Rights group rejects Rosales as CHR chair*
abs-cbnNEWS.com
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/08/2010
MANILA, Philippines - Human rights watchdog Karapatan on Thursday rejected the impending appointment of former Akbayan party-list representative Loretta Ann Rosales as chairwoman of the Comission on Human Rights.
In a statement, Karapatan chairwoman Marie Hilao-Enriquez said Rosales has shown bias against human rights violations victims and advocates. She said Rosales backed a compromise settlement with the Marcoses and establishing a separate group of victims that would choose monetary settlement over justice for the entire class.
“Ms. Rosales will not be objective in handling human rights violations cases and will not have sympathy for victims of human rights violations and their relatives. Her dismal performance as Chairperson of the Committee for Human Rights at the House of Representatives marked with prejudice against victims affiliated with our groups and network will taint, if not diminish, the independence of the Commission," Enriquez said.
She added: “President Aquino must think twice in appointing Ms. Rosales. He must heed the call of the CHR to subject the selection of the CHR chairperson to a transparent selection process in which human rights organizations truly working on the ground will also be allowed to voice out their choice."
Rosales served as representative of the party-list group Akbayan from 1998 until 2007 and is founding chairman of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers. She is known for her militant positions on various issues.
The CHR chief has a seven-year tenure.
*http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/08/10/rights-group-rejects-rosales-chr-chair
In a statement, Karapatan chairwoman Marie Hilao-Enriquez said Rosales has shown bias against human rights violations victims and advocates. She said Rosales backed a compromise settlement with the Marcoses and establishing a separate group of victims that would choose monetary settlement over justice for the entire class.
“Ms. Rosales will not be objective in handling human rights violations cases and will not have sympathy for victims of human rights violations and their relatives. Her dismal performance as Chairperson of the Committee for Human Rights at the House of Representatives marked with prejudice against victims affiliated with our groups and network will taint, if not diminish, the independence of the Commission," Enriquez said.
She added: “President Aquino must think twice in appointing Ms. Rosales. He must heed the call of the CHR to subject the selection of the CHR chairperson to a transparent selection process in which human rights organizations truly working on the ground will also be allowed to voice out their choice."
Rosales served as representative of the party-list group Akbayan from 1998 until 2007 and is founding chairman of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers. She is known for her militant positions on various issues.
The CHR chief has a seven-year tenure.
*http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/08/10/rights-group-rejects-rosales-chr-chair
