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.

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Five Attacks in March Alone
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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.

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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



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Comment
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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