3/14 San Jose — Join us for a die-in action as we call for justice for Freddie Ligiw and his family and to call for an end to state-sponsored violence! We will have a short program and will have a die-in — where people lay on the ground holding placards while their bodies are outlined with chalk.
Justice for all victims of human rights!
Meet at 6PM @ MLK Library
150 E San Fernando St, San Jose, CA
RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/512629725512323/?notif_t=plan_user_joined
ABSV statement
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2014
Anakbayan Silicon Valley condemns the murder of Freddie Ligiw and his family, Calls for justice for the Ligiw family and an end to US military aid to the Philippines.
As an overseas chapter of Anakbayan that stands against all forms of violence against youth, we, Anakbayan Silicon Valley (ABSV) heavily condemn the ruthless murder of Freddie Ligiw along with his father, Rogelio Ligiw, and brother, Eddie Ligiw. Freddie Ligiw, 29 years old, is a member of Anakbayan in the Philippines’ northern province of Abra and all three are members of the KASTAN, a chapter of the Cordillera People’s Alliance. Freddie was reported missing along with his father and brother on March 6, 2014. On March 8th, they were found gagged, tied-up, and buried in a shallow grave.
According to a report by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), Freddie Ligiw was preparing to give a testimony on how the military forcibly used him as a guide, and likely as a human shield, by the Armed Forces of the Philippines 41st Infantry Battalion in their operations against the New People’s Army in the area.
ABSV is outraged and demands justice for the murder of Freddie and his family, which is part of a continuing trend of state-sponsored violence and human rights violations against activists under the U.S.-Aquino regime. As a youth organization fighting against U.S. Imperialism in the Philippines we still see that the U.S. government continues to condone the Philippine government’s acts of human rights violations by providing military aid through our tax dollars. In 2013, the Philippines received an increase of $20M, with a total of $50M of foreign military financing which amounts to a total of $500M since 2002, none of which has benefited the people.
We demand justice for human rights violations for all people in the Philippines especially the youth activists who are striving for a better way of life. ABSV recognizes that such a culture of impunity and disregard for the Filipino people has forced many youth to leave with their families only to encounter similar experiences of physical, verbal, and emotional violence. We renew our call to end U.S. military aid to the Philippines, with the demand that the Philippines uphold human rights on its citizens as well as provide justice to those that violate it. The U.S. government’s continuing provision of U.S. tax dollars in the form of military aid to the Philippines is high prioritized while students and youth around the country suffer budget cuts in education, higher tuition, and social services.
Being a comprehensive youth and student mass organization, we demand the cut of U. S. military aid to the Philippines to stop human rights violations and save the lives of innocent civilians who are fighting for a decent livelihood! Justice for Freddie “Fermin” Ligiw and his family! Justice for all victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines!
ANAKBAYAN SAN JOSE 