Hustisya

Mothers of victims of human rights violations under the Arroyo regime who banded together under the banner of Hustisya! and Desaparecidos today called on the Filipino people to join them "in defending human rights by fighting the terrorist mother that reigns in Malacañang."

They came together to accept the tribute organized for them by human rights group Karapatan for Mother's Day.

‘Living testament to regime's bloody rights record’
Arroyo human rights victims protest lies told at UPR

Victims of human rights violations of the Arroyo regime held its 3rd Saturday gathering today, April 19, 2008 to register their objection to the lies told by the Philippine government during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last week.

To dramatize their protest, the organization Hustisya (Victims of Arroyo Regime United for Justice), depicted Mrs. Gloria Arroyo as a dummy, “joker with bloody hands.” They scored the Arroyo government for its stubborn view of protests against the worsening human rights situation in the country as nothing but propaganda.

In the observance of the International Women's Month and in their monthly Saturday gathering, women relatives and friends of victims of human rights violations linked arms with other human rights defenders at the Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City, in a bid to call the attention of the United Nations to the human rights record of the Arroyo administration.

Today, International Human Rights Day, families of victims of human rights violations gather at the University of the Philippines grounds to confer to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the MEDALYA DE HORROR for being the No. 1 human rights violator in the country.

"For the victims and their families, this is the award Gloria rightfully deserves" declared Evangeline Hernandez, spokesperson of HUSTISYA, mother of slain activist Beng Hernandez.

The human rights group Karapatan and relatives of victims of human rights violations today joined the relatives of victims of the Glorietta 2 blast in arally at the Ninoy Aquino monument in Ayala Avenue, Makati, to express solidarity with them.

Karapatan, Hustisya and Desaparecidos called for an independent investigation of the mall bombing and prosecution of perpetrators as they continue to seek justice for other victims of human rights violations.

Karapatan and Hustisya commiserate with the bereaved families of our eight compatriots killed and 89 injured in the tragic bombing of the Glorietta 2 mall yesterday.

As we gather today in Plaza Salamanca, Manila, to pay tribute to and demand justice for our loved ones, friends and compatriots who were victims of state violence, we likewise join the nation in seeking justice for the victims of the Glorietta 2 bombing.

We join the call for a thorough investigation, arrest, trial and punishment of those responsible for the blast.

“We welcome Mr. Philip Alston’s visit with optimism,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Secretary General of the human rights alliance KARAPATAN on the arrival of United Nations Special Rapporteur (SR) on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions.

Enriquez says “it is high-time that the UN Special Rapporteur probes the interminable arbitrary executions under the Arroyo government.”