Japan pledges Manila loans, but raises human rights
09 Dec 2006 05:02:52 GMT Source: Reuters
By George Nishiyama MANILA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Japan is ready to extend fresh loans to the Philippines, but Manila must make efforts to protect human rights, Japanese officials said, referring to concerns over the killing of hundreds of left-wing activists in the country. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday that Tokyo would provide 8.5 billion yen ($73 million) in loans for a flood damage mitigation project around Manila and was considering further assistance. But a joint statement issued after the summit meeting in the capital highlighted concerns, held not just by Tokyo -- Manila's biggest aid provider -- but by international rights groups, over allegations that Arroyo's forces may be behind the killings or abductions of activists. "The two leaders emphasised the importance of sustaining harmony, upholding democratic values and protecting human rights ... to the implementation of the official development assistance," the statement said. Abe also told Arroyo of the "strong interest" in Japan over the human rights situation in the Philippines, a senior Japanese official who sat in the summit told reporters. Arroyo's administration has come under fire for failing to stop political killings, and rights group Amnesty International said in August that her security forces could be involved. Her government denies any military or police involvement. Arroyo told Abe the issue would be handled properly under the country's judicial system, according to the Japanese official. Philippine human rights group Karapatan says more than 700 leftist activists, farmers, students, community organisers and journalists have been killed since Arroyo came to power in 2001. Many of those murdered were members of left-wing groups the military views as front organisations for the New People's Army communist rebel group. The president set up a commission in September to investigate the killings of journalists and activists but their families have largely shunned the inquiry, saying it was designed to clear the military of any blame. The Philippine police said last month that the number of leftist murders had been exaggerated to undermine the government, accusing insurgent groups of propaganda. Avelino Razon, deputy national police chief, said 136 left-wing activists and reporters were murdered for work-related or political reasons since 2001 and another 589 were killed because of grudges or in legitimate clashes with security forces. ($1=116.32 Yen)
