Senate hearing on violence in the Philippines

Описание: (15 Mar 2007)
1. Wide of senate committee room
2. Audience
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Eric John, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs:
"I think to the sense that you have security forces involved in these extra-judicial killings, the chain of command is very important and the chain of command for the security forces leads to the president of the Republic of the Philippines. That doesn't mean they are operating under orders, but as the ultimate authority in the chain of command she has to take the steps to stop any involvement by members of security forces."
4. Wide of audience in committee room
5. Wide of Senator Barbara Boxer talking
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Eric John, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs:
"Well, in the sense that you still have extra-judicial killings, I don't think you could call it enough. (Interruption by Senator Lisa Murkowski) I think she has marched out in the right way over the last several months."
7. Audience
8. Wide of John in committee room
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barbara Boxer, US Democratic Senator - California:
"It is really important that we not have blood on our hands in this country and that in fact we are very cautious and that we, since the government has admitted there is a problem, and you feel good about their response so far. The transparency and results, we really need to have that."
10. Committee guest witnesses sitting at table
11. Medium shot of Boxer talking
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bishop Eliezer Pascua, General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines:
"Ask the Philippines government to take effective measures to bring to justice members of its security forces and their agents, against whom there is credible evidence of human rights violations, including immediately suspending those present and former members who have been credibly alleged to be responsible for gross violations of human rights and investigating, prosecuting, and punishing them."
13. Wide of senate committee room with Boxer talking
STORYLINE:
The Bush administration said on Wednesday that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has not done enough to deal with security forces under her command who were allegedly involved in the murder of activists.
Eric John, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia, praised Arroyo for making efforts in recent months to stop the killings.
But he also told the Senate Foreign Relations Asia subcommittee that Arroyo was ultimately responsible for security forces' actions and for the rise in attacks on people speaking out against the government.
Rights groups estimate that more than 830 activists have been killed since 2001, when Arroyo became president.
"As the ultimate authority in the chain of command, she has to take the steps to solve any involvement by members of the security forces," John said.
The issue is a delicate one for the Bush administration.
While eager to defend human rights in the Philippines and around the world, Washington depends on Manila in the fight against Islamic militants in the region.
Earlier this week, Bayan, the largest left-wing group in the Philippines, urged the United States to stop military aid to the Philippines because of the killings of activists.
At the hearing, Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer asked John whether the United States should link its military aid to improvement in the country's human rights record.
"It's really important that we do not have blood on our hands in this country," she said.
Arroyo's office says the government is determined to uphold the rule of law.

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