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| Photo downloaded from Bayan ST website |
BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN-SOUTHERN TAGALOG
PRESS RELEASE JULY 17, 2012
MILITANTS LAMBASTS AQUINO’S 2 YEARS FOR WORSENING HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD, SET TO LAUNCH INDEPENDENT FACT FINDING MISSION
LUCENA CITY—Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Timog-Katagalugan (BAYAN-TK) assailed today the continuing violations and ever-worsening human rights condition of the country. In a statement through its Secretary General, XL Fuentes, the group pointed out that the Aquino regime is no different from the likes of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Ferdinand Marcos, having a bloody record on human rights protection.
“It is our utmost disappointment that for the past two-years, the Aquino regime did nothing to advance the respect of our human rights, instead the regime through its Oplan Bayanihan campaign, intensified military operations against our people were being pursued; indiscriminate firing, burning of properties, among others become rampant like what happened last June 30 in Quezon province. It aims to further the prevailing culture of impunity.” Fuentes expressed in dismay.
Human rights group KARAPATAN-ST noted 17 cases of extra-judicial killings, 3 cases of enforced disappearances, recent of which happened yesterday July 16 when activist Gerwin Castigador was forcibly taken by heavily armed men from its home in Binangonan Rizal. Filing of trumped-up charges against government’s critics, harassment, intimidation and witch hunting continue.
“Such wanton disregard of human rights in the country called the attention of the international community. The Aquino administration was criticized by almost 70 countries last May during the United Nations Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva Switzerland for not resolving significant cases of human rights abuses committed against the people.” Fuentes added.
“With this, it now becomes imperative for the people to further the struggle towards a humane future. In Quezon for example, human rights advocates started a Fact Finding Mission (FFM) at San Narciso town, wherein there were reports of recent skirmishes between the military and the New People’s Army. The FFM aims to gather relevant, unbiased and credible data of the incidents so as to provide recommendations on how the rights of people, especially children must be respected on places with armed conflict.”said Fuentes.
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