Human rights day rallies set

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net

A militant alliance on Wednesday called on President Duterte to address four “urgent human rights issues” as it announced nationwide protests to commemorate International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

The afternoon rally at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila would be “a reminder to the government” that “we will not forget, and we will not be forgotten,” according to an invitation to join the mass action.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said justice for all human rights victims during martial law and all victims of “continuing human rights violations and state fascism” remain as one of his group’s major calls.

The burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani and the restoration of the Marcos family to power “threatens efforts for meaningful indemnification of human rights victims,” Reyes said.

Another issue, he said, is the immediate release of more than 400 “unjustly detained” political prisoners. They “should not be made as bargaining chips by the government panel in peace negotiations,” he said, referring to Mr. Duterte’s demand for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to sign a bilateral ceasefire before he orders their release.

Putting a stop to “the militarization of the countryside” is a third issue.

Finally, Reyes said, there should be “an end to impunity in the war on drugs as the death toll rises and as state agents are emboldened by presidential pronouncements.”