We are heartbroken and outraged by the heinous murder of our dear friend and colleague in the Philippines. On the night of August 17, amidst a heavy downpour, Zara Alvarez, 39, a single mother of an 11-year-old, was mercilessly gunned down by an unidentified assailant on a motorcycle while she was on her way home in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. This is only days after the senseless killing of Randy Echanis, a prominent land reform and peace advocate. Their assassinations are just the latest string of ruthless attacks linked to the Philippine government’s crackdown on dissent.
According to KARAPATAN, a human rights non-governmental organization in the Philippines, at least 134 human rights defenders have been killed under the Duterte administration.
Born to a poor family, Alvarez graduated with a BS in Education at the Philippines Normal College, Cadiz City. As a student, she was active in the local church communities. Instead of employing as a teacher upon graduation, she chose to work fulltime to empower the marginalized. A petite woman with a huge heart, she tirelessly organized farmers, peasants, jeepney drivers, health workers, teachers, and church people. Abroad, she shared her people’s struggle for justice. Her hometown, Negros Philippines, has been a hotbed of violent conflict stemming from festering issues of land rights, poverty, and injustice. The workers are held chained in the exploitative semi-feudal hacienda system, and the oligarchic families perpetuate their power through force. The government has been less than sympathetic to the impoverished peasants facing the threat of starvation or landlord violence. Despite the constant vilification and death threats by vicious state agents, rights activists like Zara Alvarez carry on their work to defend the oppressed.
Sheryl Anne Montano, our HOPE coordinator, witnessed her fierce bravery during her short time in Negros. “Ate Zara had a small frame but had a great spirit. She had a deep love for the people she helped. I witnessed it firsthand when we organized a medical mission in a remote community, and when we took to the streets to fight for them. She was a real-life heroine,” she said.
Zara Alvarez was not the first and will not be the last to shed blood fighting for justice and genuine democracy. As long as this oppression continues, there will be resistance.
Justice for Zara Alvarez!
Justice for the landless peasants of Negros whom Zara defended!
Justice for all the victims of extrajudicial killings!
