HR rally Saturday to tackle FM abuses

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 8): HR rally Saturday to tackle FM abuses

The 68th anniversary of International Human Rights Day will be marked in Bacolod City with a rally to denounce, among others, human rights violations committed under the US-Marcos dictatorship, Clarizza Dagatan ,   Karapatan   Negros   secretary general , said yesterday.

The issue of the Marcos abuses are being raised in the wake of the recent burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which they strongly oppose, she said.

We are calling for just peace and the release of all political prisoners, Dagatan added.

Dagatan said members of Karapatan and other allied groups are participating in an ongoing fasting that started December 3 until Saturday in solidarity with the political prisoners to press for their release.

The Karapatan-led rally that is expected to draw a crowd of 3,000 will kick off from the Capitol Lagoon Park in the north and the Lupit Church in the south at about 1 p.m. to converge at the Bacolod Public Plaza at 2 p.m.Saturday for the rally, she said.

Karapatan will also hold a Tribute to Martyrs vigil from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City.

“We are calling for justice for all victims of human right violations, especially the martyrs,” she said.

The rally will be joined by members of of the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates who will join a caravan to Bacolod for the rally on Saturday.

Despite the unilateral ceasefire the Army's 62nd Infantry Battalion based in Central Batao, Sagay City, is continuing to conduct operations in rural areas causing the dislocation of farmers, NNAHRA spokesperson Marianito Amacan claimed.

A NNAHRA fact-finding mission report distributed to the media yesterday alleged that 62nd IB men committed human rights violations in barangays Jonob-Jonob, Malasibog and Paitan in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

The report alleged that residents freedom to organize, belief and abode were endangered because the Army tagged them as supporters and worst leaders of the an underground organization affiliated with Communist party of the Philippines-New People's Army.

NNAHRA demanded the immediate pull-out of the military in communities where people live and work peacefully.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/December/08/topstory6.htm