Letter to the editor - Karapatan, Hustisya want justice for mall bombers.

Relatives of Victims of Human rights Violations and Rights groups call for investigation of mall bombing and prosecution of perpetrators as they continue to seek justice for other victims of human rights violations

 Karapatan and Hustisya commiserate with the bereaved families of our eight compatriots killed and 89 injured in yesterday’s tragic bombing of the Glorietta 2 mall yesterday.

 As we gather today in Plaza Salamanca, Manila, to pay tribute to and demand justice for our loved ones, friends and compatriots who were victims of state violence, we likewise join the nation in seeking justice for the victims of the Glorietta 2 bombing.

 We join the call for a thorough investigation, arrest, trial and punishment of those responsible for the blast.

 We likewise warn against any whitewash and sloppy investigation, which have been our sad experience with Mrs. Arroyo’s police and military. The police-led Task Force Usig, for example is, until now, trying to deceive the public by saying many of the cases of extrajudicial killings have been solved with the identification of fall guys although no one has been placed behind bars.

 Karapatan and Hustisya call on our countrymen and women to be vigilant against any diversionary tactics of the embattled Macapagal-Arroyo regime that has resorted to a dirty war to ensure its survival.

 Today, we also express our deep concern about the alleged pay-offs in Malacañang using resources that could have been used for important social services.  It is also repulsive that the Arroyo government can easily give away cash gifts to politicians while begging for foreign aid to allegedly solve the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

 Let us together continue to fight for justice and demand state accountability for the killings, disappearances and other human rights violations.

Ruth Cervantes

public information officer

Karapatan

Evangeline Hernandez

head convener

Hustisya