August 29, 2012
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In honor of the disappeared
Human Rights
Today, August 30, the world remembers the disappeared, people who are victims of enforced disappearances or the desaparecidos.A movement in Facebook is brewing, asking users to remove their profile pictures as a sign of solidarity to all victims and family of desaparecidos. As a journalist and an activist, I myself has stories of people who are victims of enforced disappearance, and victimized of government-instigated abductions.
One time, while investigating the story of the murder of Fr. Cecilio Lucero of Northern Samar (Bulatlat: Marked for death, October 17, 2009), we came across a victim of military abduction and a survivor of summary execution by the Philippine military. His experience was so heart-wrenching, and to think that he was but a lowly farmer going about his own business. It was reasoned that it was because of him that Father Lucero was killed, because the priest would not want to surrender him to the military.
During the 15th Lopez Jaena Fellowship on Community Journalism, we also talked with victims of military abduction, as well as a witness and the family of activists Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. The witness told his story, how he was abducted and kept as prisoner by the military and what he saw of the girls.
And then there's Felicidad "Shiela" Katalbas, a personal friend who disappeared in 2007. She was a full-time community organizer working with farmers in Negros island. She was a constant figure at the office where I and fellow student activists frequented during my university days in Silliman University. She would ask us for used school bags, clothes, and other stuffs that we could donate to children of poor farmers living in the mountain villages of the island. And she would tell us of stories that would further inflame our desire for change. In 2007, on broad daylight and right beside a government hospital, Shiela was abducted by men believed to be military officers, grabbing her and forcing her into a silver van accompanied by a pick-up truck.
From what I know, she had a relative who's in the military so it never dawned on me that she will be a victim of enforced disappearance.
On this day, let us remember the stories of these victims of enforced disappearance, whose only crime was to sympathize with the oppressed and work for justice and peace.
For more on the Philippine's disappeared, visit the Ulinig Exhibit site of Desaparecidos.
Here is a wonderful song for victims of enforced disappearance, their families, and friends who is keeping their hopes up in finally finding them and keeping their struggles alive, entitled Desap by Filipino artist Karl Ramirez.
Video courtesy of Karl Ramirez | Photo courtesy of Karapatan and Desaparecidos.
Comments (18)
We're constantly fighting them.
I don't understand why they satisfy themselves with peoples' abductions because most people couldn't do anything if they wanted. The only thing we can do to upset them is either kill ourselves or kill other workers that they need.
But if we're going to play that game, go get Jamie. Make her stupid. I think I got Campbell back.
I have no words I can say to something like this happening. It is cruel, sad, and heart wrenching.
Wow. I know desaparecidos are a big issue in Argentina too. Also Chile.
I did not know this was happening.
Even here, my mother told me that sometimes girls were kidnapped in San Francisco and put on ships for delivery to over seas houses of prostitution. I guess it is true, but I know lots is written about Human Trafficking in Xanga.
frank
All I know of human trafficking is what I see in movies and on the Discovery channel. It is heart wrenching. People that do this themselves should be run-through with a dull-crochet-needle.
You always open my eyes to what it is like in other parts of the world...even though I know some Filipinos, I have never heard them talk of what things are like back home. It's sad that the military think removing a "problem" will make the issue go away. In reality, I think it only serves to strengthen opposition to them.
Sad. More sad because there's nothing much we can do to help.
In Malaysia there's a lot of unsolved cases of child abduction/kidnapping. There's a lot of theories said about the matter, but I think the real reason behind the disappearance of those children is human trafficking.
You are right. Those victims have to not be forgotten . I hope things change.
In friendship
Michel
@KnightInCROATIANarmor - so true... sad indeed...
@we_deny_everything - Its sad when it comes a government policy, like here in the Philippines...
@ANVRSADDAY - human trafficking is also a big problem in my country, aside from politically-motivated disappearances...
@olwd - indeed... although i always believe in nonviolence
@songoftheheart - in a way, i am happy that i was able to raise awareness on the problem... thank you for taking time to read as well... i do agree with you, such action only strengthens opposition...
@RestlessButterfly - that is so true, though we can raise awareness on the inhumane-ness of this cowardly practice... we can only pray for the victims and their families...
@fauquet - thank you Michel...
@Colorsofthenight - I'm still hoping for that day when the people of the world would get to realize their humanity...
@tribong_upos -
I understand but they're children. I truly detest it when adults take advantage of children.
@olwd - same here...
Comments are closed.