Tattoos and body paint for freedom

Families to PNoy: Free all political prisoners now!

By HUSTISYA
September 17, 2011

On the fifth day of fasting of political prisoners nationwide, victims organization Hustisya marked their support for freedom in a different medium: their own skins.

This month’s Third Saturday gathering, a monthly activity of victims of human rights violations and their families and friends, Hustisya held “PIN(T)ALAYA: Pinta para sa Paglaya ng mga Bilanggong Pulitikal,” a tattoo, face and body painting session with invited artists and supporters of the campaign.

“According to many historians, tattooing in the Philippines is a tribal form of rank and accomplishments in pre-colonial times. Tattooos in contemporary times meant defining one’s identity. Now, we put a different meaning on it. We tattoo to protest,” said Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya secretary general.

According to Karapatan, there are currently 360 political prisoners detained in various detention centers in the country. Demanding freedom through a general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty, the political prisoners will go on fasting until September 21, when the nation commemorates Martial Law.

“Political prisoners have been denied of justice from the time they were arbitrarily arrested, charged with trumped up charges, detained and many even suffering from torture. Their prolonged detention further denies them of their rights,” Guevarra added.

The group said that as the nation commemorates Martial Law, the group asked whether Pres. Aquino is truly a son of a former political prisoner.

"Currently, there are 77 new political prisoners arrested under his term. He has not said anything about the plea of political prisoners. We might need to make him remember that he is son of a former political prisoner,” Guevarra exclaimed.

According to Hustisya, not only the political prisoners themselves are “detained” but their families as well.

Isaias and Liwayway Acosta, both in their late 70s, have to travel all the way from Manila to Calbayog, Eastern Samar each time they visit their son, Ericson Acosta.

Acosta is a cultural activist and writer who was arrested in February13, 2011and is charged with a trumped-up case of illegal possession of explosives. Both his parents have difficulty walking, and are likewise suffering from different illnesses due to old age.

“Nais lamang nilang makasama ang kanilang mga anak sa nalalabing panahon ng kanilang buhay, ngunit lalo lamang itong pinaiikli sa patuloy na pagkakakulong ni Ericson,” said Guevarra. (The elderly Acostas only want to spend time with their children in their elderly years, and yet Ericson’s continued detention only shortens this.)

Furthermore, according to Karapatan’s documentation, out of the 360 political prisoners, 11 are elderly, 28 are sick and 30 are women.