Kin of killed activist to rely on NPA for justice

From the Daily Tribune (Dec 20): Kin of killed activist to rely on NPA for justice

Families and supporters of human rights victims from Southern Tagalog region once again picketed in front of President Aquino’s residence in Times Street to condemn the continuing rights abuses in the country. “We wanted to end the year with a protest right in front of Aquino’s house. We wanted to underscore that this year was no different from the previous years where human rights violations brought by military atrocities remain unabated,” Glen Malaban, secretary general of Karapatan in the region declared. Her group said that Aquino’s claim that there are no more rights violations and Karapatan’s statistics of victims are mere leftist’s propaganda is adding more insult to the injury.

The protest in Times Street also called for the immediate arrest of Ret. Gen. Jovito Palparan who remains at large after an arrest warrant was issued by Judge Teodora Gonzales of Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in relation to kidnapping and torture case filed against the retired general. Dana, daughter of rights worker Eden Marcellana whose murder was believed to be masterminded by Palparan in 2003, expressed her skepticism that the Aquino administration can bring justice to her mother’s case. “I am now twice my age since my mother was killed, and yet nothing has changed — the killing of those who uphold human rights and the promotion of those who are supposedly accountable,” she said.

Dana, along with thousand of protesters, joined a 10-day Lakbayan (Southern Tagalog People’s March for Human Rights) last week that culminated on Dec. 10, the 64th year of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some of the protesters remained in Metro Manila and set-up a Peace Camp in front of the Commission on Human Rights. The group also lambasted Commissioner Etta Rosales for giving false data on human rights violations in the country saying her number were far from truth.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/8370-kin-of-killed-activist-to-rely-on-npa-for-justice