Human rights reading room at UP now open

For Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo, it’s all about educating future generations on the big difference between democracy and dictatorship, between oppression and freedom, between right and wrong.

The veteran activist and former political detainee has made a P600,000-endowment to the University of the Philippines Main Library for its human rights reading room that would serve as a repository of records relating to the country’s experience under the Marcos regime.

The reading room, formally opened to the public Wednesday, now houses some of the country’s most important documents, papers and effects of the Martial Law-era.

"The realization of this project is an overdue recognition and vindication of tens of thousands of martial law victims," said retired Navy Captain Danilo Vizmanos, who heads SELDA, an organization of former political detainees. SELDA, along with the First Quarter Storm Foundation collaborated with the state university on the project. – Romel Bagares