Infanta fishermen file rap vs. China’s harassment, bullying
INFANTA–Sixteen fishermen from Infanta and a few from Sta. Cruz, Zambales filed on September 22 a complaint online before three bodies of the United Nations based in Geneva, Switzerland over the harassment and bullying perpetrated against them by state agents of China at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, some 120 nautical miles off Zambales province.
Aided by lawyers of the Center of International Law composed of Harry L. Roque, Jr., and Gilbert Andres, the fishermen and their families gathered at the Pangasinan State University in Infanta on September 23 to sign the complaint detailing various violations of their human rights by China’s state agents.
The complaint was separately sent to Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussien, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Ms. Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food; and Mr. Idriss Jazairy, UN Special Rapporteur on the Enjoyment of Human Rights, all based in Geneva, Switzerland.
The complaint was an urgent appeal directed against the continuing gross human rights violation against Filipino fishermen in the fishing grounds of Scarborough Shoal by the state agents of the People’s Republic of China.
Scarborough Shoal is about 120-nautical miles west of Zambales province and within the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is called Panatag which is the Filipino word that literally means “tranquil” as Scarborough Shoal has been a long-time refuge of Filipino fishermen when they experience storm in West Philippine Sea.
In their complaint, the 16 fishermen requested Mr. Hussien, Ms. Elver and Mr. Jazairy that they urgently intervene, remind, and direct China and its state agents to respect the human rights –including the rights to livelihood, the right to adequate food and the right to life–of the Filipino fisherfolks over their traditional fishing grounds and safe refuge in the Scarborough Shoal in accordance with China’s international obligation under (a) the International Covenant on Economic and Cultural Rights,(b) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and (c) Customary international Law
The complainants are Mario Tabat, 59; Domingo Cabacungan, 63; Wilmer Roldan, 28; Edwin Roldan, 23; Alladin Munoz, 44; Bonifacio Villaram, 32; Rani Espinoza, 36; Francisco Bagawe, 45; Sonny Subulan 24; Oliver Bejar, 25; Ruel Beltran, 43; Peljun Poloso, 41; Jowe Legaspi, 45; Vicente Paluan Jr.,38; Ricardo Paluan, 46; and Eddie Salvador, 30.
The complaint tagged the perpetrators of human rights violations as China’s state agents consisting of the members of the Chinese Coast Guard and other maritime agencies of China who patrol the fishing areas of Scarborough Shoal.
These state agents of China, the fishermen said, are distinguished by their orange uniform and by the markings on their maritime vessels.
One of the fishermen, Mario Tabat, said one of the speedboats of the Chinese Coast Guard rammed his small wooden boat on April 20, 2015, which resulted in a hole in it. Because of the ramming, he went overboard as his boat also capsized.
Other fishermen said they were bombarded with water cannons by the Chinese Coast Guard personnel who were armed with automatic weapons, and were told to leave the area.
The fishermen said since the Chinese occupied Scarborough Shoal and drove them away, they have been deprived of their livelihood and source of food for their families.
In their complaint, the fishermen urged the three UN bodies to urgently intervene and investigate the human rights violations committed by China and its state agents against them at Scarborough Shoal.
The three UN bodies were also asked to remind, declare, and direct China and its state agents: 1) To cease and desist from interfering with the Filipino fisherfolks right to a safe refuge over the Scarborough Shoal and to respect the Filipino fisherfolks’ right to a safe refuge under international customary law; and 2) To provide effective remedies and compensation to Filipino fisherfolk- victims of the human rights violation committed against them in Scarborough Shoal by China and its state agents. (Leonardo Micua)
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