Manila, Philippines, 26 February 2009  -  The violent dispersal by the Manila Police Department of the student and youth who were protesting the Visiting Forces Agreement in front of the US embassy yesterday where a 13 year old student was injured, earned the condemnation of child rights advocates led by SALINLAHI Alliance for Children’s Concerns. “The brutality applied by the police against the students is uncalled for and condemnable,” said Ms. Sophia Flor Garduce spokesperson of the group.

The child rights advocate also stressed that the participation of minors in public demonstration is acceptable and in fact a practical application of the child’s right to participation, citing Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, asserts that States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.

“The police, whose first and foremost duty is to protect its citizens, should always have this State obligation uppermost in their minds when they are confronted with children and youth exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” Garduce declared.  “How can these very young and harmless youngsters pose a threat to the premises of the US Embassy in the face of such heavily armed and truncheon-wielding state forces?  How can the police outrightly attack these young people without even negotiating with them?”

Salinlahi believes that the injured 13-yr old boy yesterday, Baby Rafaela Polborido who was killed last February 18 in Ligao, Albay due to the clearing operations by the AFP in preparation of the VFA and Nicole who was raped by a US soldier are direct victims of the VFA.  “These cases are more than enough to call for the abrogation of the VFA. Sadly, the Philippine military and police are blindly following orders from Malacanang to protect US interest, at the expense of the human rights of Filipino women and children. Ms. Garduce ended. ###