Robert Reid | Chairperson FFPS
Human rights groups and progressive organizations have raised serious concerns over the disappearance of James Jazminez, brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Alan Jazminez. Over the past decades the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have launched relentless operations to locate Alan and arrest him. Because of this, members of the Jazmines family, including James, have suffered surveillance, threats and harassment.
James formerly was Public Information Officer of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), a progressive labor movement in the Philippines. In a public statement KMU expressed their belief that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) together with the AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP) are responsible for Jazmines’ disappearance like many other cases of enforced disappearance, which have become increasingly frequent under the US-Marcos Jr. regime. They noted that James’ case is the 14th abduction case since Marcos assumed the presidency.
The US-Marcos Jr. regime and its armed forces have systematically perpetrated enforced disappearances against family members of activists and revolutionaries as part of their militaristic “counter-insurgency” strategy. Even children have been abducted and disappeared in order to try and force their parents’ surrender.
As the international community, we hold the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) accountable in upholding previously signed NDFP-GRP agreements and the International Humanitarian Law, that ensure the respect for human rights in following the rules of war and address the aspirations of the Filipino people rather than simply pursuing capitulation.
Moreover, we join the Filipino people in calling on the AFP-PNP and NTF-ELCAC to immediately surface and release James Jazmines. The continued disappearance of James is a grave violation of human rights and a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence those who struggle for justice and peace.
On this International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances we urge all people of conscience to stand with the Jazmines family and demand the immediate surfacing of James and all other desaparecidos. Write letters, raise your voices, and join the call to hold the US-Marcos Jr. regime accountable for its crimes against the Filipino people.
Surface James Jazmines!
Surface all desaparecidos!
Uphold the aspirations of the Filipino people in struggle!
Sample Letter
Please write to your parliamentarians and representatives! You can use the example letter below:
Subject: Immediate Action Required: Surface James Jazmines and Respect Human Rights
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
I am writing to express my deep concern over the probable enforced disappearance of James Jazmines, a former activist and the brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Alan Jazmines. James has been missing since August 23, 2024, and his family and friends have been left in the dark regarding his whereabouts.
The disappearance of James Jazmines is a grave violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of individuals from enforced disappearances. I urge you to take immediate action to ensure that James is surfaced and safely returned to his family. The right to life and security must be upheld, and those responsible for this violation should be held accountable.
I stand in solidarity with the Jazmines family and call on you to respect human rights, as enshrined in International Humanitarian Law and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
Please do everything within your power to help surface James Jazmines and bring an end to enforced disappearances.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]