Pinoy Weekly - Karapatan calls for CHR chair resignation

Pinoy Weekly

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Posted: 29 Jul 2013 09:35 AM PDT CHR Chair Etta Rosales (PW File Photo) Human rights group Karapatan today called for the resignation of Etta Rosales as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), saying that Rosales has been remiss in her duty as chair of the commission by virtually acting as a spokesperson of police and military institutions. Karapatan cited the latest remarks of Rosales in media reports blaming protesters in the violent dispersal of the rally during President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). “Instead of conducting CHR’s own investigations on the many incidents of police brutality in rallies and barricades during demolitions, Ms. Rosales, in many occasions, only resorted to victim-blaming, ” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of Karapatan. The group said that instead of fulfilling her mandate, in many instances Rosales allegedly justified violations committed by state security forces against activists and protesters. Enriquez took exception of Rosales’ statement condemning the participation of Dutch activist Thomas von Beersum who was caught in photos shouting to a policeman. Despite of the denial of a permit from the Quezon City government and thousands of security forces blocking Commonwealth Avenue, protesters pushed through with their march. “We negotiated with the PNP (Philippine National Police). They treacherously started to push and beat our colleagues. The brutal police action prompted many of us, including foreign activists like Beersum, to express indignation. Rosales was quick to blame us, acting as the PNP spokesperson, instead of doing her job of investigating what actually transpired,” Enriquez said. Aside from the SONA dispersal, Enriquez also chided Rosales for condemning urban poor residents of North Triangle, Quezon City who supposedly threw feces at police and demolition teams. Enriquez accused Rosales of ignoring the forcible eviction and the consequent economic displacement of poor residents in the area. “When poor people are left with no other choice but to defend their survival, it is just to exercise their legitimate right to protest. Ironically, Rosales chose to dispense with the role of the Aquino government, the local government, the Ayalas and the PNP in driving away the urban poor in North Triangle from their homes and livelihood to make way for big business interests,” added Enriquez. Karapatan also scored the CHR for the issuance of clearances for the promotion of human rights violators and Arroyo generals such as Brig. Gen. Eduardo Año and Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad. Karapatan opposed the appointments of Año, who is among the accused in the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, and Baladad who is among those responsible for the illegal arrest, torture and detention of the 43 health workers known as “Morong 43″ in 2010. “We have strong reason to believe that the CHR and Ms. Rosales granted the said generals with clearances without considering the standing cases in court against them. The CHR denied our request for access to the clearance documents which they issued–a clear violation of the right of the people to information and access to public documents,” Enriquez asserted. Karapatan accused the CHR and Rosales as implementers of Oplan Bayanihan which has allegedly resulted to countless human rights violations. ###