• Letter from the Executive Director of Development and Peace to the Canadian Ambassador in El Salvador - English

• Letter from the President of the National Council of Development and Peace to the President of El Salvador – English, Spanish

• Letter from the Development and Peace Program Officer,
  El Salvador to the Director General of the Salvadoran
  National Police – Spanish

Below is the official response of the Canadian government to the petition raised in Parliament in Spring 2007 by Mount-Royal (Quebec) MP, Irwin Cotler. This letter from Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay outlines the Conservative government's position on the political killings.

The Government of Canada is deeply concerned by extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

The Government of Canada has repeatedly raised our concerns about extrajudicial killings with the Philippine government at all levels, both via our Embassy in the Philippines and in Canada. On June 11, 2007, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deepak Obhrai, rose in the House of Commons to express the Government of Canada's concerns about this issue. Canada supports increasing capacity and expertise in Philippine government institutions and civil society organizations that are working to improve the human rights situation. Canadian development assistance to the Philippines contributes to improving human rights by helping to strengthen governance, the rule of law, and conflict resolution.

Canada has encouraged several important Philippine initiatives that are attempting to address the issue of extrajudicial killings. These include Task Force USIG, a national level task force, and the Melo Commission, both of which were initiated by the Government of the Philippines. Canada was among the countries that relayed the importance of publicizing former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Melo's report, which is available at Pinoyhr.

Canadian officials continue to meet and consult with groups most affected by the violence, including in remote areas of the Philippines. On-going communication between Canadian Embassy officials and high-ranking Philippine officials is a key element of our bilateral engagement on human rights.

Additionally, Canada encourages and supports the efforts of Canadian mining companies in the Philippines to ensure that their mining practices are socially and environmentally responsible. In 2006, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade led a series of roundtable discussions hosted by the Government of Canada on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian extractive sector in developing countries. In conjunction with these roundtable discussions, an advisory group of industry labour, and civil society experts was established to help create programs and policies in the area of corporate social responsibility for Canadian mining companies. Furthermore, Canada expects Canadian companies to respect the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines on responsible business conduct.

The Government of Canada acknowledges the steps undertaken by the Government of the Philippines and Philippine civil society to stop extrajudicial killings and continues to urge thorough and timely investigations and prosecution of perpetrators. We welcomed the invitation made by the Government of the Philippines to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, and await his full report addressing the issue. Mr. Alston is in a unique position of trust to inquire into extrajudicial killings and we look forward to his recommendations. The Government of Canada also welcomes the announcement made by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the creation of special courts to prosecute those responsible for the killings and strengthened witness protection programs. Canada values this commitment to improving human rights and supports efforts by the Philippine government to put an end to extrajudicial killings.