Date of publication: March 1, 2009
Author: Brian Campbell, ILRF
Attached Files
ILRF's Director of Policy submitted testimony to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Sub-Committee on State, Foreign Operations regarding the alarming reports of human rights abuses by military officials from 2001 - 2007 in the Philippines. The US Congress tried to condition a small part of the US military aid to the Philippines, accounting for just $2 million out of a total of $30 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF), on the Philippine government bringing an end to the military’s abuses by implementing the UN Special Rapporteur’s recommendations; prosecuting those in the military and others responsible for human rights violations; and ending the intimidation and harassment of legal civil society organizations by the military. The testimony serves to inform Congress about the importance of ensuring U.S. military aid to the Armed Forces of the Philippinesis accountable to government respect for human rights.