U2’s Bono urges Rodrigo Duterte to respect human rights, ahead of Manila concert on Joshua Tree Tour
- The Irish rocker says he has ‘no plans’ to meet the Philippine president while he’s in town for U2’s first concert in the Southeast Asian country
- U2 are in Asia for their Joshua Tree Tour 2019 that will wrap up in the Indian city of Mumbai
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Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, instead sent a “soft message” to Duterte, whose violent crackdown against illegal drugs has been criticised by human rights activists worldwide.
“Human rights are critical,” the Irishman told a press conference with the Philippine Red Cross, which unveiled a partnership with a company that enables delivery of blood supplies via drones.
“I would just say you can’t compromise on human rights and that’s my soft message to the president.”
The Philippine leader has waged a deadly war on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives.
Overwhelmingly backed by Filipinos but condemned by critics who say it is a war crime, the killings by police as well as unknown suspects are the subject of a preliminary inquiry by the International Criminal Court prosecutor.
Duterte wants ‘honest man’ to lead Philippine police or he’ll do it himself
Duterte, elected in a landslide in 2016, told supporters on the stump to “forget the laws on human rights” as he vowed to kill 100,000 criminals and dump their bodies into Manila Bay to fatten the fish.
He has also told police he would have their backs, vowing to hand out presidential pardons should they be prosecuted and sent to jail while enforcing his crackdown.
Bono, U2’s main singer and lyricist, said he had “no plans” to meet the 74-year-old Duterte.
“The president is very popular. He doesn’t need me on this side,” he added. “And as it happens, I have a very deep conviction about journalism. I probably would have been a journalist if I wasn’t this thing.”
The comments came a week before a Philippine court was to issue a verdict on the killing of 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, in 2009.
“The safety of journalists is very important and I think that democracy requires a free press,” Bono said. “I find some journalists a total pain … but I’m really glad they’re there.”
U2 are in Asia for their Joshua Tree Tour 2019 that will wrap up in the Indian city of Mumbai on Sunday. The sprawling Philippine Arena on Wednesday is the fourth stop.
Earlier stops included Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, as well as Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul.
Bono was not the first outspoken musician to speak out against Duterte’s drug war.
In 2016, American singer-songwriter James Taylor cancelled his planned Manila concert to protest extrajudicial killings in the country.
Duterte’s drug war has killed more than 5,500 alleged dealers and users who fought back during arrests, but watchdogs say the actual toll is at least four times higher.
International Criminal Court prosecutors have launched a preliminary probe of the killing, and the UN’s top rights body voted in favour an in-depth review.
