Letter of His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Zen, S.D.B. - Stop extra-judicial killings

CARDINAL JOSEPH ZEN, S.D.B.
BISHOP OF HONG KONG

26 September 2006.

Consul General Alejandrino A. Vicente
Consulate General of the Philippines, HKSAR
14/F, United Centre,
95 Queensway,
Admiralty,
Hong Kong.

Re: Stop extra-judicial killings in the Philippines

Dear Consul-General Vicente,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the spree of extra-judicial killings repeatedly occurring in your country that have caused the deaths of at least 700 political activists, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and members of the Clergy since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took office in 2001, according to human rights groups' reports and news reports.

These incidents not only shock the international community, the Catholic Church, which is a predominant community in your country, also feels deeply dismayed over such killings suspected as sympathizers of insurgents allegedly by some ultra-rightist elements in the military.

The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Fernando Filoni and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have denounced such killings as not respecting or implementing the rights of the human race.

The repeated occurrence of the incidence highlights the contradictory commitment of your government's intention to abolish death penalty and challenges your country's rule of law.

As a humanitarian concern and solidarity for Church people and peace activists in your country, I ask you to communicate to President Arroyo to seriously look into the matter and strongly urge your government to take appropriate measures to immediately stop such killings.

Yours sincerely,

+ Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun
Bishop of Hong Kong