Philippines Accused of Rights Violations : State Dept. Cites ‘Disappearances,’ Slayings, Torture

The State Department in its annual human rights report today accused the Philippine government of “serious violations,” including political executions by security forces.

The annual report, which is used by Congress to help decide whether to continue foreign aid, said there were some “positive developments,” including the toleration of political opposition and dissent in the Philippine press.

The State Department said statistics on human rights abuses in the Philippines are “highly questionable” since they are collected only by the Marcos government.

The report accused government security forces of summary executions, arbitrary arrests, use of torture and “disappearances.” It said that the communist-led insurgents also stepped up their use of terror against the civilian population. The State Department said that political killings and “disappearances” in the Philippines increased during 1985.

South Africa Reforms

The report also said that South Africa continued an “incremental” reform process in 1985 but said police used excessive force in dealing with widespread black unrest.

It said a serious economic downturn was a major factor in contributing to South African unrest but foresaw little possibility of sufficient growth to reduce high black unemployment.

The report was also harshly critical of the situation in Nicaragua, saying the Sandinista government has been involved in political killing, torture, intimidation of political opponents and various other abuses, including the rape of women prisoners by government security guards.

But the report also included charges, by the Nicaraguan government and independent organizations such as Americas Watch, that the U.S-supported contras have tortured and summarily executed civilians and prisoners of war.

‘Double Standard’

Rep. Gus Yatron (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on human rights and international organizations, said the report minimized poor human rights conditions in nations supported by the Reagan Administration, reflecting a “double standard on U.S. human rights policy.”

Some highlights in the 1,426-page report:

--Soviet Union: “Soviet performance in the realm of human rights fails to meet even the most elementary of accepted international standards.” Despite the change in leadership in 1985, the State Department says arbitrary arrests, persecution of dissidents and ethnic minorities, and the use of painful and powerful drugs to punish and intimidate prisoners continues.

--South Korea: “Koreans enjoy considerable personal freedom, including economic and religious freedom and broad rights to pursue private interests.