The United Nations has warned President Duterte against making inflammatory statements that could encourage the commission of crimes against humanity in light of his controversial statement comparing his resolve to kill millions of drug addicts to the late German dictator Adolf Hitler’s purge of millions of Jews in the 1940s.
In a statement issued Sept. 30, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng expressed alarm at Duterte’s remarks, describing it as “deeply disrespectful of the right to life of all human beings.”
Dieng said Duterte should exercise restraint in the use of language that could “exacerbate discrimination, hostility and violence and encourage the commission of criminal acts which, if widespread or systematic, could amount to crimes against humanity.”
The UN adviser said the Holocaust, under which an estimated six million Jews perished on Hitler’s orders, was “one of the darkest periods of the history of humankind and that any glorification of the cruel and criminal acts committed by those responsible was unacceptable and offensive.”
Dieng said Duterte’s remarks undermine efforts by the international community to avoid a repeat of such crimes.
The Philippine President became controversial when he made a reference to Hitler while talking about his war against drugs.
In his speech in Davao City after arriving from a two-day official visit to Vietnam, the President addressed his portrayal as a “cousin of Hitler” by critics.
Noting how Hitler ordered the massacre of millions of Jews, Duterte said: “Now there is three million, there’s a three million drug addict. There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them.”
“At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have you know…,” he added, pointing to himself.
“My victims, I would like to be all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition,” Duterte said.
Two UN-appointed human rights experts have earlier expressed concern about Duterte’s harsh crackdown on drug offenders, which has led to the deaths of more than 2,000 suspects since he started his term last June 30.
In addition to watching his words, Dieng asked Duterte to support the probe on the reported rise of extrajudicial killings under his watch.
