Die langjährige Abgeordnete des Repräsentantenhauses der Philippinen, Loretta "Etta" Rosales ist als neue Vorsitzender der Menschenrechtskommission (CHR) ernannt worden. Sie ist damit die Nachfolgerin von Leila de Lima, die neue Vorsitzende des Justizministeriums (DOJ) wird, an.

Fortsetzung:

Die Ernennung ist in der philippinischen Linken durchaus umstritten, wie folgende Reaktionen zeigen.

Manila (July 15) (PNA) -- Si President Benigno Simeon Aquino III announced Wednesday the appointment of two former partylist representatives in his Cabinet.

President Aquino appointed former Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) partylist Rep. Joel Villanueva as Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and former Akbayan partylist Rep. Loretta "Etta" Rosales as chairman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Rosales replaced Leila de Lima who now heads the Department of Justice.

(...)

President Aquino must think twice in appointing Rosales as CHR chief -- Karapatan

The human rights watchdog Karapatan expressed dismay over the impending appointment of former Akbayan representative Loretta Ann Rosales as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

"Our experience bears out that Ms. Rosales has shown bias against human rights violations victims and advocates such as Karapatan," Marie Hilao-Enriquez said, Karapatan chairperson.

Enriquez, arrested and detained during martial law, cited the class action suit against the Marcoses filed by the Filipino victims in which former Rep. Rosales created divisions among the victims by agreeing to 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," she added, "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."

Over the last years, CHR has gained its credibility because of the willingness of the victims and different human rights institutions to cooperate. On this note, Ms. Rosales will not be able to earn the trust, confidence and cooperation of the victims and human rights organizations affiliated with Karapatan.

"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," Enriquez concluded.

Akbayan on news concerning Loretta Ann Rosales' appointment as head of Human Rights Commission
Akbayan
15 July 2010

We welcome the news that our Chairperson Emeritus, and three-term former party-list representative Loretta Ann Rosales is seriously being considered by the Aquino government to head the Commission on Human Rights. We are glad that the new administration has taken special notice of Etta's long experience and accomplishment as a seasoned human rights advocate confirming once again that AKBAYAN as a serious progressive political party is capable of producing top-notch leaders with utmost credibility and capacity to serve in public office.

However, this recent, news of her appointment was met with fierce opposition from a marginal political grouping that is motivated more by its ideological biases against Etta and AKBAYAN rather than by a sincere effort to make the institution more efficient in promoting human rights and securing justice for the abused . They hurled baseless and ridiculous accusations against Etta even going as far as labeling her "biased against human rights victims."

To set the record straight, Etta's reputation as a human rights defender from the time of the Marcos dictatorship up to the present is secure and untarnished. She has shown objectivity and openness in dealing with the intricacies of human rights and has repeatedly proven her firm and steady resolve to pursue and defend the people's rights and freedoms.

If there is one thing Etta is guilty of, it is her fearless stance against human rights violations and her resolve to make perpetrators accountable, whether they are state or non-state actors. While others limited themselves to a narrow concept of human rights with the end view of pursuing vested political interests, Etta is unswerving in her commitment to the universality of human rights with the goal of providing all people their rights and freedom without distinction as to race, sex, political inclination, language, or religion.

Hence, it is only appropriate and judicious on the part of the Aquino government to seriously consider if not immediately appoint Etta to head the Human Rights Commission. The institution deserves the best. The people deserve no less.