‘CLIMATE OF IMPUNITY’ | Groups reiterate call to ‘never forget’ on 51st Martial Law anniversary

September 21, 2023 , 02:38 PM

(September 21, 2023) – Progressive organizations on Thursday marked the 51st anniversary of Martial Law with protests to reiterate that the people have not forgotten about the cruel dictatorship of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Earlier today, students from different universities, including the University of the Philippines, held demonstrations to voice out their criticisms of the abuses of Marcos’ tyrannical rule.

Members of Karapatan Southern Tagalog also kicked off their caravan at the United States Embassy while the regional unit of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in Cavite held its take-off protest in Bacoor.

LIVE: Southern Tagalog groups kick off protest caravan at US Embassy for 51st Martial Law Commemoration

Watch the livestream at https://t.co/BSBsMmfovv #ML51 #NeverAgain #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/cDxkr3mB8u

— Karapatan Timog Katagalugan (@KarapatanST) September 21, 2023

Groups gathered at the Liwasang Bonifacio this afternoon.

BAYAN said the anniversary of Martial Law this year has a huge implication because similar abuses are happening under the term of the late dictator’s son, President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

“That the Marcos regime has chosen to be silent on many rights issues only contributes to the enduring climate of impunity in the country today. Instead of accountability, the regime wants to whitewash the crimes of the dictator by dissociating the Marcos name from the infamous dictatorship,” said BAYAN.

More than 3,200 were killed, 34,000 were tortured, and 70,000 were imprisoned during Marcos’ dictatorial rule.

BAYAN also mentioned the recent case of two environmental activists—Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro—who revealed that they were abducted by the military when they were conducting research in Bataan earlier this month.

Their case prompted human rights groups to press the government to surface the victims of enforced disappearances.

“What happened to Jhed and Jonila are not isolated events but rather part of the modus of state forces in their efforts to stifle dissent,” added BAYAN.

Tanggol Kasaysayan, a cause-oriented group, said the elder Marcos and his son have a lot of similarities in handling the government, lamenting “crony capitalism” and human rights violations in both administrations almost four decades apart.

“Ngayong araw, Setyembre 21, ay hindi lamang ginugunita ng sambayanang Pilipino ang isa sa pinakamadilim na yugto ng ating kasaysayan. Kinakaharap din natin ang isang panibagong baluktot na pamamahala,” said Tanggol Kasaysayan.

Martial Law, which took effect on September 21, 1972, was one of the darkest times in the country’s history because of the widespread abuses, muzzling of the media, stifling of dissent, and the rampant corruption of the Marcos family.

In 2021, the Presidential Commission on Good Government said it had recovered almost P175 billion from the Marcoses, who continue to refuse to apologize for their atrocities. It said at least P125 billion more should be reclaimed.

Meanwhile, the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) reiterated that the elder Marcos was a dictator, taking a swipe at efforts to divorce his name from the term “dictatorship” in textbooks.

“Ang rehimen ni Marcos ay isang diktadura. Hindi tayo papayag na baluktutin ang kasaysayan at burahin ang katotohanan,” said CARMMA.

The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) said the people must not allow history to be distorted in any way.

“The distortion of facts to fit the narrative of the Marcos era’s “the good, true and beautiful” rhetoric, and the imprints of martial law are all palpable,” said SELDA. “Marcos Jr. copycats his dictator-father’s acts of tyranny and oppression.”

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