AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS IN MAJOR

UNCLAS MANILA 004971 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KPAO RP SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS IN MAJOR SPEECH, MEDIA EVENTS REF: STATE 196666 ¶1. Ambassador publicly highlighted the importance of human rights during a visit to the northern Philippine city of Baguio December 8-9. In remarks to the cadets at the Philippine Military Academy, the Ambassador underscored the importance of respect for human rights as they advance through the officer ranks. She pointed out the necessity of civilian leadership over the armed forces in free societies. ¶2. Ambassador also emphasized the importance of respect for human rights in recent media interviews, and reiterated strong U.S. opposition to extrajudicial, unlawful, and/or arbitrary killings. Asserting that "murder is murder," she called for Philippine authorities to solve all such crimes no matter who commits them, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. ¶3. Separately, poloff participated in the Philippine National Human Rights Consciousness Week sponsored by the House of Representatives' Committee on Human Rights on December 5. House Speaker Jose de Venecia underscored the importance of human rights in a democratic society. Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Lieutenant General Antonio Romero II reiterated that the Philippine Government was opposed to all extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by military or police personnel. He attributed many of these killings to purges by the terrorist New People's Army (NPA). ¶4. Embassy's website features the Department spokesman's statement on International Human Rights Day (reftel),with numerous links to other human rights-related documents. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY