Protest to mark 45th martial law anniv

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[av_heading heading=’ Protest to mark 45th martial law anniv ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
[/av_heading]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Thursday. September 21, 2017
[/av_textblock]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO City – Activists mark the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law today with a rally in front of the Iloilo provincial capitol and a march around the city.

Banding under the multi-sectoral group called Movement Against Tyranny, participants will denounce extrajudicial killings and President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to impose martial law nationwide.

According to Reyland Vergara, secretary general of the human rights alliance Karapatan-Panay, they hope to gather at least 2,000 participants across Western Visayas.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 319 making this day a “National Day of Protest.” He acknowledged the human rights violations during martial law.

President Ferdinand Marcos placed the country under military rule on Sept. 21, 972 supposedly to save the country from the communist insurgency, “to reform society and build a New Republic.”

Today, the program in front of the provincial capitol on Bonifacio Drive starts at 1 p.m.

“We will also press for genuine respect for human rights and freedom of expression,” said Vergara.

He recalled violations of human rights, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arrest of those critical of the Marcos dictatorship during martial law. He urged Ilonggos to be vigilant so that these won’t happen again.

Vergara stressed the importance of educating the young generation of what happened during the Marcos martial law.

Duterte described the period as a time “attended by the commission of gross human rights violations, arbitrary state interventions, rampant corruption, and disregard of fundamental civil liberties.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said today’s activities should remind Ilonggos of the importance of human rights.

The protests, he added, show “that we cannot forgive those who have sinned against the Filipino people unless there is repentance.”

“Kinanglan batunon anay sang nag abusar sang tiempo sang martial law ang ila mga kasal-anan,” said the governor.

Also today, Dakila Iloilo Collective, a group devoted to modern-day heroism, is organizing a gathering to remember the victims of violation of human rights. The event, called “Lost Lines”, will be held at the Molo district plaza from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Lost Lines” is dedicated especially to young victims of extrajudicial killings. The name of the event alludes to the lines that would have been drawn by promising young people whose lives were cut short by the culture of hate and violence.

The program includes an outdoor film screening of “Mga Alingawngaw sa Panahon ng Pagpapasya” by Hector Calma. The short film is set in the martial law period.

There will also be an interactive public installation art and poetry reading.

Candles will be lit in remembrance of human rights violation victims.

“We have always believed that everyone can be a hero. We believe in ‘Ang mabuhay nang dahil sa ‘yo’ because it is in living for the country that we can all push for real change in the society. The recent killings of children have robbed them off this chance to write their own stories of heroism, a chance to live and contribute to a better society. Each stab that has killed a child has killed the nation of heroes that we are trying to build,” said Keneth Gadian, Dakila Iloilo Collective managing director./PN
[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full]