This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 14, May 15-21, 2005
‘Deliver Us from Persecution’
Lighting red and white candles of protest, activists and civil libertarians
remembered those who were “persecuted and put to death because they chose to
live a life of service of the people.” BY
Lino D. Interino III
Quezon City
– Holding roses and candles of red and white
colors, some 300 civil libertarians and activists gathered May 13 at the Hardin
ng mga Diwata (Garden of Muses) in front of the Faculty Center building of the
University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Grief and anger filled the air as the
participants recalled murdered human rights workers, lawyers and activists, most
of whom were their friends and comrades and which now number 37 from January to
May this year alone.
The activity started at past 4 p.m. and soon,
the sun dipped down. The participants lit candles which they said signified the
cry for justice for the lost lives of those who fought for freedom against the
injustices of political repressions.
“Stop the killings and harassments of activists,
journalists, church workers and lawyers! Bring the perpetrators to justice!
Scrap the measures that curtail civil liberties!” were the cries heard in the
activity dubbed as Prayer-Gathering and Candle Light Service for the Victims of
Political Repression. It started with the
offering of red and white roses as tribute to those who were victims of
political repression, participated in by progressive organizations such as Bayan
Muna (People First), National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and
Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), among others. In the vicinity were the
streamers that read, “Stop the killing.” There were also pictures of victims: 32
were killed, seven were abducted and remain missing and five were victims of
frustrated killings. A total of 44 were persecuted. “Today, we light red and
white candles of protests as we remember those who were persecuted and put to
death because they chose to live a life of service of the people,” said Bishop
Tomas Millamena, Obispo Maximo of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI,
or Philippine Independent Church) in a prayer entitled “Deliver Us From
Persecution.” “We light red and white
candles of protest as we condemn the series of killings and repression among
leaders and members of progressive organizations. They are farmers, workers,
teachers, professionals, lawyers, human rights advocates, journalists,
indigenous peoples, church people, students and youth. They have only one thing
in common: they all pursued the cause of justice, truth and peace,” the
prelate added. Some survivors of attacks
and some colleagues of the victims gave testimonies. Two of them were Concepcion
de Luna, Western Samar provincial board member, and Alden Ambida, Bayan Muna
Eastern Visayas coordinator. Roman Polintan,
secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN or New Patriotic
Alliance) – Central Luzon scored the administration of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo for the killings and harassments. Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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