UNITY STATEMENT

of the Human Rights and Peace Summit

To St. Scholastica's College in the City of Manila, we came today, July 21, 2006, for the Summit on the Human Rights and Peace Situation in the Philippines. Anguished by the summary execution of 705 peace advocates, the enforced disappearance of 181 activists, massive troop deployment in communities where people are indefatigably defending their right to exist, the unjustifiable gagging of government critics, we have gathered to lament this obscene climate of oppression and to call to task those responsible for such crimes against the Filipino people.

We sat through the chilling stories of political repression narrated by kith and kin of women and men whose sole purpose in life was to ensure that justice and freedom are lived realities for every Filipino. We were anguished at the reality that the state which is supposed to protect the life of its citizens is, according to these victims, responsible for these violations. We listened intently to an elucidation of Oplan Bantay Laya, the government's organizing principle for the "reign of terror" it is presently sowing in the midst of a struggling people. We were painfully reminded that the pattern of human rights violations is the way in which the US War on Terror is being played out in the Philippines. We unearthed possibilities and prospects for peace, drawing wisdom and inspiration from our learnings to live out our days courageously.

We are confounded by the fact that this attack on life is carried out in a culture of impunity and that our leaders refuse to lift a finger in order to bring to a halt these human rights violations. We are appalled at the political intolerance of the State authorities whose response to abject poverty, unemployment and landlessness is military might and a vicious campaign to obliterate a bourgeoning revolutionary movement.

The political repression that is done with such savage brutality insults the sense of justice of people of goodwill. Everytime we hear the dull thud of a body that falls to the ground or the painful wail from the lips of a dying victim, a righteous indignation is fanned in our hearts, compelling us to fight for the vindication of the innocent and the punishment of the perpetrator. From    the nooks and corners of this beleaguered land, people are expressing their rage against the dying of the light of freedom in our society. And the voices of our overseas partners and friends blend with ours in a rising crescendo of concern and protest.

Today, we stand on sacred ground watered by the blood of the people's martyrs. Moved by their heroism, we call….

1.    for the conduct of an independent investigation on these violations of human rights by a group of esteemed individuals from different walks of life such as church people, academicians, lawyers, legislators and leaders of peasants and workers, to be done with dispatch;

2.   for a thorough inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international courts of justice to ferret out the truth and to hold accountable those responsible for such wrongdoings;

3.  for the government to exercise its political will to put an immediate end to the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of political persecution.

4.   for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

5.   for concrete initiatives and programs to support the efforts of victims and families of human rights violations to rebuild their lives, i.e. scholarships, financial and livelihood assistance, etc.

July 21, 2006

St. Cecilia's Hall

St. Scholastica's College

Manila, Philippines

Keynote Address

Bishop Eliezer M. Pascua

As newly-elected General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), and the UCCP, being one of the prime organizers of this gathering, I have accepted with much fear and trepidation, the task of giving the keynote address in this Human Rights and Peace Summit.  In the midst of great repression and gross violation of human rights in our country today, we are certainly welcoming you not only to this gathering, but sadly or indignantly also to the fold of the growing members of Christian martyrs.  In any time and in any place, but especially when the very structures that are supposed to protect and uphold human rights have become the perpetrators of violence that suppress human rights, to become a human rights activist is a dangerous diaconal ministry.

In our own country, under the present dispensation, the situation is even more dangerous, because the government leadership and the military establishment continues to unfairly identify and associate the defense of human rights with the "enemies of the state," particularly the communists and insurgents, thus grossly but mistakenly identifying defense of human rights with communist or insurgent activities.  Because of such attitude and posture of the present dispensation, human rights advocates themselves have become victims of human rights violations.

So allow me to extend the right hand of fellowship and solidarity to all those who, despite the dangers and risks, have committed their lives for justice and peace.  Rest assured that we all share the burden of confronting the evils of society and we are all together in facing the cost of discipleship.  Our comfort and challenge as human rights advocates are the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:16-20

Matthew 10:16-20: Look I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as snakes and yet innocent as doves.  Be prepared for people to hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues.  You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake.  But when you are handed over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, what you are to say will be given to you when thetlime comes, because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.

Since the time the military establishment had made public through the mass media its accusations that some NGOs and Christian churches, the UCCP included, as communist fronts, red-infiltrated, and therefore enemies of the state, killings have grown rapidly in frequency.  This deplorable trend leaves us with the conclusion that the labeling and killings are linked together.  From the Bible, we quoted that "kindness and honesty meet".  From the philosophy of government and military, it is labeling and killing that meet as part of an integrated plan to suppress and intimidate all forms of human rights advocacy.

As we all know, labeling is an effective propaganda device-to sway peoples' opinions and beliefs.  This is a universal trend, and as a people, we are not immune to this.  But unlike peoples of other cultures, we Filipinos are very susceptible to psychological manipulation. A mere statement branding a group as communist is enough to make the people believe that this group is an enemy of the state without any effort for critical evaluation and verification.  The effective use of negative labeling can make some people, even church members, to become wary, suspicious, and uncooperative.  Sociologists have claimed that our people are indeed vulnerable to labeling and propaganda manipulations. 

After the press releases of the military intelligence linking the UCCP and some NGOs with the enemies of the state, the summary executions have increased in numbers, and it is not a surprise that the victims of these killings come from our local churches and the NGOs marked by the military as linked with the enemies of the state.  It is very apparent that the labeling is a precursor aimed at desensitizing our people from these crimes and violence against human life and even justifying extra-judicial executions.  The lack of public outrage on the series of killings is most likely the effect and influence of the priming and conditioning brought about by the negative labeling that had preceded these killings. 

In response to these massive and alarming frequency of senseless, shameless extra-judicial killings, the UCCP during the 8th Quadrennial General Assembly in Session last May 24-29, 2006, held in Digos City, Davao del Sur came out with a strong-worded resolution raising great concern on the "increasing number of militants who had been liquidated… and the number of church leaders…who have been among the victims..." The General Assembly in plenary session therefore resolved to "strongly decry and denounce the ongoing unmitigated killings…" and called "upon the military leadership, especially the Commander-in-Chief President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to immediately cause the stopping of extra-judicial executions, and to employ all means to bring to justice without delay, all those responsible in the commission of the crimes." 

To put flesh on the said resolution, we at the UCCP deemed it necessary to spearhead this Human Rights and Peace Summit.  We hope that our collective efforts can pave the way to actions that concretely "address effectively this particular upsurge in human rights violations…and for the purpose of defending, under our laws and democratic system, those of our church members, and others in community, who are victims of gross and flagrant violations of human rights" (UCCP Resolution, G.A. May 27, 2006, Digos City, Uavao del Sur).   Moreover, we hope to challenge the faith community here and abroad to write, speak out and take actions against political repression and human rights violations. 

 As we start this gathering, I am compelled to share biblico-theological reflections on our human rights work.  I see this as imperative because as a community of believers, this is our anchor; this is our foundation as we engage in this ministry.  Our grounding of our human rights ministry on our faith as Christians is especially urgent because sadly, the very same beliefs and attitudes of some of our church members and even church leaders, including pastors that were held more than two decades ago when the Philippine society was at the height of its struggle against human right violations during the darkest period of our history as a democratic country—I am referring to the Martial Law years, still continue to persist.   Let me cite a few of them: 

In the reflection on The Beatitudes of Jesus and Human Rights written by Hope Antone, she reports about an ordained pastor making this statement during a church conference: "Enough with human rights.  Let us now talk about divine rights."   

A seminary student with much intensity and conviction said to his professor "Human right are not a biblical teaching.  Nowhere is the word expressed or the idea found in Scripture.  It is not biblical." 

Worst is the claim of a lay member that: the concepts of human rights are an abomination to the Lord."  He continued by saying that our task is to follow the call of Jesus Christ "to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me."

Bishop Patronicio Apura in his book Evangelism and Human Rights reports one misconception of a lay church member who made this statement: "Human rights advocacy is a very secular and political activity that should be left alone to the politician or to the government." 

Because of the above misconceptions, we must persevere in the sharing of our biblico-theological reflections on our human rights work. I firmly believe that church people, we must think, talk, and act theologically.  By theological, I refer to our faith perspectives and faith-motivations in everything we do.  In the UCCP Strategic Plan, we utilize this approach in a three-fold dimension—being, knowing, and doing.  Our being as a church is essentially based on our understanding of our holy vocation, election, ministry and mission.  What we know and what we do stems from the core of our being as a Christian church. 

What then, are the basic theological affirmations of our human rights work?  What should be the compelling reasons why we should do what we are doing as human rights activists?  Let me point these basic theological affirmations: 

1. We affirm that life is a gift from God, and therefore its value is inherent in its being a gift from Yahweh.  This high view of human life proclaimed in Psalm 8 when the psalmist declares that God has created the human being a little lower than God himself.  God gives life to humanity.  If this is so, following the Hebrews' thinking, we must be infinitely grateful to God for life.  Gratitude can be expressed in worship and stewardship of life.  To be grateful then is to worship the giver of life.  To be grateful is to be stewards of life: to uphold, to protect, to defend, to care and to perpetuate the preciousness and worth of human life.  To defend life is very much a duty of every follower of Jesus Christ.  To shrink from this responsibility to defend life is a disservice to our Lord Jesus Christ who is the 'Source of Life.'  Human life as a gift, therefore is our inalienable and inviolable right.

2. We affirm that the human person, being crested in God's image, has basic and inherent rights — the right to health, work, education, expressions, choices, etc.  These rights constitute our humanity. They make us human, and when these rights are denied and violated, our humanity is also violated.  When these rights are trampled upon, the person is dehumanized, and this is considered in the Bible as an evil act.  I am reminded of the classic words of the late Former Senator Jose W. Diokno, in his speech at the 80th Founder's Day Anniversary of Silliman University, which I quote:  

No other cause has greater value for its sake than the cause of human rights.  Because human rights are more than rights.  Human rights are the essence of man.  They are what make man human.  That is why they are called human rights. 

3. We affirm that we are called by God 'to do justice, to have mercy, and to walk humbly with the Lord.'  This is the task and responsibility of faith: to work for social change that would promote greater justice and peace. Those who 'do justice, have mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord' do not deserve to be punished.  But sadly, as this calling is the good that opposes evil, in any time and place, people of faith were and continue to be persecuted.  I like the description of a person of faith by the theologian Leonardo Boff, in his article "The Need for Political Saints" (in With Raging Hope, vol I, SPI Series, 1983, p. 70).  He aptly describes a person of faith as one who possesses "prophetic courage."  A person of faith must have this prophetic courage: to confront the powers of the world by struggling for the cause of the people and their trampled dignity... risking themselves to the point of suffering persecution, imprisonment, tortures, and physical elimination...  No doubt, his article is entitled 'The Need for Political Saints'' We need this kind of saint who possess this prophetic courage to denounce and expose the evil designs of men and women in high places.

4. We affirm the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As Christians, the highest form of affirmation is Christotogical in nature.  We believe that our human rights work is concrete expression of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  When our Lord proclaimed Luke 4: 18-19, He now sets the pattern of our social engagements and responsibilities.  The legacy of the life, work, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the locus theologicus of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.  As clearly stated in the UCCP's Statement of Faith, and I quote:

.., where faith in Jesus Christ is shared, where healing is given to the sick, where food is given to the hungry, where light is given to the blind, where liberty is given to captives and oppressed; where love, justice, and peace prevail...

As concluding words, allow me to remind ourselves of the rationale and raison d'etre of our commitment to human rights advocacy.  It is foremost and primarily a theological commitment to the faith and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I believe that history will give its verdict to our faithfulness and obedience to this theological task and challenge. 

I am reminded of the classic speech of one of the finest human rights activist advocate the Christian church has ever produced: Martin Luther King.  This speech began with the famous line I have a dream-... As a Shepherd of a faith community, I likewise have a dream.  I dream of a new order where every man and woman indeed regains the dignity and likeness that God our creator has gifted them because human rights are given value, and respected and protected by all. 

But until such time, this dream remains a dream we all must have.  Let us unite in heart and mind, that our individual commitment be a strength to each of us, so that this dream will see the dawn of its reality. 

May God look favorably upon us and grant us the grace of courage, endurance, and faithfulness even in the face of great evil of persecution and reprisal.

Solidarity Message

Senator Jamby A.S. Madrigal

Our nation now faces one of its darkest hours. Not only are we being ruled by a president hounded by illegitimacy; we are also ruled by a dictator who completely disregards human rights.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's lip service of respecting the right to life by spearheading the abolition of the death penalty has been overshadowed by the fact that almost everyday, an activist or journalist is extra-judicially killed or summarily executed and in some cases disappeared.  This is a blatant human rights violation on the Filipino people's right to life and freedom of expression and opinion.

As a Senator, I have taken it upon myself to do what I can in the respect, protection and promotion of human rights.  I have vehemently opposed and criticized the one billion-peso appropriation of the GMA government for the total war policy against communist insurgency.  I am completely against Filipinos killing Filipinos.  What I believe in is for the GRP and the NDFP to go back to the negotiating table and talk peace without preconditions as they have earlier agreed upon in The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992.  What should be addressed are the root causes of the conflict.  Killing fellow Filipinos is not the answer in ending a rebellion. Violence can never crush a 37-year old insurgency.

I join all of you as we mourn for our martyrs whose only crime was to disagree with the present government's policies.

I also call on all of you to support me in my continuing call for the resumption of the peace talks between the GRP and NDFP.  Peace can never be achieved by war.  Peace can only be achieved by genuine socio-economic reforms.

As your Senator, I commit to be with you in every step of the way as we seek for justice for all our fallen martyrs.  I also commit that I will never waver in my call for resumption of peace talks despite all the attacks of Malacanang on my person.

There can be no true freedom without peace.  Though our quest for peace, freedom and justice is an uphill climb, be assured that I am with you to stand up, speak out, and fight for our rights.

Kasihan nawa tayo ng Diyos.

Statement of Solidarity

Rev. Larry Emery

Presbyterian Church USA

Greetings.  Let me begin with a brief text from the Letter of Paul to the Romans 12:15:

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

These words have become very meaningful to me in recent months, since my visit here in May to the General Assembly of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines, when I discovered the immense nature of the human rights violations being perpetuated in the Philippines today, and the great impact it has had on the church. It was also at that time that one of the leaders of the UCCP whom I have known and met with just days before his death, was ruthlessly gunned down in the streets of Calamba, and I had the honor of speaking at his funeral.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

The theme of that General Assembly of the United Church of Christ, Philippines,  that I attended in May, was, “Living Together in the Household of God.”

An important theme.  We are all called to live as brothers and sisters united by our common faith in Jesus Christ to be a part of this household. We do this in many ways. On the level of the local church.  On the level of national denominations.  But we must always remember that ultimately and most profoundly, all Christian men and women are part of the same household, universal, apart from church membership or denominational allegiance; regardless of national boundary or ethnic background. All men and woman are united in this one household.  This is reflected in our meeting today.  We are from all walks of life, we are from all denominations, we are even from different lands.  There are delegates here from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the United States, as well of course from all parts of your native Philippines.

It is as this universal household of God we come together today. For in a household brothers and sisters show their love for one another by reaching out to one another in times of trouble, and when the need arises, to encourage, support, and strengthen.

Paul tells us in Romans that in the household of God we are to: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

So we gather with tears, as we offer ourselves to one another in mutual care and support in this time of crisis in the life of the church. Not just Filipino for fellow Filipino, but Christian for fellow Christian.

When I received a notice of this meeting I shared it with Will Browne, Director of the Ecumenical Relations of the Presbyterian Church USA.  He had already been aware of the attacks on church leaders that have taken place here in the Philippines.  It was his desire that a representative from the Presbyterian Church be here with you today to show our support for our brothers and sisters in the church that we have worked together with for so many years.  Not merely as an institutional courtesy, but as a reflection of our denominations very real concern for the onslaught of violence you have suffered. Not just a written letter of concern, but a real person who could “weep with those who weep.” I want you all to know I stand here before you not as American.  Who sits in a position of moral superiority, as if we have some corner on human rights, for we too have civil rights abuse being committed by our own country, and they have been proceeding at an alarming rate under our current President. 

It is with humility that I am here today, as one whose nation has taken away the rights of many people in violation of our own American laws, as well as international law as well.  We in the Presbyterian Church USA stand most certainly not above in this matter, but beside you, for we too are engaged in a struggle for our nation to maintain the values it cherishes in its heart but has not fulfilled in its actions.

Paul says that those in a household, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

The churches in the Unites States, Presbyterian and others, have rejoiced often with and for the church here in the Philippines. We have rejoiced for the vibrancy of your faith and the vitality of your churches.

We have rejoiced in the depth and the breath of your understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have rejoiced in your work to bring to the people of your nation, the love and the peace and the justice of God, not just in word but in deed.

Yes there have been many times that we have rejoiced with you.

But now we weep with those who weep.  Now our tears are mixed with your tears.

We weep with you as you mourn the loss of leaders of the church and leaders of society who have died through ruthless assassination for the crime of advocating for the poor and the oppressed and the marginalized.

We mourn with the victims families who mourn the loss

of a son and a daughter,

a brother and a sister,

a husband and a wife,

a mother and a father.

We weep with your nation as it mourn the loss of hope for just and progressive society as it sees enacted before its eyes the politics of assassination while the government sits idle and perhaps, perhaps, even complicit.

Yes Paul says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

We do not weep with you, however, with tears of helplessness and anxiety, which merely wring the hands and offer condolences alone. We weep tears which motivate and enable us to act.

As we weep with you I pledge that the Presbyterian Church will be advocates on your behalf, informing the people of our churches of the injustices taking place in your land, and calling for justice to prevail.

The churches in the United States are already discovering the growth in the abuse of human rights in the Philippines and are speaking out.  The Presbyterian Church USA has passed a resolution of support at its General Assembly in June calling for an independent United Nations investigation, and the United Church of Christ, USA has recently passed a similar resolution. And there is more yet to be done.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

And we promise as well that we will not only weep with you by sharing your pain with others and working for justice on your behalf. We will also weep with you on our knees, as we pray with you and for you before our father in heaven.

I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe we pray to one who understands our pains and sees our tears.

For we pray to one who himself has cried as well, Jesus wept, we are told by the grave of Lazurus

Jesus wept in the Garden before his own death as well. And I believe Jesus weeps still, as he looks down upon the pain and the suffering of his followers.

And in Him we can find the comfort, the peace, and the strength we need to continue on into the future.

So we in the Presbyterian Church USA stand in solidarity with you, our brothers and sisters in the household of God, weeping with those who weep, and looking forward to that day when justice will prevail and we can lift our voices in song and rejoice with those who rejoice.

Message of Solidarity

Omega Bula

United Church of Christ in Canada

I bring you greetings from the United Church of Canada   The Moderator, The Rt. Rev. Peter Short, the General Secretary, Rev. Jim Sinclair, and the many people who keep you in their thoughts and prayers as you struggle for justice and peace in this country. On their behalf, I want to convey to you our solidarity, and our commitment to walk together with you into a future free of oppression, fear, extra judicial killings, and impunity.  In seeking justice and resisting evil, this is where God is calling us to be. We are accountable to God our Creator and to you our brothers and sisters in Christ, to work for justice and peace and to end the impunity with which human rights are violated in this country. 

We are appalled and shocked each time we hear of yet another life lost in the struggle for justice. In Jeremiah 22:16, we hear the prophet saying – “he saw to it that justice and help [solidarity and accompaniment] were given to the poor and the needy and all went well for them.”  We are called as the church to remind those in power to work for freedom and peace based on justice. The time to act is now. 

I thank you for inviting the United Church of Canada to be part of this historical Human Rights Summit. We have at all levels, expressed our grave concern regarding the political killings of justice seeking human rights activists, which have included church workers, civil society leaders, peasants, women and youth leaders. We have called for urgent actions to end these killings and human rights violations.

As a signatory of UN human rights treaties and as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Philippine Government must be held accountable to its human rights commitments.  In the same vein, we have requested Hon. Louise Arbour, herself a Canadian citizen, and now the United Nations High Commissioner on Human rights, that she intervenes, with great urgency to protect the right to life of citizens struggling for justice in this country. 

With great urgency, the United Church of Canada has called on the Government of Canada to:

1. Request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour and the Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council, H.E. Manuel Rodriguez to mandate the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions to conduct an investigation into the killings in the Philippines.

2. Call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to : 

• conduct prompt, thorough, impartial and effective investigation into the killings and  prosecute and punish the perpetrators; and

• to grant immediate entry to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions and other Special Rapporteurs who have requested to visit and  investigate the human rights situation in the Philippines;

3. Ask the Canadian Embassy in Manila to conduct a joint human rights fact-finding mission in the Philippines together with representatives from Canadian churches and NGOS.

We have appealed to the Government of Canada to act now in order to prevent the tragic killings of more innocent people. 

We have increased our advocacy with Governments of Canada and the Philippines calling in for an independent and impartial investigation into the killings.

We are calling on the Canadian government to end its silence regarding the killings - this was included on May 8^th 2006, a meeting of a United Church of Canada delegation with the Canadian Embassy officials here in Manila. We have challenged Canada's public role in building human rights mechanisms at the United Nations (UN) and elsewhere, yet silent on the "behind the door" approach being used in addressing human rights violations here in the Philippines.

Within our own church and society, we are working to understand the connection between wealth and the global struggle against poverty, domination, oppression, marginalization and exclusion, within the context of empire.  The Philippines is a classic example of how militarization, economic exploitation, cultural domination are being employed as a strategy to advance a political and economic agenda of the government has been highjacked to serve the interests of the rich local elites and their international allies. As a result, the government’s ability to exercise its sovereignty has been impaired to the extent that the respect for life has lost it’s meaning.

We are working to enable Canadians to see how we are connected to your struggle for life. We are naming our complicity when we support or do not speak against the neo-liberal economic globalization policies that are impoverishing two thirds of the world.

The presence of Canadian mining companies here in the Philippines is a good example of how we as Canadians are complicit to the displacement of indigenous people from their land, the destruction of the environment, the militarisation of the rural areas, and the resultant killings of leaders who resist this domination.

We are working to strengthen our people to people linkages - being present with one another, both here in the Philippines and in Canada; through your visits to Canada, and our presence with you, as a visible expression of our partnership.

Your struggle for life giving alternatives gives us hope, hope for the world.  Our own movement in the UCC to name our complicity with empire, and therefore your suffering and loss of life also gives us hope.  We live in hope, as people of the body of Christ.

In our expression of solidarity, allow me to end with a reading of the United Church of Canada New Creed:

We are not alone, we live in God's world.

We believe in God:

Who has created and is creating,

Who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new,

Who works with us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:

To celebrate God's presence,

To live with respect in Creation,

To love and serve others,

To seek justice and resist evil

To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.

We are not alone Thanks be to God.