In the Philippines: Extrajudicial Killings and Jihadists in Mindanao

From AsiaNews

UN condemns spate of extrajudicial killings

Since the election of Rodrigo Duterte, 704 suspected drug dealers have been killed without being brought to trial. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) denounces killings. During the election campaign Duterte vowed death to at least 100 thousand drug dealers.

Manila (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The hundreds of extrajudicial killings in recent months by the Philippine police to fight the drug trade "contravene the provisions of international conventions on the fight against drugs" and "do not serve the cause of justice”, says Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), who remarked that he was "very concerned" by the increase in killings of suspected drug dealers in the Philippines.

Fedotov added: "I join the United Nations Secretary-General in condemning the apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killing, which is illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms". The reference is to the president-elect Rodrigo Duterte who has vowed war on drug dealers and made the battle against drug trafficking the workhorse of his campaign.

As of May 10 this year (date of Duterte's election voctory, he took office June 30) at least 704 people have been killed for alleged involvement in drug trafficking. The Philippine National Police said that from the first to the 27th of July 316 suspected drug dealers were gunned down, an average of 11 per day. According to the site Inquirer.net the "list of killings" rises to 465 if you count from 30 June to 1 August.... [Link]

Fr D'Ambra: Christian lives are in danger in Jolo because jihadists want to kill them

The PIME missionary, who heads the Silsilah group for interreligious dialogue, calls on the authorities to “find proper solutions" to stop “the agony of the Christian community". A few days ago, a man was killed and 20 others were threatened with death by fundamentalists. Moderate Muslims, who are also at risk, ought not to be “silent witnesses” to this persecution.

Jolo (AsiaNews/Silsilah) – Fr Sebastiano D'Ambra, president of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement and a PIME missionary for over 40 years in Mindanao (southern Philippines), has issued an appeal "to stop killing Christians in Jolo".

The clergyman points to the situation of fear and danger felt by Christians in the aforementioned city in Sulu province, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf jihadist group.

“A Christian was killed in Jolo a few days ago,” Fr D’Ambra says. A “a reliable source told me that 20 Christians have been targeted to be killed or kidnapped soon. In the midst of so many good Muslim leaders and friends of Jolo the Christian community is suffering a form of persecution from those who are guided by bad elements who claim to do it in the name of Islam.”

Founded 30 years ago by Fr D'Ambra, the Silsilah Forum is a movement for dialogue and peace between Muslims and Christians. It still follows many interfaith groups in Mindanao, a region that is home to a large Muslim community, and a hideout for many fundamentalists and separatists.... [Link]