Muslims, Christians hold interfaith rights rally

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Muslim and Christian religious leaders held an interfaith prayer rally in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organizers of the prayer rally also displayed several photographs of political activists and civilians, who were either abducted or summarily executed in the Philippines. Many students and human rights and peace advocates joined the rally held at the Plaza Pershing in downtown Zamboanga. They also lighted candles in front on the photographs and offered prayers; many were calling for justice for victims of summary executions and human rights violations. "This prayer rally is dedicated to all those victims of human rights in the Philippines. We just pray that the unabated political killings shall stop in the Philippines," said human rights advocate, Marie San Jose. The rally lasted more than two hours and ended with songs of praises and prayers led by Fr Vicente Climaco, of the Trinity Episcopal Church. Some of those who participated in the prayer rally were Ustadz Isahak Azarie and Rev. Fernmone Taripe, of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines; and Fr Richard Pama, of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. The interfaith prayer rally was organized by the Zamboanga Basilan Regional Ecumenical Council, United Methodist Youth Fellowship, Samahan ng Kabataang Episkopal sa Pilipinas and the Christian Youth Fellowship. Other groups which supported the rally were Gabriela, Moro Christian People's Alliance, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Natioanl Council of Churches in the Philippines, United Methodist Church and the Kawagib Moro Human Rights. A Filipino human rights group called Karapatan on Tuesaday also decried the continued political killings in the country and blamed the Arroyo government for the murders. It said the killings were triggered by the government's anti-insurgency campaign. The group said it recorded 977 cases of extrajudicial killings and 201 victims of enforced disappearances since President Gloria Arroyo came into power in 2001. Meanwhile, the Reporters Sans Borders in a report released on Tuesday said the UN Human Rights Council is doing little better than its predecessor, the now-abolished Commission on Human Rights, which was completely discredited over the years, especially when it named a Libyan as its president. It said the Council has the failings of all UN bodies, where member-states are both judges and judged. States with repressive governments are elected to the Council and thus tasked with ensuring respect in other countries for rights they themselves are abusing on a daily basis. Until this absurd situation is ended, the United Nations cannot be said to be fulfilling its goal of protecting human rights. "The use of human rights by countries for their own purposes will not end until the UN Security Council and the whole system of world governance is reformed and enlarged. This issue has been highlighted by the present economic and environmental crisis." "If the UN does not manage to end it, the Council will fail in its mission. The Universal Periodic Review, though a good step forward, will not make up for these weaknesses," it said. - Al Jacinto, GMANews.TV