CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE, ACTION ALERT

It is with outrage and anguish that we inform you
of the killing of one of our most devoted and
committed leaders, Rafael Markus Bangit, 47 years
old and a respected tribal leader. He was gunned
down by hooded men on June 8, 2006 in Isabela,
while in transit to Baguio from his home
province, Kalinga. Attached is the fact sheet on this incident,

Others of our leaders continue to be under
surveillance, even those not included in the
military hitlist that we exposed last February.
Those who are under intense surveillance include
Pastor Vergel Aniceto, Ignacio Pangket, Leonida
Tundage, Geannette Galvez, Art Malecdan in
addition to those in the hitlist, namely Joan
Carling, Windel Bolinget, Manny Loste, Julian
Gayumba, Jose Cawiding and Xavier Akien. We are
taking precaution, but nothing is secure; we remain defenseless.

Rafael Markus Bangit is already the 682^nd victim
of extra judicial killing since 2001, and the
99^th for this year, according to the
documentation of KARAPATAN (Philippine Alliance
for the Advancement of People’s Rights). Those
who have been killed include church workers,
indigenous leaders and advocates, government
employees, and local government officials who had
been fighting for justice on behalf of their
people or active in raising legitimate issues
against the government. Likewise, more than 140
activists have been abducted and remain missing.

In addition, 42 journalists have been killed
since 2001 - five of them since January,
according to the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP).

Because of mounting pressure on the Philippine
government - including a strong statement from
Amnesty International and an expression of
concern from the US Senate and the US Embassy -
the President in May this year ordered an
investigation of the extrajudicial killings and called for a stop to
these.

The killers, however, persist with impunity. The
military is making excuses and justifications
without any credibility, and only pays lip
service to the need for investigations and for
solutions to cases of human rights violations.

It is thus critical at this stage to heighten the
political pressure on the Philippine government
from all corners of the world, and demand
accountability and respect for the sanctity of
life and for human rights. The Philippine
government is now part of the United Nations
Human Rights Council (UNCHR), and it would be
important to expose its record of gross human
rights violations and demand that political
killings be stopped and justice be given the victims.

It is in this context that we again request your
support by writing letters to concerned
government officials here and drawing
international attention to the worsening
political killings and human rights violations in
the Philippines. With sustained and broadening
international attention, we hope lives will be
saved, and the human rights situation will improve.

The names and addresses of concerned government
officials are provided below, and a sample letter
is attached. Letters sent directly to Philippine
government officials and to officials of the
United Nations, will have more impact, as will
the issuance of public statements via the mass
media. We shall also be circulating a sign-on
letter to those who cannot make their own letter
but are willing to express their concern. We are
also attaching the update and request for support.

Thanks again for your invaluable solidarity and support.

Respectfully,

Joan Carling
Chairperson

LIST OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FOR LETTERS OF CONCERN:

* Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace Compound
J.P. Laurel St. San Miguel Manila
Fax: +632-735-8005
Email:  op.gov.ph>corres op.gov.ph

* Hon. Avelino J Cruz Jr.
Department of National Defense
Fax: +632-911-6213
Email:  dnd.gov.ph>sndcruz dnd.gov.ph; ajcruz dnd.gov.ph

* Hon. Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights
Fax: +632-928-7240
Email:  chr.gov.ph>drpvq chr.gov.ph

* Hon. Jannette Cansing Serrano
Chairperson
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
telFax: + 632-373-96-33; +632-373-9787
Email:

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Sample letter

Dear ______________,

It is with grave concern for us to learn extra-judicial killings
continue to take place in the Philippines. In particular, we take
note of the killing of Mr. Rafael Markus Bangit, a leader of the
Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), together with Ms. Gloria Casuga on
June 8, 2006 in San Isidro, Echague, Isabela.

We strongly condemn the killing of Markus Bangit and Gloria Casuga,
and we urge the Philippine government to see to it that this case of
gross violation of human rights is brought to justice. The victims’
families are now suffering enormously.

The killing of Bangit and Casuga occurred at a time when letters of
concern had already been sent to Philippine government officials on
the threat to the lives of Cordillera activists. We are outraged to
learn that one of the key leaders of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance
(CPA) and a civilian bystander were nonetheless killed. It is very
alarming that the Philippine government continues to fail to provide
protection to its citizens, as cases of political killings continue to
mount. Likewise, the threat to the lives of Cordillera activists
remains. Based on the report of CPA, the situation has in fact
worsened, with the intensified surveillance of more Cordillera leaders
and activists. Those who are under intense surveillance include
Pastor Vergel Aniceto, Ignacio Pangket, Leonida Tundage, Geannette
Galvez, Art malecdan in addition to those in the hitlist, namely Joan
Carling, Windel Bolinget, Manny Loste, Julian Gayumba, Jose Cawiding
and Xavier Akien. We are taking precaution, but nothing is secure; we
remain defenseless.

As advocates of human rights, we uphold the sanctity of life and the
right to due process, regardless of political beliefs and class. We
maintain that in a system of democracy, every citizen has the right to
freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom to form organizations,
and freedom of assembly. These fundamental freedoms are enshrined in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and legally guaranteed by
the Philippine Constitution. We therefore find no moral, legal, or
political grounds for the killing of activists, as well as
journalists, in the Philippines, regardless of their political leanings.

Thus we urge the Philippine government to exercise its duty to protect
its citizens regardless of their political beliefs and respect the
democratic rights of the people. We call for a stop to threats and
executions, and for justice be given all victims of human rights
violations.

It is the duty of every state to uphold the fundamental freedoms of
its citizens and protect them against any threat to their lives and
properties.

We shall be monitoring further developments in the Philippines and
continue to raise our voices for the protection of human rights in all
parts of the globe.

Respectfully,

NAME
ORGANIZATION
COUNTRY

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CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE
# 2 P. Guevarra Street, West Moder Site
Aurora Hill, 2600 Baguio City, Philippines
Phone: +63-74-442-2115, +63-74-304-4239
Fax: +63-74-443-7159
Email: cpa cpaphils.or
Website: www.cpaphils.org