Rights activist abducted, says group
By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:04:00 12/04/2008
Filed Under: Human Rights, Abduction
MANILA, Philippines—A militant human rights organization has raised the alert over the reported abduction of a member of another human rights group by armed men in Taguig City last week.
In an Urgent Alert issued on Wednesday, Karapatan said it received a report that Mohammad Diya Hamja, described by the group as a "human rights defender," was taken at gunpoint by eight men in ski masks on November 28 at around 1:15 p.m. on his way home in Maharlika Village after saying his noontime prayer at the Blue Mosque.
The men were in a white L-300 van with license plates XHC-238, two of whom pointed their rifles at Hamja and forced him inside the vehicle, Karapatan said, quoting witnesses.
The van sped towards lower Bicutan. Hamja was wearing a green long sleeves polo and white pajama when he was abducted.
Hamja, 50, is a member of Hustisya! (Justice!), an organization of relatives and human rights victims under the Arroyo administration, and the Moro Christian People's Alliance (MCPA)
The Families of the Disappeared for Justice (Desaparecidos) blamed Hamja's abduction on state security forces and urged them to surface the human rights worker.
"Hamja is a Moro human rights activist, a former detainee, and he was abducted in broad daylight right in front of a police detachment. We have no other suspect here but state security agents," said Mary Guy Portajada, the newly elected Secretary General of Desaparecidos, who, along with human rights group Karapatan joined Hamja's family in the search.
Members of Karapatan, Desaparecidos, Hustisya! and MCPA had gone to the Southern Police District and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and other offices in Camp Crame in search of Hamja.
Karapatan on Wednesday sought the assistance of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Hamja's case.
Karapatan and Desaparecidos said that Hamja was among the Basilan residents arrested by the military in 2000 on allegations that they were members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
They were detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.
According to the groups, Hamja was among those charged with fabricated cases which were later dismissed for lack of evidence, leading to his release.
Some of Hamja's companions who remained in detention were killed in the 2005 Bicutan siege, the groups said.
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