Press Statement                                                                         Reference: Marie Hilao-Enriquez

20 September 2004                                                                                       Secretary General

On the eve of the 32^nd year of the declaration of Martial Law…

SELDA & Bayan Muna file proposed indemnification bill for ML victims anew

On the eve of the 32^nd year of the declaration of Martial Law, SELDA, through the partylist group Bayan Muna, filed the bill that seeks to compensate victims of human rights violations of the Marcos dictatorship. “ By filing the bill we would like to remind the nation to remember to remember the shining moment of the country when hundreds of thousands of its sons and daughters took the path of struggle to oust a dictatorial regime,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Secretary General of the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya.

SELDA and Bayan Muna are refilling the bill on compensation as the last Congress did not pass a law that would indemnify the martial law victims.  It must be recalled that Congress passed HB 4535 but the victims did not support it as the legislators mangled the original bill filed by SELDA and other partylist groups and congresspersons

The human rights group which initiated the historical class suit in Hawaii, vowed to actively engage in lobbying and campaign work to hold this government to its word that it would compensate the victims as stated in the last two Oslo Joint Statements released by the GRP and NDFP during the previous rounds of peace negotiations.

According to Enriquez the Martial Law human rights violations victims are challenging the GMA government to act swiftly. “Now that we have a bill, then we don’t see any reason why this government cannot keep its word. What they need to do is to certify this current bill as urgent and push for its enactment to allow for the facilitation of the compensation of the victims and finally give them a component of justice they long deserve.”

“The painful years of struggle and of remembering has been that long for the rest of us who are still here and for those who were left behind but the battle is far from over.” Enriquez said, “As we commemorate 32^nd anniversary of that ill-fated day in history tomorrow, we remain steadfast in our principled fight for justice.  We are also united with other groups to put a stop to similar attempts of foisting another martial law against our people,” said Enriquez. 

She warns of the martial law-like situation spawned by the counter-insurgency operations being implemented by the GMA regime.  “The increasing number of human rights violations cases, the impunity by which they are committed by the state security forces, the non-punishment of perpetrators and the repressive laws this regime is pushing to enact are horrible warnings of a creeping fascism, especially in the face of an economic crisis.  The people more than ever must be vigilant to assert their economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights in the face of these worsening economic and political crisis.  GMA should learn the lessons of history and heed the people’s cries rather than suppress them. We must shout never again to martial law,” she concluded. ###