As repression, human rights violations continue 39 years after

Martial Law activists march alongside new breed

By HUSTISYA
September 21, 2011

“As long as human rights violations and political repression continue, there will always be a new breed of activists who will never forget the lessons of Martial Law. We shall continue the cry to stop human rights violations and political repression.”

This was the statement of victims of human rights violations and their families as they march with Martial Law veterans today in commemoration of the 39th anniversary since former dictator Marcos imposed tyrannical rule.

From España to Mendiola, victims of Martial Law now in their 50s or older, marched alongside the younger generations of activists, some of them victims of human rights violations under then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and under the present Aquino government.

Many of them were either former political prisoners, while some suffered from arbitrary detention and torture.

“We are honored to march alongside those who bravely fought the dictatorship. We likewise carry on their struggle because sadly, political repression continues to this day,” Hustisya secretary general Cristina Guevarra said.

Hustisya condemned the recent spate of killings in September, including that of a seven-year old child, the youngest victim of killing under the the Aquino administration.

On September 5, at around 1:30pm, Rabenio Sungit was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle riding man wearing bonnet in the public market along Pagayona Street, Quezon, Palawan Province. Rabinio was with his wife and son when the incident happened.

Sunshine Jabinez, seven, was killed by indiscriminate firing of members of the the 71st Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (IBPA) on September 2.  The soldiers were allegedly on a drinking spree when they opened fire at the house of Jabinez’s family who were already lying down to sleep. Sunshine is the only daughter of her parents, Adelina and Berman.

Sungit, a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and a member of the indigenous people in Palawan, is an active anti-mining activist. He is the second victim of extrajudicial killing in their family. His brother, Abelino Sungit, also an indigenous people leader was slain in 2005.

“We condemn these senseless killings, and we ask President Aquino. Why do killings continue? Why does the same military repression that your family suffered from continue?” Guevarra said.