PHOTO ESSAY
Cry Justice!
They came together
with one thing in mind: justice for their kin.
PHOTOS BY AYA SANTOS
TEXT BY DEE AYROSO
The names were
written in white letters on 10 pieces of black tarpaulin. Hanging from
steel bars, the tarp looked like gravestones in the middle of the plaza in
front of the Sta. Cruz church in Manila.
The names, more than
500 of them, belonged to victims of summary executions from 2001 to the
present, perpetrated by suspected military and police elements under the
Arroyo administration.
Human rights alliance
Karapatan led the victims’ families and activists in a gathering on the
morning of May 20, as they hail the victims of killings as “heroes of the
people.”
Curious passers-by
stop to read the names, or to look at the faces of some of the victims,
printed on large tarpaulins which were laid on the ground.
It was the second
time since April that the families of killings and forced disappearances
had gathered, to speak out, and hearten each other as they seek justice
for their kin.
They were from
different provinces, from different sectors of society. There were the
widows, mothers, orphaned children, wives searching their husbands, all
victims too, as much as those who were killed or abducted.
Party-list
representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna
(People First) and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) were
present, and had donned white vests with target marks.
“They told us we
should forgive and forget, but nobody has actually asked for our
forgiveness,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Karapatan secretary general and a
victim of the Marcos Dictatorship. She said that through the past
regimes, justice has eluded the victims and their families. Enriquez said
that through the people’s continuous and collective action, justice will
eventually be served.
“Huwag
tayong matakot sa gobyerno,” said Romy Ramos, elder brother of Ricardo
Ramos, president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union who was
killed in October 2005 by suspected soldiers. He said their whole family
is continuing Ka Ric’s fight. Bulatlat
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