PRESS RELEASE
REFERENCE: Marie Hilao-Enriquez

2 June 2004
Secretary-General

As the world observes the International Day of the Disappeared on June 4 Victims of disappearances still denied of justice

In commemorating the International Day of the Disappeared on June 4,
Desaparecidos, the organization of relatives and friends of the victims
of enforced disappearance expressed rage and disappointment over the
continuing phenomenon of enforced disappearances under the Arroyo
administration.

There are already 30 cases with 38 victims of enforced disappearances
documented by KARAPATAN since Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo took the reins of
power in 2001 up to May this year. The victims were mostly leaders and
members of people's organizations who have voiced their criticisms
against the government's anti-people policies and its support of America's
"war on terror.".

"The Arroyo administration has worsened the human rights situation in
the country. Aside from the fact that she had none and still has no
human rights agenda in her platform, she also tolerated, if not
encouraged, the military's brazen violations of human rights. In this respect,
she is resurrecting the specter of the Marcos martial law years,
especially in the numerous cases of disappearances which is fast increasing
under her watch," declared Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Secretary General of
KARAPATAN.

Relatives of desaparecidos from the time of Marcos, Aquino, Ramos,
Estrada and the Arroyo administrations presented the photos of their
missing loved ones and the sons and daughters of the victims staged a short
play on the desaparecidos in Baclaran church to mark June 4, the
International Day of the Disappeared. They enjoined the public to remember
the desaparecidos and unite with them in their search for justice.

Desaparecidos called on the families of victims of enforced
disappearances to immediately submit their complaints to the Joint Secretariat of
the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), a mechanism that will monitor
compliance of both the Philippine Government and the National Democratic
Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to the Comprehensive Agreement on
Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The
Joint Secretariat will start to receive complaints on June 4.

Today, at the observance of the International Day of the Disappeared in
Baclaran Church, families, friends and supporters of the desaparecidos
resolved to continue their struggle for justice and bring an end to
enforced disappearances and all forms of human rights violations. In
unison, they raised their fists and cried, "Stop all state-sponsored
disappearances and other human rights violations! "# # #