ON DIFFERENT and on multiple grounds, the death of Ka Boy Ocmen is
undeserved and unjustified.
First and foremost, 'Nong Boy is a farmer and a local leader. He
was barangay chairman of Brgy. Cuyago and a Section Chairman for Akbayan
in the area. Being involved in reform work for Akbayan, he was for
sure a non-combatant uninvolved in the conflict between the government
and the NPA.
Secondly, Ka Boy was taken against his will, violating his very right
as a person to be free from fear, prosecution, and harassment. Even
after pleading with the NPAs, he was singled out and held in captivity
against his will.
Third and worst, is the report that 'Nong Boy's body bore the unmistakable
marks of torture - fingernails pulled out, burn marks and punch marks
all over his body.
'Nong Boy, in between tending to his rice fields and looking after
his family is actively involved in progressive reform work for Akbayan
and his community. Those responsible for the murder of 'Nong Boy must
be made answerable for their actions.
As Chairperson of the House Committee on Civil, Political and Human
Rights it saddens and disgusts me at the same time that an innocent
life would be so mercilessly cut down for reasons we are yet to understand.
The Geneva Conventions expressly prohibits doing harm to non-combatants,
and for this the NPA has a lot of explaining to do.
In killing one of our leaders, the NPA has committed gross violations
of the CPP-NPA-NDF's Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human
Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIL) which it inked
with the government. Article 4 Sections 4 and 5 expressly states that
"Civilians shall be treated as such and shall be distinguished from
combatants and shall not be the subject of attacks," and that "Civilians
shall have the right to demand appropriate disciplinary actions against
abuses," by either the government or the CPP-NPA.
Article 6 of the CARHRIL states that persons liable for violations
of the principles of international humanitarian law shall be subject
to investigation, prosecution and trial."
From his abduction to his possible torture to his killing, 'Nong
Boy was the victim of an unprovoked, unreasonable cold-blooded murder.
There is now the challenge for the NPA to prove that it respects the
terms and obligations to which it is subjected to under the rule of
international humanitarian law and the principles of human rights.
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