CPP rebuts Commission on Human Rights
By CPP Information Bureau
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has been misinformed in its claim that the permit-to-campaign policy of the revolutionary movement violates human rights. The CPP challenged the CHR to engage in principled discussion and not allow itself to simply echo the propaganda spins and diatribes of the military, warlord-politicos and other anti-communist forces.
The CPP said that it is actually the warlord politicos and their armed instruments, together with their allied fascist military, police and paramilitary forces who have been perpetrating violence against the people and gross violations of human rights.
"It is unfortunate that the CHR has failed to respond to an earlier statement by the CPP on a principled plane and has resorted to wild and sweeping statements. Had the CHR seriously considered the CPP's statement, it would have understood that the PTC is principally about respecting the authority of the People's Democratic Government and protecting the rights of the people."
"By securing their permits to campaign, candidates and their campaign personnel are expected to act in accordance with prevailing policies that protect the democratic and human rights of the people," the CPP explained. "This policy has in fact succeeded in protecting the rights of the masses in revolutionary areas against violence, coercion and abuse by warlords and armed politicos."
The CPP elaborated that "The policy requires candidates to coordinate their activities with local organs of the People's Democratic Government. Candidates are also prohibited from being escorted by armed contingents in revolutionary areas. These policies have been instrumental in reducing the political violence and abuse of human rights by politico-warlords in the past months." added the CPP.
The CPP added that the New People's Army (NPA) has actually thwarted potential abuse and violent incidents by prohibiting the entry of warlords and armed politicians into revolutionary areas. In enforcing this policy, the NPA has confiscated firearms from armed goons and military-police escorts of politico-warlords in Rizal, Quezon, Iloilo, Capiz, Davao Oriental, Davao City, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and other provinces.
Last Wednesday, the NPA seized at least ten high-powered rifles and other firearms from the military escorts and armed goons of congressional candidate Philip Pichay in Tago, Surigao del Sur, thus stopping him from employing his armed escorts to intimidate and coerce the people of Surigao del Sur to vote for him.
"On the other hand, units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have escalated their operations and have engaged in coercion and intimidation against the people and progressive parties who have been actively campaigning against military abuses and violations of human rights."
