Presidentiables told: Seek justice for victims of Arroyo’s martial law

The presidentiables should seek justice for the victims of Arroyo’s martial law.

It is clear from recent opinion polls that the people favor candidates who are seen as opposing the Arroyo regime. That opposition, however, should not be based solely on this regime’s record of plunder and corruption. It should also be based on this regime’s record of human and trade union rights violations.

As the election nears, we should be talking about Garci, Joc-joc, Abalos and other accomplices of this regime in its plunder and corruption. But we also need to talk about Jonas, Sherlyn and Karen, Ka Fort, Hacienda Luisita workers and other victims of human and trade union rights violations during the Arroyo regime.

The record shows that the US-backed Arroyo regime does not differ much from the US-backed Marcos dictatorship. The only difference is that the latter openly declared martial law, while the former preferred the treachery of an undeclared martial law.

In the face of all the numerous violations of human and trade union rights across the country, somebody must be punished, somebody big in the present government.

We hold former DOLE Sec. Patricia Sto. Tomas responsible for the massacre in Hacienda Luisita. We hold former Gen. Jovito Palparan responsible for the killings in Mindoro, Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas. And we hold Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo responsible for implementing a policy of extra-judicial killings of activists during her reign of terror. They should have their day in court.

One of the reasons why we are still being haunted by the ghosts of martial law is that, aside from persistent socio-economic conditions, none of the perpetrators of human rights violations during Marcos’s martial law was punished.

We as a people are saying: never again to martial law! Never again to massive human and trade union rights violations! Never again to another Marcos and another Arroyo! The presidentiables should give voice to this clamor of the people.  ###