Christians in the Philipines and across the world are mouring the death of The Rev. Edison Lapuz, conference minister of the Northeastern Leyte Conference of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Rev. Lapuz, a crusader for human rights, was assassinated on May 12th. There has been speculation the military was involved in carrying out the assassination. Just before Rev. Lapuz was killed the military issued a statement calling Lapuz’s human rights group, Katungod-Sinirangan Bisayas, a communist front organization. The United Church of Christ in the US and the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) have jointly released a statement condemning the killing.
As leaders of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we join in expressing outrage and sorrow over the assassination of the Rev. Edison Lapuz, conference minister of the Northeastern Leyte Conference of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, along with Mr. Alfredo Malinao. These deaths continue a pattern of harassment and intimidation of progressive church and social leaders whose prophetic voices have been committed to justice for the poor and marginalized.
Click here for the full statement.
The Asian Human Rights Commission reports the situation in the Philippines is critical:
May 25, 2005 - More than 130 Philippine senators and representatives – along with hundreds of church leaders, local officials, educators and members of civil organizations – claim “a wave of assassinations, abductions and political attacks” have targeted parties that won congressional seats in 2004. These include Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and the Gabriela Women’s Party.
Their “Statement of Concern on the Killings of Political Activists” said violence since 2001 has claimed the lives of 51 members of Bayan Muna, 17 members of Anakpawis and two members of Gabriela. “Just as alarming,” they added, “is the number of other civilians, mostly peasant folk, slain on mere suspicion of leftist links.”
The statement said military and police officials have been implicated, but “(n)ot one has been brought to justice; the most notorious have even been promoted.” The complete statement can be found here, on the website of the online news magazine Bulatlat.
In a separate statement, Bayan Muna officials said the attacks were directed against political parties and civil organizations “critical of the United States and Philippine governments’ policies favoring war, globalization and the curtailment of the people’s civil, economic and political rights.” By the government’s silence and inaction, Bayuna Muna said, “President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sending signals that it tolerates, if not encourages,” those actions.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said all of the victims “were persons critical of the government. In response, government and army officials have labelled the victims communist sympathizers…” “
(B)y implication, killing an alleged communist is not a crime in the Philippines,” the AHRC said. “A further conclusion is that killing members of legitimate opposition parties or human rights activists is also permitted.”
The Hong Kong-based human rights commission said the Marcos regime similarly labeled its political opponents “as communist sympathisers as a means to open the way for unrestrained violence against them. The legacy of that era continues to poison Philippine society…”
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines says that the assassination fits a pattern:
The Rev. Edison Lapuz, Conference Minister of the North Eastern Leyte Conference (NELCON) and a member of the National Council of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) is the latest victim of a dastardly and systematic elimination of people who are perceived as "enemies of the State." Ever since the coming out of a military-produced black propaganda material entitled "Know the Enemy," there have been unsolved, open killings and brutal murders undertaken against personalities affiliated or connected to those groups identified as "enemies." Such is the situation that even the Commission on Human Rights of the Republic of the Philippines is alarmed at the reported more than 50 victims of ambushes and systematic killings so far this year alone. In the last two months, 6 UCCP members in Leyte and Samar have been ambushed and/or assassinated.
The Rev. Edison Lapuz is the latest victim of irresponsible name-calling and labelling in an organized attempt to "cleanse and purge" the Church of so-called "leftists" or those of "progressive" persuasion.
As a pastor assigned to the rural communities, the Rev. Lapuz had been exposed to the struggle of peasants and fisher-folks to obtain land in Northern Leyte. His pastoral vocation brought him close to the issues and efforts of the marginalized. He consistently sought for the Church to be a living witness to the Gospel as it confronts the harsh reality of people's suffering and actively worked with the ecumenical community. Believing in the possibility of enhancing the democratic space, Edison Lapuz became Eastern Visayas Coordinator for Bayan Muna, a post he held before he became Conference Minister of NELCON. Like many who gave the parliamentary and electoral struggle a chance, the Rev. Lapuz found out too late that democracy is only good for some - and people who propose alternatives become targets of those who are resisting having the political and economic monopoly broken.
What can we do? AHRC recommends writing to “Ambassador Albert F. Del Rosario at the Philippine Embassy, 1600 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 (fax 202-467-9417 or e-mail). Ask that the government conduct a full investigation into the killing of members of political parties and other legal organizations. Urge the government to provide protection to witnesses, and to demand that the armed forces stop labeling political opponents as ‘communist sympathizers,’ which endangers their human rights and runs counter to democratic processes.”
