Photo from SAKA
Survivors of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s martial rule accuse the late dictator’s namesake as himself fast-gaining infamy in the number of human rights violations in just over two years as president.
On the 52nd anniversary of the official declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Sr., the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) said Ferdinand Jr. is himself gaining notoriety with 105 extrajudicial killings (EJK) under his term.
In addition, CARMMA said 75 frustrated EJKs, 15 enforced disappearances, 145 illegal arrests and detentions, 42,426 forcibly evacuated, 44,604 victims of bombings and 63,379 victims of indiscriminate firing have been reported from July 2022.
Not included in CARMMA’s list are the reported abduction of young peasant organizers Vladimir Maro and Andy Magno in San Pablo, Isabela last September 11.
“(CARMMA) marks the 52nd anniversary of the martial law declaration with renewed outrage over the continuing human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) suffered by our people, this time under the Marcos scion Ferdinand Jr.,” the group said.
CARMMA also said Marcos Jr. fails to prosecute and fully hold accountable former President Rodrigo Duterte for his murderous policies and bloody record, while perpetrating his predecessor’s policies that created a human rights crisis.
“[This] speaks volumes on the heightened climate of impunity under the current administration,” CARMMA said.
The group said that censorship, a staple under Marcos Sr., is likewise rearing its ugly head under his son, whose so-called ratings body attempted to ban from screening a documentary on the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos before it was prevailed upon to reclassify the film as R-16.
CARMMA also pointed out previous attempts by the Marcos Jr. government to ban books with progressive content, in addition to admissions by the Department of Education of moves to erase the phrase “Marcos dictatorship” from school textbooks.
“These, and moves to deodorize martial law in history textbooks, are all part of an orchestrated attempt to prevent the public from knowing the truth and anesthesize the nation against Marcos Jr.’s palpable acts to replicate his father’s tyranny,” CARMMA said.
The martial law survivors accuse the second Marcos administration of recreating the dictator’s “mythical golden era” through projects like the nutribun distribution, the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and programs mimicking the controversial Masagana 99 agricultural program.
“Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is going down the same destructive path of perpetrating despicable human rights violations, especially extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and indiscriminate bombings and food and economic blockades in rural communities, CARMMA said.
CARMMA said Malacanang’s efforts are failing as the people recognize the tell-tale signs of creeping dictatorship and overwhelmingly denounce them.
“They will not tolerate a tragic repeat by Marcos Jr. of his father’s repressive reign. In the face of Marcos Jr.’s tyrannical ambitions, the part of history that does bear repeating is the people’s astounding overthrow of Marcosian rule,” the group said.
Meanwhile, thousands of activists are trooping to Mendiola to hold a protest rally on today’s anniversary.
The Philippine National Police however have put up a barricade at the corner of Morayta and Recto avenues in Manila, reminiscent of the days of the dictatorship. | via Kodao Productions
This article Martial Law survivors fume at renewed rights violations under Marcos Jr. was originally published in Kodao Productions.
