Hong Kong OFWs call for justice for Toboso 19

By Trina Federis
Bulatlat.com

HONG KONG — April, in some cultures, denotes springtime, the blossoming of flowers, and life. But on 19th of April in the Philippines, it meant death and chaos, as 19 people were killed in Toboso, Negros Occidental, while hundreds of residents were forced to flee.

On the last Sunday of April, Filipinos held a Day of Action for the Toboso victims. Led by Bayan Hong Kong and Macau and the Promotion of Church People’s Response Hong Kong, a prayer service in Central was organized, so to “give space to honor the victims, and for Filipinos in HK along with our friends time to grieve, reflect, and act.”

The prayer service was co-officiated by Fr Dwight dela Torre (IFI) and Rev Joram Calimutan (UCCP).

There were other advocates present during the service. Kevin of the Hong Kong Campaign For Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, recalled the time he met Errol Wendel in Hacienda Luisita. “He gave us a thorough discussion of the Hacienda Luisita massacre and shared the stories of local peasants whose land had been grabbed and whose means of life had been exploited. His voice was tender and his countenance compassionate.”

In another part of Hong Kong, in a local farm in New Territories, some migrants and HK locals gave tribute to the Toboso 19 with a moment of silence.

In Kowloon, migrant workers coordinated by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body conducted an indoor protest for the Toboso victims. They demanded justice, according to Shiela Tebia-Bonifacio, AMCB spokesperson. “Those who were killed are students, journalists, researchers who were helping the farmers, as landlords continue to exploit them in a country enmeshed in poverty.”

According to Mendez, there will be more massacres, as long as landlessness is common in the Philippines.

At the month’s end, we see the beginning of a new one, but still spring. Flowers bloom, as blood flows.

“They can cut all the flowers, but they cannot stop spring from coming. They cannot stop the reckoning of the people they have starved, displaced, and killed,” Mendez said.

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