AS the nation mark today Araw ng Kagitingan, human rights group Free RenanteGamara And All Political Prisoners Movement (FRGM) reiterated their call for the release of the more than 400 political prisoners and an end to their persecution.
Masked in printed faces of the detainees the groups marched to Camp Crame to air their call.
“Political prisoners are heroes of our time. Sila ay magigiting na mga bayaning nagtatanggol sa ating karapatan at kapakanan. But just like the heroes of the Bataan Death March, they are being made to suffer because of their love for our country and people,” said Nicolette Gamara, spokesperson of FRGM and daughter of political prisoner RenanteGamara.
According to KARAPATAN, an alliance advocating human rights, there are 430 political prisoners as of December last year. Pres. Aquino’s counter-insurgency campaign Oplan Bayanihan continues to escalate this, targeting leaders of progressive people’s organizations said the group.
Fourteen of which are National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultants for the peace process barring the long stalled peace talks between NDFP and the government.
“Human rights violations indeed continue under Pres. Aquino, he vainly tries to whitewash this by calling it as mere leftist propaganda but the numbers shall speak for themselves,” said Gamara.
The group which particularly calls for the immediate release of long-time worker and urban poor organizer, RenanteGamara also cited the Aquino government’s blatant violation of theJoint Agreement for Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).
RenanteGamara, now a consultant for the peace process of the NDFP, was arrested a year ago and detained for trumped up charges despite protection under the JASIG.
“The illegal arrest of my father, aside from being a clear violation of JASIG, also reveals how insincere Aquino is in addressing the roots of the armed conflict. They are intentionally jeopardizing the peace process with the arrests of NDFP consultants like my father,” said Gamara.
“Instead of dealing with the clear arguments of the peace talks, the government continually resorts to terrorism. Indeed in this time of injustice everyone is called to be brave.
“Our struggles are bound to intensify as the calls of the people for jobs, homes and justice remain unheeded. Even more, our struggles will intensify as Aquino and his fascist minions attack us with unbridled impunity. But we will be brave. Just like the marchers of Bataan in the past and the hundreds of political prisoners of our time, we will be brave for the people,” Gamara said.