Monday, July 31, 2006

Youth civil rights group condemns killing of student activist

TANGGULAN Youth Network for Human Rights and Civil Liberties condemns today's early morning killing of Rie Mon Guran, 21 years old and the League of Filipino Students (LFS) chapter spokesperson in Aquinas University , Albay province.

Dion Cerrafon, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines chairperson and convenor of TANGGULAN blamed the Arroyo government for the "cold-blooded murder of student activists prominent in the Arroyo ouster campaign."

"Who has the motives to silent its critics? Who has the greatest benefit if those the government considers as 'enemies of the state' are physically eliminated?"

According to reports received by KARAPATAN national from its provincial chapter in Sorsogon, Rie or "Ambo" as he is fondly called by friends was shot today at around 6 a.m. in Bulan, Sorsogon.

"Sino ang Judas na patrydor na babarilin si Rie sa umagang-umaga ngayong araw? We hold this government accountable for the unabated attack on our organisations. We protest Arroyo government's inability to solve this hideous crime which already claimed the lives of two of our leaders in Bicol", Vencer Crisostomo LFS national chairperson and also TANGGULAN's convenor.

Rie is already the second student leader of LFS slain this year in the Bicol region after Cris Hugo of the Bicol University . Cris, 21 years old LFS regional spokesperson was killed by an unknown assailant last March 19 while walking home, after a class outing in the area of Washington Drive, Legazpi City.

TANGGULAN meanwhile said that Rie is the fourth youth leader victimized by extra-judicial execution since January this year.

LFS called for an indignation rally today, which is to be joined by other student and youth members of TANGGULAN.

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