I flew to Jakarta, Indonesia via Brunei on November 26,
2000 together with four other Filipino lawyers in order to attend the
first AFAD-sponsored Asia-Latin American lawyers' Meeting on the theme
"Between Memory and Impunity. "I looked to sharing with and learning
from lawyers coming from Asia and Latin America about their struggle and
quest for answers to human rights problems and to build bridges with them
in a common struggle for truth and justice. It was a hope come true. I
came home fulfilled, Knowing fully well that I have learned a lot from the
sharing and that breakthrough has been established among lawyers to put up
union against the phenomena of involuntary disappearance.
The week-long meeting gave me and my co-Filipino
delegates the opportunity to share with others about the Philippine
experience on involuntary disappearance and the opportunity to learn,
first-hand from our foreign counterparts, about the same human rights
problem of involuntary disappearance in their countries like Chile,
Argentina, el Salvador, East Timor, India (Kashmir), Pakistan, Thailand,
Indonesia and Sri Lanka. They, too, shared how they in their determined
and creative ways, fought legally or meta-legally or both human rights
abuses. Seņor Roberto Garreton of Chile was vigorous in his presentations
and interventions, lacing them with his varied experiences as lawyer and a
diplomat. KDC Kumarage of Sri Lanka spoke about the erosion of the rule of
law in his country caused by the existence of repressive laws and end
impunity, the government must appoint a Permanent Commission on
Disappearances that would investigate all disappearances and prosecute all
those recommended by it. Isabel Ferreira of East Timor decried the
assaults on the Timor Larosae people by the colonial Indonesian government
and called for an international solidarity of victims, families and the
formation of an international court to look into these violations. other
speaker were equally passionate in projecting their concerns and in their
urgent pleas to put to a stop human rights violations. towards the end of
the meeting, the participants unanimously passed resolutions for
congressional enactment of laws for the criminalization of human rights
violations particularly involuntary disappearance, for the establishment
of an Asian Regional Tribunal, for adequate compensation to victims and
their families, for the operationalization of the International Criminal
Court, etc.
It is to credit the leadership of AFAD and KontraS-Indonesia
for gathering lawyers from Asia and Latin-America, for the preparation of
the program for the invitation of speakers, for arranging accommodations
and for scheduling the audience with President Wahid; and finally, for
creating an atmosphere conducive to serious discussion and developing and
strengthening the bond of unity among lawyers.
All told, the Asian-Latin American Lawyers' Meeting
was a success. Much has been done and accomplished during the week-long
discussions. I am sure all left Jakarta with the comforting thought that
if all act as one "no matter how long the night, dawn will surely come." I
am further sure that all those who attended the meeting will heed the
challenge of Atty. Edcel Lagman, AFAD Chairperson, when he said that "We
shall remain united and resolute in our campaign against enforced or
involuntary disappearance and in our collective struggle for justice to
our beloved desaparecidos."
Atty. Rene V. Sarmiento
FIND Legal Counsel
Philippines
