Rights abuses a destabilizer in RP, say EU officials

While President Arroyo is always guarding against forces out to destabilize her administration, the government should also be cautious of another form of “destabilizer” that, according to a member of the European Parliament, shakes the foundation of the country’s democracy.

Jules Maaten, an EU parliamentarian from the Netherlands, yesterday urged the Arroyo government to take decisive action on the cases of human rights violations, specifically unexplained killings, now that the country’s judiciary is assuming a pro-active role in addressing the problem.

Maaten is among nine European Parliamentarians who are in the country this week to meet with government officials.

Last Monday, the EU officials met with members of the Supreme Court where they were briefed about the steps taken by the judiciary to help curb cases of human rights violations.

“In Europe we are very pleased by the move that was taken by the Supreme Court. It was necessary to come up with some sort of a solution,” Maaten told reporters in an interview.

The SC in July called for a summit on unexplained killings and enforced disappearance. It has also come up with rules with regard to the writ of amparo, aimed at providing remedy for families of victims of enforced disappearance.

Hartmut Nassauer, also a member of the European Parliament, likewise lauded the SC.

“(This is) proof of the independence of the judiciary. (It is a) pillar of the state of law,” he said.

Maaten, however, said the main responsibility of addressing the problem should fall on the executive branch.

“The responsibility for making sure that this is resolved is with the political leaders,” he said.

Maaten said the subject of human rights is a “big issue” in Europe.

“It’s very worrying because the Philippines is one of the most democratic countries in Asia and we have seen with great worry that democracy has come under threat in some Asian countries,” he said, adding that the EU is willing to assist the Philippine government in any way to resolve the issue.

Nassauer said human rights violations are “something that pose concern on the quality of the state of law.”

He noted the importance of addressing the issue because “international perception of the Philippines is in a certain way linked to this internal problem.”

Based on the tally of local activist groups, more than 800 cases of unexplained killings and around 200 cases of enforced disappearance have occurred since Mrs. Arroyo assumed office in 2001.  

The military, which has been blamed for these human rights violations, has denied any involvement.