Philippines: Violent dispersal of peaceful protesters celebrating World Teachers' Day in Manila

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following reports of the violent dispersal of members of the teachers'union Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT), during a peaceful demonstration aimed at celebrating World Teachers' Day on 5 October 2007. Further concern is expressed about the lack of governmental response regarding accusations of police misconduct.

On 5 October 2007, at approximately 7.00am, a group of ASSERT members, composed of public school teachers from seven provinces and six cities in Luzon and Metro Manila, gathered at Plaza Salamanca on Taft Avenue in Manila. This area is a designated Freedom Park and is approved by the local government for public assemblies.

Fidel Fababier, secretary-general of ASSERT, was approached by three uniformed policemen who asked him to show his demonstration permit. Fidel Fababier explained that although a permit was not required for demonstrations in that area, he had requested one from the Mayor's office and presented the police officers with this letter of request.

Under Section 6(b) of the Public Assembly Act of 1985 (Batas Pambansa BLG. 880), any petition not acted upon in two working days shall be deemed granted, and as such, the letter that Fidel Fababier presented constitutes a de facto permit. The officers did not accept the letter as a valid authorisation but reportedly took a copy of it and left the area.

Soon after the demonstration began, several dozen policemen from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit reportedly arrived on the scene and surrounded the ASSERT members, some of whom proceeded to leave the area. Those teachers who remained were allegedly subjected to physical and verbal abuse by units of the Manila Police District.

According to reports, it is the same units that were subsequently involved in the violent dispersal of a peaceful demonstration of telecommunications workers outside the Department of Labour and Employment in Manila on 10 October 2007. There has reportedly been no official response at local or national level regarding the alleged police misconduct in dispersing the peaceful and legal demonstration.

I urge the authorities in the Philippines to:

1) Conduct an independent investigation into any allegations of excessive force used by members of the Philippine National Police during the peaceful demonstration celebrating World Teachers'Day on 5 October 2007;

2) Take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in the Philippines, carrying out their legitimate work in human rights, are able to operate without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions and harassment.

Yours sincerely