Tuesday 12 September 2017

United Nations Rights Chief: slams Duterte’s war on drugs




United Nation official reacts again regarding the administration’s war on drugs.

During the 36th session of the Human Rights Council last Sept. 11,  United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, tagged the Philippines as among the countries with human rights issues.
This was not the first time that Zeid slammed Duterte’s drug war. *


United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, tagged the Philippines as among the countries with human rights issues.(photo credit to owner)

He condemns the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, human rights violations which include the August 16 slay of a teenager in the hands of  Philippine National Police in Caloocan city.

Zeid, specifically highlights the killing of Grade 11 student Kian Loyd delos Santos, whose death allegedly sparked public anger over the conduct of Duterte’s unrelenting and brutal war on drugs.

Citing Duterte's promise to protect cops who would kill drug suspects who resist arrest, Zeid said he was “appalled” by the government's apparent “lack of respect” for due process.

The UN rights chief also marked Duterte’s  his full support for cops carrying out his brutal war against suspected drug personalities.

“In the Philippines, I continue to be gravely concerned by the President's open support for a shoot-to-kill policy regarding suspects, as well as by the apparent absence of credible investigations into reports of thousands of extrajudicial killings, and the failure to prosecute any perpetrator,” Zeid said.

“This lack of respect for the due process rights of all Filipinos is appalling,” he added.

Last year, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte slammed  UN Commissioner Zeid for his statement that the president should be investigated for murder, calling the UN official a “joke” and an “ idiot”. *

In the same speech, Zeid also hit the President for his pronouncements ordering the police force to shoot human rights defenders as well as the case of detained Sen. Leila de Lima, one of the president’s fiercest critics.

Zeid also took the occasion to express his “shock” over Duterte’s threat to bomb Lumad schools allegedly run by communists and the administration’s plan to reimpose death penalty.

“Many human rights defenders who are the honour of their country face a growing number of death threats, and I call on the Government to ensure they are accorded full protection and the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without reprisals,” Zeid said.


Report from PhilStar
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