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“Butcher General strikes again!
Anakpawis leader killed, one missing

By Cordillera Human Rights Alliance

October 4, 2005

Gen. Jovito Palparan continues its bloody trail with impunity from Mindoro to Central Luzon as bullets target innocent civilians and progressive leaders in Nueva Ecija.

At the latest, Armando Javier Jr., 34 years old, a local leader of AnakPawis Partylist was shot to death by still unidentified gunmen believed to be elements of the 7th IInfantry Division. Javier was killed in his home in Sta. Clara, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija at around 9:45 P.M. on October 2. His body was peppered with 17 gunshot wounds.

Earlier on the same day, in nearby Brgy. Lennec in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, Celia Esteban, another leader of AnakPawis Partylist was forcibly abducted in her home by an armed group, which includes a woman. Esteban was forced at gunpoint into a parked light blue van with plate number WKI 059. The van fled right after.

These incidents happened two days after Gen. Jovito Palparan announced in a local press conference that he would use the coercive power of the state to terrorize the “bad elements” of society. Indeed, this vicious statement by Gen. Palparan is now on track. It is seriously alarming.

His assignment to various posts is characterized by high incidence of assassinations, attempted assassinations and abductions of known leaders of party lists and people’s organizations, human rights advocates included and other human rights violations.

Palparan, infamously referred to as the butcher of Mindoro and Eastern Visayas, is now the butcher of Central Luzon. He now heads 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija effective 1 September 2005.

CHRA strongly believes that these series of human rights violations that is terrorizing the peasant communities in Nueva Ecija and Central Luzon would continue as long as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Commander-in Chief of the AFP tolerates his ferociousness. Palparan must be prosecuted and meted out the just penalty for his numerous atrocities.

CHRA joins the entire peace loving, human rights advocates, and civil libertarians in condemning these ruthless attacks to those who are critical to the policies, programs, and projects of the government.

CHRA is steadfast in its call to stop all political assassinations and persecutions. Stop State terrorism.

Bullets cannot silence the voice of the people. It is just the beginning. #

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