A Resolution Condemning the Culture of Impunity and the Need to Campaign for Human Rights Protection in the Philippines

This resolution was unanimously approved by the conference attended by 300 community broadcasters from all over the Asia-Pacific, Africa, North America and Latin America and the Caribbeans. (Click for related article)

AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters) is an international non-governmental organization serving the community radio movement, with almost 3 000 members and associates in 110 countries. Its goal is to support and contribute to the development of community and participatory radio along the principals of solidarity and international cooperation.

Proposed by Raymund B. Villanueva of Kodao Productions, Philippines

WHEREAS, there have been more than 1,100 victims of extrajudicial killings, 300 victims of enforced disappearances, tens of thousands of victims of internal displacement, among other human rights violations in the Philippines since 2001 under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime;

WHEREAS, the culture of impunity in the Philippines has been internationally recognized and condemned;

WHEREAS, it is widely believed that the Philippine government is accountable for the culture of impunity;

WHEREAS, more than a hundred Filipino journalists, many of them broadcasters, have been killed, harassed, and intimidated since 2001;

WHEREAS, the Philippines is now acknowledged as “the most dangerous country for journalists”, especially after the massacre of 58 persons, including 32 journalists, last November 23, 2009; and

WHEREAS, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters is duty-bound to defend and promote human rights and work for the protection of journalists;

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, as it hereby resolved, that:

AMARC-AP hereby condemns in the strongest terms possible the culture of impunity in the Philippines, particularly the killing of broadcasters and journalists;

AMARC-AP shall petition AMARC International as well as all its other regional groupings to formulate and implement an active campaign to defend human rights in the Philippines in close coordination with members in the Philippines as soon as possible;

AMARC-AP shall vigorously support initiatives to establish a new national network of community broadcasters to help the Filipino people in their struggle against the culture of impunity; and

AMARC-AP shall ask AMARC International, its Action Committee on Human Rights, as well as all its other regional groupings to actively support these initiatives.

Adopted during the Second Regional Conference of AMARC-AP in Bangalore, India this 23rd day of February, 2010.