Press Statement                                                                         Reference: Dani Beltran

02 November 2003                                                                     Deputy-Secretary General

 

To forget is to betray…

GMA continues the State-sponsored Disappearances

in the name of War against Terrorism

 

No, the Desaparecidos are not forgotten, their faces, laughter, smiles and militant perserverance in pursuing justice and peace for the Filipino people are remembered more than ever, today, November 2, 2003 by their families, relatives, friends and supporters.

 

They have ceased to be a phenomena, one that we thought would stop after the ouster of a dictator, who caused the disappearance of hundreds of activists and justice and peace workers under Martial Law. But regimes have come and gone and today abductions and disappearances continue with impunity as other atrocities under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Administration.

 

As of October 7, there are a total of 2,421 cases of rights violations committed by this monster of an administration in the name of war against terrorism. A campaign that has been given renewed blessings from an unwelcome interloper- President George Bush. Twenty-three (23) have disappeared, mostly political critics, militant community leaders and even ordinary civilians including Ustadz Zulkifle Alimmudin and two others who have been wrongfully accused of bombing the Davao International Airport and the Sasa Wharf in Davao City in March of this year.

 

These state sponsored disappearances were also committed against members and officers of the partylist group Bayan Muna; among them are Honorio Ayroso and Johnny Orcino of Nueva Ecija, and Rowena Bayani and Edwin Villaruz of Aurora Province.  They are still missing to this day, as the attacks on legitimate people’s organizations continue.

 

A total of 1, 624 desaparecidos have been recorded since the regime of Marcos. Anti-people policies espoused and implemented by the present administration have added on to this record. Increasing the number of spouses, children, siblings and relatives who become at a loss on where to offer their prayers, flowers and candles for their missing loved ones. The uncertain thought of whether they are still alive and well, or dead and buried beneath an unnamed or unmarked grave leaves the relatives unconsoled but strong enough to continue with the struggle they were left behind to pursue.

 

Today as families, friends and supporters of the desaparecidos offer flowers, light candles and release balloons in their endless search for their lost loved ones in front of Baclaran Church, their cry remain – oust the liar and #1 human rights violator from Malacanang! Stop all state-sponsored disappearances and other human rights violations! ###