Cablegate: Ambassador Highlights Human Rights in Major

VZCZCXRO3452
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #4971 3470244
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130244Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4243
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4244

UNCLAS MANILA 004971

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KPAO RP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS IN MAJOR
SPEECH, MEDIA EVENTS

REF: STATE 196666

1. Ambassador publicly highlighted the importance of human
rights during a visit to the northern Philippine city of
Baguio December 8-9. In remarks to the cadets at the
Philippine Military Academy, the Ambassador underscored the
importance of respect for human rights as they advance
through the officer ranks. She pointed out the necessity of
civilian leadership over the armed forces in free societies.

2. Ambassador also emphasized the importance of respect for
human rights in recent media interviews, and reiterated
strong U.S. opposition to extrajudicial, unlawful, and/or
arbitrary killings. Asserting that "murder is murder," she
called for Philippine authorities to solve all such crimes no
matter who commits them, and to bring the perpetrators to
justice.

3. Separately, poloff participated in the Philippine
National Human Rights Consciousness Week sponsored by the
House of Representatives' Committee on Human Rights on
December 5. House Speaker Jose de Venecia underscored the
importance of human rights in a democratic society. Vice
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Lieutenant General Antonio Romero II reiterated that the
Philippine Government was opposed to all extrajudicial
killings allegedly perpetrated by military or police
personnel. He attributed many of these killings to purges by
the terrorist New People's Army (NPA).

4. Embassy's website features the Department spokesman's
statement on International Human Rights Day (reftel), with
numerous links to other human rights-related documents.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
KENNEY

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