Protesters slam martial law threats, call for human rights recognition

PROTESTERS gathered to campaign against the likely revival of martial law and to demand human rights recognition at the Rizal Park on the 45th anniversary of Martial Law last Sept. 21.

Human Rights lawyer Neri Colmenares emphasized in his speech that it is hard to move on from the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’s Martial Law, if there is no justice and accountability.

“Paano ka mag-compromise, paano ka mag-move on, hindi nga nila ina-acknowledge ang human rights violation noong panahon ng Martial Law… Hindi pwedeng mag-move on, hindi pwedeng magkaroon ng reconciliation nang walang hustisya [at]walang accountability,” Colmenares said.

Benedictine Sister Mary John Mananzan of Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) said the protesters should forget their differences in political beliefs and alliances as they fight for peace to prevent the “darkness looming over our land.”

“Itong pagpapatay ng ating mga kabataan, pagpapatay ng ating mga kababayan. Stop all these killings! Stop [them],” she said.

“Magiging very cheap na ang ating buhay and buhay is the greatest gift of God,” she added.

Jerome Succor Aba, co-chairman of Sandugo, an umbrella organization of several minority groups, told The Spiral Journal they are protesting against the “fascist” regime of Duterte which they attribute to the killings of Bangsamoro and Lumads.

“Nandito kami sa Manila upang manawagan sa mga taga-Luzon na huwag hayaang magdeclare si Duterte ng Martial Law dahil ‘yan ay pagpatay, pagbobomba, [panggigipit],” he said.

Artists in movement

Veteran actor Crispin Medina Sr. encouraged the youth to be aware and make a move on the issues faced by the country.

“Kailangan lahat magtulong-tulong lalo na yung mga visual artists, yung mga mahilig gumawa ng video, mga estudyante, mga mahilig lang sa editing, sa internet, gumawa kayo ng videos tapos [i-post sa] internet tungkol sa pagmumulat na iyan—kung ano ‘yung mga ginagawang panloloko ng mga politiko at mga negosyante na nagsasamantala,” Medina said.

The youth should not be discouraged from being involved in national issues and from joining mass movements, Medina told The Spiral Journal.

“Huwag matakot. [H]uwag matakot [k]asi kapag nag-martial law, mas matatakot sila,” he said.

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) dedicated a song to congressmen who agreed to reduce the budget of the Commission on Human Rights to 1,000 pesos.

The song by PETA addressed the killings of youth under the administration’s war against illegal drugs that police claimed as “may baril” and “nanlaban.”

Covered in packing tape, political activist and artist Juana Change performed as she put herself in the position of a mother whose five-year-old child died due to collateral damage in Duterte’s “war on drugs.”

“Anong klaseng bayan ito? Ang alam ko, may halaga ako kahit adik ako,” she said.

A literary piece performed by spoken word poet Juan Miguel Severo titled "Teorya ng Paglika" lambasted Marcos dictatorship and the atrocities committed before and at present.

“Walang simpanganib ang paglimot, walang sinlupit ang kasaysayan. Lalangin ang tao sa kanyang larawan, at balewalain ang mga nawalang buhay. Noong sinabi ng bayani: ‘Linlangin ang tao sa aking larawan,’ at bumangon ang kanyang bangkay,” Severo recited.

At least 8, 000 anti-government protesters attended the protest.