »

“It no longer comes as a surprise that the AFP’s spokesperson has again denied that there are human rights violations in the Philippines. We’ve heard the line several times in the past. Walang pagbabago. We’re used to these lies and denials but we cannot get use to the violations that are committed against the people,” …

Karapatan to AFP: Denials won’t stop HRVs Read More »

Karapatan is immensely saddened by the loss of lives of our Moro brethren in the bloody encounter at Lahad Datu town in Sabah as it finds insensitive and reckless, and therefore unforgivable, the handling of the Aquino government of the issue.  Instead of interceding for the Filipino Muslims through an urgent and diligent negotiation with …

Sabah crisis shows Aquino’s disregard for life and PH sovereignty Read More »

Human rights watchdog Karapatan denounce the killing of Cristina Jose, the latest victim of extrajudicial killing under the Aquino government.  Cristina Jose was one of the leaders of Barug Katawhan (People Stand Up), an organization of victims of typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental that led the protest at the DSWD office in Davao City. Jose …

Karapatan, Tanggol Bayi slam Aquino govt for the killing of typhoon Pablo survivor Read More »

A year after Jimmy Liguyon’s death   Many things happened after the killing of tribal leader, Jimmy Liguyon, exactly one year ago today. Among them were: his tribe were subjected to threats and harassment by his killers from the paramilitary group New Indigenous People’s Army Reform (NIPAR), led by Alde Salusad, forcing them to leave their …

Terror, impunity and injustice continue Read More »

On the 18th year of the Mining Act of 1995, Karapatan-Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights calls for the immediate scrapping of this law because “it is a direct assault on our sovereignty and patrimony as it emasculates our rights as a people," Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan said, emphasizing that most of …

Mining Act of 1995, a license for the gov’t and AFP to kill Read More »

As the nation commemorates the 27th anniversary of the People Power 1 uprising, human rights group Karapatan today said that “the Noynoy Aquino government’s commemoration is completely an empty exercise meant as a window-dressing for the administration’s dismal human rights record.” 

Karapatan welcomes  the Congressional on-site hearing on the case of the Capion massacre especially at this time that the Aquino government has awarded the Environmental Clearance Cetificate to the SMI-Xstrata mining company. “The President’s move sends the clear signal to the foreign mining corporation to  continue the  violations of human rights in the B’laan community …

ECC to SMI-XStrata a green light to more HRVs Read More »

"The Aquino government should refrain from sabotaging the peace process and should immediately release detained peace consultants," Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, said as the group staged a picket protest in front of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).  OPAPP is tasked to “oversee, coordinate and integrate the implementation …

Release detained peace consultants, resume NDFP-GPH peace talks Read More »

"Geertman’s death is state-perpetrated, it is a case of extrajudicial killing," said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, in reaction to the resolution issued by the Office of the City Prosecutor in San Fernando City, Pampanga on the killing of Dutch lay worker, Wilhelm Geertman.  The resolution on the preliminary investigation finds probable cause to …

Geertman’s killing is not a simple robbery with homicide, it’s MURDER Read More »