 Kalikasan People’s Network for the EnvironmentPress Release 23 January 2024 Green groups urge UN special rapporteur to investigate attacks against environmental activists Environmental and human rights groups urged United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan to investigate the escalating cases of attacks against environmental and human rights defenders during her official visit here in the Philippines.Among these groups, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) expressed hope that Khan, similar to the previous visit of the former UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights Ian Fry, will also scrutinize the policies of the Marcos Jr. administration that are contributing to the systemic silencing of environmental defenders.”While environmental activists tirelessly pave the way for a sustainable future by combatting plunder, they face the grim reality of relentless state attacks,” said Jon Bonifacio, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE. “This is why we implore UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan to shed light on the systematic silencing of environmental defenders fighting against plunder.”Kalikasan PNE cited the use of the Republic Act No. 10592, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, as a weapon to suppress and intimidate those protecting the environment. According to the group, the Marcos Jr. administration, through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), has also beeb leveraging these laws to target environmental activists, leading to a troubling surge in attacks against defenders, particularly indigenous peoples.“Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became the president, a distressing escalation of attacks against environmental defenders, especially indigenous communities, has been observed,” said Bonifacio. “Red-tagging and enforced disappearances have remained commonplace, infringing on the right of environmental advocates to freedom of expression.”Kalikasan PNE also noted the case of anti-reclamation activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, who were abducted and forced to sign statements during a press conference organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict last September.Special Rapporteur Irene Khan will be visiting the Philippines from January 23 to February 2 where she will be going to Metro Manila, Baguio City and Cebu City. #Contact:John Carlo Magallon / Communications Officer, Kalikasan PNEmaggie@kalikasan.net / 0955 299 5309 |