Justice for Sherlyn and Karen

[norma dollaga]

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 If the government has the political will, it could prevent untoward situation, it could mobilize all means within its power and resources  just to prove its worth.    How come that given with the technology,  supposedly advanced intelligence network and all those systems that would supposedly  make the citizens feel safe , and ensure that “there is more fun in the Philippines”, a certain” butcher”  of activists and collaborator of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo   in human rights violations like Ret. Major General Jovito Palparan 

has not been arrested? 

Where is he?  There is no fun in the Philippines even as the Department of Tourism tries to sell the country. There is only terror in the Philippines – the kind that threaten the lives  of those  who exercise their democratic rights. There is no fun in the Philippines - students are  abducted, a witness would testify that they were violated, , a court would say the suspect should be arrested, and the suspect who is a major general is nowhere to be found. This should not be considered as an isolated case.  Sherlyn and Karen are in the prime of their youth when they were forcibly taken—they could have been more empowered, skilled and committed young people serving the least ones, but they were stolen  not only from their families but the communities they wish to serve.   Our country can openly take pride of its youth who are just committed to serve the people.

On the 26th of June 2006, in the dead of night, while resting with a peasant family, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno were forcibly taken by armed men believed to be military agents.  It has been painful years now, but the mothers have kept their faith and hope that they will someday see and embrace their daughters again.

Two years ago, while tirelessly seeking for their children, the   Ecumenical Women’s Forum  (EWF) held a testimonial day with  Nanay Linda Cadapan and Nanay Concepcion Empeño. They  narrated their testimonies of pain and suffering, of finding strength and courage as mothers  relentlessly looking  for their daughters.  They  usually bring the   pictures of their daughters: images of youthful smiles, full of hope and life.  They both expressed how painful it was to constantly think about the condition of their daughters—abducted, tortured, and abused by  the military.  Nanay Linda related how a witness saw her daughter hanging naked upside-down in a detention camp.  Just the mere thought of how helpless her daughter had been in that situation was enough torture for her.

In one of the many Christmases , without her daughter Nanay Concepcion pleaded God to spare her daughter from further toil, shame, and torture.  She asked God to to save her daughter.  And she has committed everything to God.  She could no longer bear the pain of thinking about her daughter being ridiculed, shamed, and tortured by the military.

The two mothers knew that their daughters were tortured, maltreated, and violated.  They  suffered  a lot knowing well the ordeals their daughters have to endure.
In spite of  the pains and  affliction , Concepcion and Linda have no regrets that  their daughters chose the path less travelled by  activists, faithfully serving poor people like the farmers, even if they are only students.  The abduction of their daughters has taught them many things while the strenuous search for their daughters has led them to join others who are in a similar situation.  “I am very proud of my daughter,” each of them has said.  They never blamed their daughters for deciding to serve the interest of the people.  Neither do they blame the progressive youth organizations to which they belong, nor the farmers whom they served.  They only hold Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the military accountable for the cruel and inhuman crimes they have committed against their daughters.

The current Aquino government must render unto these mothers what they are asking for. Aquino can give these students  and the entire Filipino people a favor  - by ensuring that both Arroyo and Palparan are made accountable.  A  “terror threat ”  is like having  a butcher, escaping the court of justice.  That is not a a fun side in the the Philippnes.

Jan. 13,2012

Norma P. Dollaga

 Kasimbayan Women’s Collective

kasim...@yahoo.com.ph

Jan. 113,2012  

for even in our dance
we see the gift of grace
no matter how dangerous
and difficult each step we may take
we can rise
for we know how to dance amidst struggle
                                - nô!/nong/norms/norma