Members of Hustisya (Victims of the Arroyo Regime United for Justice) showed up at 10 a.m. at the Quezon Memorial Circle carrying an effigy of President Macapagal-Arroyo, whom they portrayed as a joker with bloody hands.

They scored the administration for the worsening human rights situation in the country.

In their statement, Hustisya said that “like a joker, Ms Arroyo thinks she can present a ‘smiling’ image of the Philippines to the international community; however, a cruel regime lurks behind the mask.”

Jigs Clamor, deputy secretary general of the human rights group Karapatan, also faulted the administration’s assurance before the UNHRC that killings and disappearances in the Philippines were decreasing.

“What brought about the downward trend of cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances last year was the strong outcry here and abroad against the killings and abductions resulting from Oplan Bantay Laya,” Clamorsaid, referring to the government’s counter-insurgency drive.

Members of Hustisya, Karapatan and other human rights groups gather every third Saturday each month to call for an end to the political killings, enforced disappearances and political repression in the Arroyo administration.

The gathering yesterday was held at the Peace Bell area at Quezon Memorial Circle, chosen because of the bell’s significance and affinity with the UN. The bell used to be in the inner court of UN headquarters in New York and is made of medals and coins contributed by some 65 member countries of the UN.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080420-131478/Marches-vs-killings-abductions-continue