Human Rights Day '09 Parade
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Fifty seven lives were lost in the infamous Maguindanao Massacre perpetrated by mad men and murderers.
This despicable act is the direct result of aiding and abetting a clan that was hell bent on preserving their hold to power whatever the costs, no matter how many lives are lost. It was an affront to the Ampatuans that someone dared to challenge their stranglehold on a province that is deeply mired in poverty.
How can we explain the brazenness that characterized the mass murders even of ordinary civilians, lawyers and journalists? How can we fathom the inhuman and barbaric acts heaped on helpless human beings?
It is a raw, undiluted display of impunity to murder 57 human beings, desecrate their bodies and dump them into pits.
Now the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo government has declared martial law to quell a planned rebellion by the Ampatuans and their armed followers. Now this government wishes to wash its hand of responsibility for the carnage in Maguindanao. When it armed and aided the Ampatuans to consolidate its hold in Maguindanao it was creating a monster. The monster devoured 57 lives and now government wishes the criminals to become rebels by charging them with rebellion.
Now it wishes to safeguard its secrets in Maguindanao by declaring first a state of emergency and then martial law. But arms and ammunitions with the markings of PNP and AFP can not hide the complicity of the GMA administration in these murders.
It was the GMA administration which armed the Ampatuans, it was the GMA administration which coddled the Ampatuans despite increasing reports of terror and human rights abuses in the province. It was the GMA administration which entertained every whim and caprice of the Ampatuans in exchange for its loyalty and its assured votes in the elections.
The full force of the law must be applied to these mad men. They can not escape responsibility by hiding under the charge of rebellion. Mass murder can not be subsumed nor hidden under the political act of rebellion.
Martial law can not be used to mask “crimes against humanity”. Martial law must not be used to carry out the sinister designs of those in power.
Now is the time to stand up and declare:
Never again to martial law!
Break Impunity Now!
Defend Human Rights!
Uphold dignity!
www.tfdp.net
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
December 10, 2009
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