Families of The Disappeared Unite!
By Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances opened the year 2003 with its participation in the historical first meeting of the UN
inter-sessional open ended working group to elaborate a draft legally – biding normative instrument for the protection of persons from enforced disappearances held in Geneva, Switzerland from January 8-17. The presence of the Federation, linked with the Latin American Federation of Associations of Relatives of the Disappeared Detainees
(FEDEFAM) and Linking Solidarity, all the more gave the justification for the need to fill in the gaps in the existing international mechanism to fight against disappearances and impunity.
This issue of The Voice, once again brings to our hearts and minds the scourge of involuntary disappearances in Asia, which, despite its alarming magnitude, is but a microcosm of this global phenomena.
Amidst intense repression within China, the Tiananmen Mothers fearlessly continue to achieve justice not only for themselves, but for tomorrow’s generation.
The daily occurrences of disappearances and killings in Kashmir, India have failed to cow the families of the disappeared from seeking justice.
The nightmare of disappearances in Indonesia during the Suharto regime and their continued occurrence in many parts of the country compels the families of the victims to unite and form
IKOHI.
As Pakistan faces intense repression coupled with anti-terrorist hysteria, families of the victims dare to wage an uphill fight through the formation and eventual development of the Truth and Justice Commission.
The never-ending hope of Filipino father to see his disappeared son again before he closes his immortal eyes must prick the conscience of perpetrators whose callousness has prevented the revelation of the truth on the whereabouts of the missing. Unmindful of the decades that have passed, the co-families of the victims, indefatigably champion the cause, which their disappeared loved ones left behind.
The cry of the people in Sri Lanka and Thailand speaks of the imperative of a stronger solidarity among themselves and with other families of the disappeared in other countries.
Crossing national boundaries, AFAD, while maintaining inter-continental cooperation with
FEDEFAM, also reached out to families of the disappeared in Eastern Europe and Africa who, also, are convinced that international cooperation is a compelling imperative.
With these increasing challenges in the context of a bleak global human rights situation, exacerbated by the US-instigated war against Iraq, AFAD has to strengthen itself to respond even more effectively to the sings of times. Thus, the Federation conducted a Leadership Training on January 27-31, 2003 in the Philippines. The activity recognized the Federation’s limitation and weaknesses. Opened a well attended public forum, the training posed numerous challenges that called for a concrete renewal of commitment.
Now, as the United Nations Commission on Human Rights holds its 59th sessions in Geneva, Switzerland, involuntary disappearances will be a significant issue on Civil and Political Rights. The need for a legally-binding normative instrument to combat involuntary disappearances and impunity obliges the Federation and all like-minded organizations of the families of the disappeared to strengthen its international solidarity, lobby and campaign.
Families of the disappeared unite!
