Monday, September 24, 2007 Human Security Act worse than Martial Law: lawyers By Grace L. Plata
THE Alternative Law Groups, a coalition of 18 non-governmental organizations that are engaged in development or alternative lawyering, slammed the implementation of the Human Security Act, saying this has further threatened the already vulnerable poor communities nationwide.
This sentiment was among several raised during the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration last September 21.
Davao-based lawyers lit candles at the Centennial Park Friday afternoon in remembrance of comrades who have fallen victims to human rights violations while protesting the Human Security Act, which they deem worse than Martial Law.
According to ALG Spokesperson Marlon Manuel, under the HSA the poor and marginalized sectors are the most vulnerable to abuses in the implementation of the law because they lack the resources to ensure that their rights are respected and protected.
Even among those in the legal practice, the group has listed 14 judges and 32 lawyers killed in line with human rights-related issues since 1987.
"Our situation these days is worse than martial law in the 1970's. At least then, Marcos categorically declared Martial law in September 21, 1972. This Anti-Terror Law, sugarcoated as the Human Security Act, legitimizes the government's repression of rights while it is claiming that we are still in a fully functioning democracy and that the law only serves to protect the state and the people from terror attacks. The HSA is not good in apprehending who it should go after but it is excellent in terrorizing local communities that peacefully claim their constitutionally-guaranteed rights," Manuel said.
The group urges communities to be vigilant and has launched a nationwide monitoring network to guard against human rights abuses that may be perpetrated with the HSA implementation.
"We cannot allow laws such as the HSA to take away our rights from us which we fought for as we certainly cannot allow armed men to just search and seize the property and documents of the communities," Manuel said.
