Fil-Am activist Roxas’s return draws focus on HR violations under Arroyo’s nine years in power – KMU

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno hailed Fil-Am activist Melissa Roxas’s return to purse her case against the Armed Forces of the Philippines, adding that her charges will draw further attention to Arroyo’s bloody human rights record when she delivers her ninth State of the Nation Address.

KMU also slammed the government’s accusation that her abduction and disappareance from May 19 to 25 was stage-managed and is part of the propaganda against the Arroyo regime even as evidence point to the military.

“Melissa Roxas’s return to pursue her case against Arroyo’s armed forces will accentuate the long list of human rights violations committed by the regime in time for what is hoped to be her farewell speech,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU Chairperson.

“With Melissa’s case and the case of all victims of state-sponsored killings and abduction, Arroyo deserves an extended term – in jail, not in public office,” added Labog.

He also said “Arroyo’s efforts to escape prosecution via Charter change should once and for all be stopped to serve justice to the thousands of human rights victims.

“Just as when she makes categorical statements about pursuing justice and peace, Arroyo should also make categorical statements about stepping down in 2010 to at least satisfy the demands of the families of slain and abducted critics of the government,” Labog said.

Just this July, a PISTON leader in Bicol, Joel Ascutia, was almost killed in the style of extra-judicial killings perpetuated by the military, just 200 meters away from the nearest police camp.

“If there is an urgent agenda that should be tackled in the upcoming Globama meeting this July, it is Melissa’s case and the countless human rights violations in the country. Obama should stop supporting the so-called counter-insurgency campaign of the Arroyo regime, as it clearly attacks ordinary citizens, including an American citizen in this case,” said Labog.

Labog also stressed the need to resolve the cases of 91 union leaders murdered during Arroyo’s term and countless more cases of repression in the trade union movement in the Philippines , which will be the subject of the International Labor Organization’s High-Level Fact-Finding Mission in September. ###