The International Association of Peoples’ Lawyers (IAPL) condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Philippine human rights lawyer and political activist, Norman Bocar. 

In the morning of 1 September 2005, Norman Bocar was shot by two unidentified gunmen as he was coming out of a late night meeting in Borongan, Eastern Samar, in central Philippines.  Bocar sustained several bullet wounds including some in his head.  The gunmen were riding motorcycles when they fired several shots at him. 

Norman Bocar was the twelfth human rights lawyer to be assassinated in the Philippines since January 2005.  The escalation of violence committed on members of the legal progression as well as human rights activists throughout the Philippines causes deep concern for lawyers from all over the world. 

Killings, arrests and disappearances of political activists and those critical of Arroyo’s government have continued unabated.  The Philippine government has not arrested those responsible for these violations and there are very strong indications that the military are responsible for the killings.

 The International Association of Peoples’ Lawyers demands that the Arroyo government order a stop to the killings and human rights violations, investigate and punish the perpetrators and compensate the victims and their families. It also calls on the Arroyo government to honor its obligations under international instruments and conventions on human rights. 

The International Association of Peoples’ Lawyers also calls on lawyers throughout the world to condemn the killing of Philippine human rights lawyers, who dare to stand up and defend the rights of the Filipino people. #