The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have always accused the independent-minded Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as pro-Left and pro-Communist.
This time, however, as to if to dispel the paranoia of the AFP and the PNP, the CHR has attacked the communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) in re: its coercive “permits to campaign” fund-raising extortion activities nationwide. Hundreds of candidates, who are now campaigning for the general elections on May 20, 2010, are the victims of this revolutionary taxation scheme of the communist rebels.
I am indeed glad that the CHR has slammed the New People’s Army’s “permit to campaign” scheme, calling it an “extortion” by “non-state actors” who have regard for free, fair and genuine elections.
CHR chairperson Leila de Lima said the communist rebels “permit to campaign” policy violates the people’s right to make an informed choice of their leaders.
She added that this practice arrogates to the requiring group the powers rightfully belonging to the people and lawfully designated authorities. It disregards the rule of law, and scoffs at the principles of free, fair and genuine elections.”
According to De Lima, “the ‘permit to campaign scheme’ which, in plain language, is a form of extortion being perpetrated by the New People’s Army and other non-state actors, is repugnant in all possible ways to valued human rights principles and standards, not only of candidates and political parties, but of the individual voters as well.”
Also violated, according to de Lima, are the rights to equality, free expression, freedom of movement, and freedom against discrimination.
De Lima has reminded the communist guerillas of their obligations under the international humanitarian law.
See:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100225-255296/CHR-chief-slams-communist-rebels-permit-to-campaign
