LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS REMAIN A TARGET IN THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001452 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DRL/CRA, DRL/IL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER PINS PREL PINR RP SUBJECT: LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS REMAIN A TARGET IN THE PHILIPPINES REF: A. 05 MANILA 5346 ¶B. 05 MANILA 5988 ¶1. Summary: Since Mission's last message dated November 15, 2005, attacks on left-wing activists have continued unabated, with seventeen killed and one wounded. Some observers allege the Arroyo Administration, Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are behind the killings, a charge all categorically deny. The targeted individuals all belonged to left-wing organizations that are often associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army. As Communist attacks on Philippine military and police installations continue, so does the level of violence against these leftist groups. Mission continues to monitor events and urge the Arroyo Administration to investigate each case thoroughly, with the goal of bringing the perpetrators to justice. -------------- Five Attacks in March Alone -------------- ¶2. Since Mission's last message dated November 15, 2005, attacks on left-wing activists have continued unabated. The month of March alone has seen five attacks, specifically: -- On March 7, peasant leader Nestor Aranqui was shot and killed in a public market by unidentified gunmen. Aranqui was a council member of HUMABOL (Farmer's Association of Bohol). HUMABOL is linked to the militant farmer's group "Peasant Movement of the Philippines." -- On March 9, an unidentified gunman riding a motorcycle shot and killed Crisanto "Ka Santi" Teodoro, chairman of the left-wing political party Bagong Alysansang Makabayan in Malolos, Bulacan. -- On March 17, unidentified gunmen killed Tirso Cruz, a member of the board of directors of the United Luisita Worker's Union (ULWU) and coordinator of the Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) party-list organization in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac. Cruz had led the ULWU in strikes against the management of the Hacienda Luisita sugar plantation and more recently in protests against the presence of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) troops in the plantation. Cruz is the second leader of the sugar worker's union to be killed since October 2005 (Ref B). -- On March 19, an unidentified gunman shot and killed Cris Hugo, a 20-year old journalism student and coordinator for the League of Filipino Students (LFS) in the Bicol region. He is the second youth activist killed this year, following the death of Audie Lucero of Youth for Nationalism Democracy (YND),who was killed February 13 in Abucay, Bulacan. -- On March 20, Amante Abelon, coordinator of Anakpawis in Zambales, was shot multiple times in an ambush that took the lives of both his wife and 5 year-old son. Abelon is still hospitalized and, according to press reports, has identified at least one of his attackers as an AFP intelligence agent. -------------- The Blame Game -------------- ¶3. Leftist organizations continue to blame elements of the GRP, especially the police and the AFP, for carrying out the attacks. Increasingly, critics are pointing to Major General Jovito Palparan Jr., the commander of the 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon, who has been accused of human rights abuses in the past (though such allegations have never been proven). Palparan, who was recently awarded the Philippine Distinguished Service Star for meritorious actions as a division commander in Luzon and Samar, has dismissed allegations linking him to any extra-judicial killings, stating, "Those are all just propaganda to destroy the image of the government." The AFP has challenged leftist groups to go to court to prove their allegations. ¶4. The GRP has denounced the attacks and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. Malacanang spokesman Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Jr. stated on March 22 that, "There is a standing order for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to act on these killings of militant leaders, and to identify and arrest the culprits. We cannot allow this murder trend to undermine peace and order." MANILA 00001452 002 OF 002 -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. Mission continues to urge the GRP to investigate each killing thoroughly. However, expectations that this new wave of attacks will be halted -- or those responsible brought to justice -- are low. NPA attacks on both the AFP and PNP have increased in recent months, with NPA spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal telling the press he now hopes to see one attack per day. The escalating level of violence only highlights the severe problems the Arroyo Administration faces in dealing with leftist groups and the Communist insurgency. Kenney