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PH envoy to European states: Stop funding CPP-NPA-linked groups

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

September 18, 2019, 7:10 pm

<p>Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations Ambassador Evan Garcia</p>

Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations Ambassador Evan Garcia

MANILA -- The Philippines has reiterated its call on Europe, the European Union, and the international community to cease giving financial support to groups linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples' Army (CPP-NPA).

The renewed call was made by Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations Ambassador Evan Garcia at the general debate on human rights situations during the 42nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday.

"We call on the European Union, European states, and the international community to stop enabling these groups by strengthening due diligence mechanisms for their relevant agencies," he said.

Garcia said the spread of the communist armed movement now needs attention from the UNHRC.

Concerned on the "unsubstantiated information or reports which are detached from realities on the ground" the UN body may get, Garcia cited official reports that the group has effectively used funding from development partners.

"In our side events during this Session, the Philippines drew attention to how the CPP-NPA, a terrorist group, and its front organizations, have abused the good faith of the UN system and development partners to run fictitious social programs while financing their criminal activities and peddling false claims on the human rights situation in the Philippines, even as it has perpetuated systemic and unspeakable atrocities to its followers and indigenous communities across the country for decades," he said.

Garcia cited government information, as well as a personal account of the indigenous peoples affected by the communist movement themselves.

He said the Philippines "pays careful attention" to the agenda item tackling human rights situations in UN member states and highlighted its importance to the work of the Council.

"We call on all states to uphold the integrity of the Council by observing due diligence and ensuring that our discourse is based on facts and does not disintegrate to a level that credits purveyors of fake news," he said.

On Monday, some members of the indigenous peoples’ community, together with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), faced the Council in Geneva, Switzerland to report the atrocities committed by the CPP-NPA in the country.

Among them was Datu Panuliman James Binayao from the Manobo-Talaandig Tribe of Maramag, Bukidnon, who personally appealed for help.

"We need your help because, for the past 50 years, the CPP-NPA has come to our ancestral domains to steal the peace and development that we have. They destroy our families, they destroy our cultures, and they destroy the future of our next generation," Binayao said.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)

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