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PRESS RELEASE
15 April 2010

CHR Condemns Basilan Attacks

Earlier today, the Commission on Human Rights en banc issued a Resolution condemning the violence and destruction caused by a group of still-unidentified armed men, on 13 April 2010 in Isabela City , Basilan Province .

According to news reports, the suspects detonated bombs, then fired at fleeing civilians. The first bomb went off around 10:30 a.m. , at the grandstand of a stadium in Barangay Sampurna, outside the Department of Education building. The second explosion happened near the Sta. Isabel Cathedral just minutes later. A third bomb was recovered outside the house of Judge Leo Jay Principe near the city hall, but was immediately discharged by police elements before it could go off. The attacks and resulting firefight between government forces and the armed killed 15 people and injured 13 others.

CHR Chairperson Leila de Lima said: “It is terrible that the perpetrators of these acts could show so blatant disregard for the human rights of the residents of Isabela City . I find it a particularly lamentable coincidence these assaults took place on the same day that the Commission conducted its Forum with ‘Peace and Human Rights Covenant’ Advocates,”

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights unequivocally condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as acts aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States, destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, undermining pluralistic civil society and the rule of law, and having adverse consequences on the economic and social development.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) also specifies that all persons have responsibilities to respect, protect and promote each other’s human rights. Hence, this obligation falls upon individuals, states and non-state actors alike.

Furthermore, the CHR has consistently declared that command responsibility rests with leaders of all parties involved in armed conflicts. Human rights violations and attacks on non-combatants by both the state and non-state actors are equally condemnable.

“Human rights violations are reprehensible regardless of who may be responsible for them,” added Chair de Lima. “These armed men and their cohorts should be immediately identified and brought to justice.”