Joint Press Release
November 21, 2007

Reference:
Jigs Clamor, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General, 09189790580/
 09228149751
Ghay Portajada, National Coordinator, Desaparecidos, 09058234907


GMA dared to impugn soldiers behind abductions

The families of victims of enforced disappearance today called on
Pres. Arroyo to prosecute the state security forces who were confirmed
to be behind the abduction, torture and interrogation of two victims
surfaced by virtue of the writ of amparo.

"If Mrs. Arroyo was really sincere about stopping the killings,
disappearances and torture, she should have, by this time, ordered
government prosecutors to initiate the filing of charges against the
commanding officers and soldiers of the 76th IBPA and 73rd  IBPA who
were proven to have violated the rights of Rowil Muñasque and Luicito
Bustamante and the laws of the land," said Ghay Portajada,
spokesperson of the Families of Desaparecidos for Justice.

"The fact that she has not issued even a statement to hold the guilty
soldiers accountable shows that she condones these abuses," Portajada
added.

Desaparecidos, along with Karapatan, today picketed at the Court of
Appeals during the hearing of the writ of amparo for missing UP
students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño and peasant Manuel Merino.

"Sherlyn and Karen have been missing for one year and five months now.
 Jonas Burgos disappeared for almost six months. We hope that the
court will act with dispatch on these cases, if the writ of amparo is
to save the victims," said Jigs Clamor, Karapatan deputy secretary
general.

"We are hopeful that more victims will be saved and surfaced through
the amparo.  But we are also wary that the perpetrators will remain
untouched and unpunished, given Arroyo's stance," said Jig Clamor,
Karapatan deputy secretary general.  "She was quick to commend the
arrest of the supposed "suspects" in the Batasan bombing, but has kept
quiet on the human rights violations of her soldiers," he added.

Muñasque, 33, and Bustamante, 21, have given testimonies on the days
of grueling torture they had undergone in the hands of military men.
Bustamante showed cigarette butt marks on his neck and back, and said
he was even made to eat his feces.

"The testimonies of survivors like these two men have shown how state
security forces commit unimaginable crimes on the individual, violate
the Constitution, international humanitarian laws and covenants, yet
be tolerated by a president like Arroyo who "condemns" political
repression in other countries," Clamor said. ###

Delete Reply