PUBLIC AI
Index: ASA 35/010/2008
19
November 2008
Further
Information on UA 274/08 (ASA 35/007/2008, 25 September 2008) and follow-up
(ASA 35/009/2008, 6 November 2008) - Possible enforced disappearance
Five legislators have asked the Philippine House of
Representatives to conduct an investigation into the case of missing Indigenous rights activist James
Balao, saying the government and military have failed to uphold international
human rights standards. In earlier media interviews, one of the five members of Congress said that the previous efforts to seek
the help of the military in finding the activist had produced no results,
prompting them to take action.
In a resolution filed recently, the
legislators said James Balao's disappearance could be connected to his work,
defending human rights among the Indigenous people of northern
James Balao, one of the founders of
the Indigenous
people's organization, the Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA), disappeared on 17
September in La Trinidad town, northern
The Balao family and the CPA filed a
writ of amparo application before the Benguet Regional Trial Court earlier this
month.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Filipino, English or your own language:
- calling on the Speaker of
the House of Representatives to hold a public inquiry into James Balao’s
disappearance, in accordance with the resolution submitted by the five
legislators.
- calling on the Regional
Trial Court to issue a writ of amparo and order the authorities to immediately
produce James Balao.
- calling on the authorities
to publicly reveal the whereabouts of James Balao, and to either charge him
with a recognizably criminal offence or release him immediately;
- calling on the authorities
to order a prompt and thorough investigation, publish the results and bring
those responsible for his abduction to
justice;
- calling on the authorities to
ensure that all Indigenous rights activists are able to carry out their
legitimate work without restrictions or fear of reprisals;
- calling on the authorities
to ensure that all cases of extrajudicial execution and enforced disappearance
are investigated promptly, impartially and effectively;
- calling on them to create an
independent body to monitor these investigations.
Important
note: If you are sending an appeal
through email and the email bounces, please, send to jamesbalao.appeal@gmail.com, with
the name of the addressee (e.g. Hon. Prospero Nograles) in the subject
line. Your emails will go to AI
APPEALS
TO:
Speaker of the House
Hon. Prospero Nograles
RVM-410, House of
Representatives Complex
Constitution Hills, 1126
Email: (use link: http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?congress=14&id=nograles#,
and then click on “send email” button in the page)
Salutation: Dear Congressman
Justice Secretary
Sec.
Raul M. Gonzalez
Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila, Philippines
Fax: +632- 521-1614
Email:
info@doj.gov.ph
Salutation: Dear Secretary
Chief of Police
Chief Director General Jesus
Verzosa.
Philippine National Police
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los
Fax: +632
7255115
Email: pio@pnp.gov.ph
Salutation: Dear Director General
COPIES
TO:
Hon. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: +632
929 0102
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph, atty_delima@yahoo.com.ph
and
to diplomatic representatives of the
(Please
see: http://www.dfa.gov.ph/posts/pemb.htm)
PLEASE
SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if
sending appeals after 31 December 2008.