SELDA

Samahan ng mga Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya

9-B K-9^th Street, West Kamias, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES

 

Press Statement                                                      Reference: Marie Hilao Enriquez

24 July 2003                                                                           Secretary General

 

Days before GMA’s State of the Nation Address

Martial Law Human Rights Violations Victims demand:

Certify HB4535 and SB1877 as urgent!

Justice and Indemnification now!

 

They will not be deterred. Nothing will stop them. Not even their illness, crutches, wheelchairs or the bad weather as Martial Law human rights violations victims led by the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya or SELDA troop to Mendiola at 10:30 AM today to once again relive their struggles and fight for indemnification and justice.

 

“This is will definitely be followed by more protest actions and activities by SELDA members from all over the country and abroad.” This was announced by SELDA Secretary General Marie Hilao Enriquez.

 

The Supreme Court announcement granting the $658 Million to the Philippine Government has given hope to the victims as they urge President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to finally certify House Bill 4535 and Senate Bill 1877, as urgent. This as she prepares to once again face the Filipino people in her annual State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 28.

 

“We have waited for this moment, when we finally see President Arroyo fulfill a promise she has made to the Filipino people and the martial law victims after People Power 2 at Edsa,”  Enriquez said. “The SONA is an opportune time to do that.”

 

Amidst various interested parties and government agencies seeking a take on the Marcos loot it must be first made known that the money was granted the Philippine Government to fulfill two conditions set by the Swiss Banks. 1) that the money must be proven to be ill-gotten; 2) victims of human rights violations who received a favorable judgement in the US Federal Court must be taken into consideration in the disposition of the money.

 

“Before anyone else, it is the martial law human rights violations victims who have the right to claim this, as they are the very first ones who worked for the recovery of the ill-gotten wealth, as well as for justice to be achieved once and for all.” Enriquez said.

 

Both House Bill 4535 and Senate Bill 1877 stipulate that one-third of the $658 Million must be given to the martial law human rights violations victims. However, HB 4535, which has reached the second reading in Congress was stalled by machinations staged by the so-called Ilocano block and by the dictator’s daughter, Congresswoman Imee Marcos, conniving with the House Political, Social and Human Rights Committee Chairperson Rep. Etta Rosales, a claimant herself.

 

They seek to water down the bill and replace it with a generic one which includes other human rights violation victims of the other Administrations. Enriquez comments on this proposal, “This will defeat the purpose of completing the victory which the martial law human rights violations victims achieved when they won the Class Action Suit in Hawaii.”

 

“What matters to us is that the Supreme Court decision has opened the windows to clinching our aspiration for justice and indemnification for all human rights violations victims of the dark days of dictatorship. But for this victory to be realized, HB 4535 must first be certified as urgent by President Arroyo and be passed into a law by our legislature.” Enriquez concluded.###