New human rights group vows focus on red-tagging

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Leftist activists and organizations launched on Saturday another network of individuals and organizations to “close ranks” in defending human rights in the face of what they described as “growing state terror.”

The activists gathered at the Commission on Human Rights’ (CHR) freedom grounds in Quezon City to the Citizens Rights Watch Network (CRWN), which they said would support Filipino communities and sectors “whose democratic, civil and political rights are under attack.”

The CRWN, in a statement, said it would monitor the implementation of and work to repeal laws and policies that they said “undermine our peoples’ civil liberties and human rights” provided by the Constitution.

They specified the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which was created by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70.

The network also said it would work with the CHR, Integrated Bar of the Philippines and even “human rights mechanisms” under the country’s local governments.

But they also intend to initiate community-based human rights training and seminars, stakeholder meetings and dialogues, legal consultations and actions, as well as community mobilizations and humanitarian missions.

The group’s named convenors were San Carlos, Negros Occidental Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, gender rights activist Rey Valmores of Bahaghari, former Rep. Teddy Casiño and lawyer Minnie Lopez of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers and filmmaker Kip Oebanda.

The network also included labor and farmers’ groups, including the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

In their “manifesto of unity,” the CRWN pointed out that Red-tagging was intended to “delegitimize valid criticism and dissent” toward the government. They also said that this practice only “justif[ies] harassment.”

“This intensified political repression in effect dissuades ordinary Filipinos from fighting for their legitimate demands such as just wages and decent jobs, ‘ayuda’ (aid) and livelihood support, lower prices, land to till, better housing and other social services, as well as less corruption and more transparency and accountability in government,” the CRWN said.

The network’s statement also expressed fear that President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte “might become more vicious in curtailing our people’s right to dissent, demand government action and seek redress for their grievances.”

The KMP welcomed the creation of the network that they hope can help Filipinos maintain their democratic spaces amid “intensified political repression.”

READ: Red-tagging: It’s like ‘living with a target on your head’