In commemoration of the December 10 International Human Rights Day, Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela and Makabayan Senatorial candidate today expressed support to the nationwide protest against Arroyo’s dubious declaration of Martial law in Maguindanao through Proclamation No. 1959 and the resounding call for justice for all victims of unbridled cases of human rights violations.
“The declaration of Martial law in Maguindanao only fans the flames of violence and state terrorism of the Arroyo government. This is President Arroyo’s trial balloon for her plot to continue holding on to power beyond 2010,” Maza said.
Maza also cited KARAPATAN’s report on the human rights situation in the Philippines that showed the bloody record of the Arroyo government in its almost nine years of rule that has wrought 1,118 documented victims of extrajudicial killings, 1026 victims of torture, 204 victims of enforced disappearance and over a thousand victims of forcible evacuation and displacement due to military operations in the rural areas.
“How can we expect this present administration to seriously address this case if it has not solved a single case of over a thousand extrajudicial killings since 2001?” Maza said.
Maza expressed fears of possible whitewash on the Maguindanao massacre as authorities have painted a nonsensical picture depicting the monstrous crimes of murder, torture, rape and sexual assault to women victims as mere “rebellion”.
“Justice for the 57 victims of the brutal killings dims as days pass with Martial law in Maguindanao still in place. With her unspeakable track record, she will absolutely use this occasion to further her self-seeking agenda at the expense of the Filipino people,” Maza stressed.
As the historic joint session of Congress continues, Maza called on all concerned Filipinos to appeal to their Congresspersons and Senators to revoke Proclamation 1959. “At this time when our civil liberties and fundamental freedoms are at stake, we should altogether rise up versus the Arroyo administration that has spawned all these injustice and crimes against the Filipino people. Allowing Arroyo’s Martial law to continue will be her very vehicle to perpetuate to power beyond 2010,” Maza said.
Maza is also set to interpellate in the joint session this afternoon ###
