Depuis février 2005 au moins dix avocats et au moins un juge ont été assassinés aux Philippines.  Beaucoup d'autres sont intimidés quotidiennement, menacés et sont suivis.  La plupart des meurtres ont été commis par des hommes à moto qui tirent dans le dos de leur victime sans défense tout en conduisant.

Not one single of these murders on lawyers and judges in the last five year was solved.  The targets have one and the same characteristic: they are human rights lawyers and critical judges that have been using their legal knowledge in defending victims of land expropriations, the massive militarisation and the living conditions of the millions of poor in the country.

Since the government of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came into power five years ago already 700 activists were murdered in a similar manner: journalists, trade unionists, priests, farmer’s leaders, human rights activists and lawyers.

The involvement of the military in these killings is clear.

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers has set up a solidarity campaign with the lawyers and judges under threat in the Philippines and has taken or participated in several initiatives