Isolda Agazzi/InfoSud - "At least during the time of the dictator (Ferdinand) Marcos, things were clear: we lived under martial law. My husband, José Burgos - the only Philippino journalist to have been awarded a prize for freedom of the press - was taken into custody on an arrest warrant. It is not my intention to look back at this dark period with any regrets, but today it is even more dangerous. We live in a time of impunity. My son, Jonas Burgos, was abducted 148 days ago by people in civilian dress. Since then I do not even know whether he is dead or alive but I am sure that he has been tortured. We do know one thing: the army took him because the number plates on the car he was bundled into leave us in no doubt about that”.

This is the testimony of Edita Burgos, ’mother courage’ and the mother of Jonas Burgos who was abducted on April 28 while eating in a restaurant in Quezon City. His crime? According to his mother it was defending the rights of farm workers. "Agricultural reform promised by the government has not happened. The land is still in the hands of a few big landowners and the farmers don’t get enough to eat. My son had chosen to live in the countryside, despite having a doctorate in agricultural sciences, in order to better understand the conditions of the workers. He was active in a rural movement and taught organic farming techniques. To the government, he was a communist and someone to put down.”

All the world in the same boat

"Since the election of Gloria Arroya as President in 2001, anybody suspected of terrorism is arrested, killed or abducted: muslim suspects, communist suspects and human rights defenders. Twenty activists in my NGO have been killed in six years” elaborates Marie Hilao-Enriquez, secretary general of the Karapatan Association, who has come to the Human Rights Council to criticise the climate of impunity that reigns in the country. “But the international community does not seem to take notice and the Philippines is not even on the Council’s agenda. However Philip Alston, the Special Rapporteur on extra judicial killings, who came on a mission (to the Philippines) in February has presented a damming report to the Council.”

NGOs are blaming the army, acting on the orders from the government. Even in the Philippines the disappeared are rarely talked about, with the notable exception of Jonas. “ My son has become the face of the disappeared. Perhaps due to the notoriety of his father, the media talk about it every day. This gives my fight some sort of sense. At least I tell myself that this is not happening for nothing,” says Edita philosophically. “I have forgiven the hostage takers and I pray for them”, adds this fervent catholic, “but I continue to demand justice. I have lodged a petition to the Supreme Court that the body of my sonbe returned to me, dead or alive, and that those responsible be arrested and brought to justice.” Does she still have faith in the institutions of justice? “Yes, the Supreme Court has shown signs of independence. I am still waiting for its judgement, even if up to now the police and the judicial authorities have refused to show me the reports of their investigation.”

International pressure

The struggle of Philippino human rights activists does not stop in Geneva. Marie Hilao went to Washington to ask senators to ensure that aid sent by the US was not used in human rights violations. In short, that it does not end up in the pockets of the army. “In 1991 just after the fall of Marcos, we succeeded in getting the American military bases shut down. But today, in the name of the war on terrorism, the GI’s have come back. They are everywhere”, she rails.

The two women are convinced : Gloria Arroyo needs the army to stay in power, as the people suspect her of having rigged the elections in 2004. And this undermines her credibility, as much as the corruptions allegations against her. “ She sang the praises of General Sovito Palparan, the head of the army, in parliament!”, they exclaim. “ However everyone in the Philippines calls him a butcher as he orders and personally attends torture sessions. He himself makes no secret about it!”

For Edita, her only hope is for international pressure : «The government is very careful to give the impression that the Philippines is a democratic country that respects human rights, as it wants to preserve its economic interests. The case of my son has been taken up by the media in several countries, such as in the Netherlands and in Japan and the army is very embarrassed by the outcry. She didn’t expect it at all . “I have also a lot of hope in the Human Rights Council: it is a first seed.

Translated from French by Claire Doole