Families mark grim anniversary with renewed call for justice
Updated: 2012-08-24 06:19
By Ming Yeung(HK Edition)
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Survivors and relatives of eight Hong Kong tourists who were killed exactly two years ago in a bus hostage fiasco in Manila gather outside the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong on Thursday to demand an apology. Philippe Lopez / AFP |
Survivors and relatives of victim's of the Manila hostage massacre two years ago have taken the anniversary of the tragedy to renew calls for justice and reparations from the Philippine government.
Seven Hong Kong tourists and their tour guide were killed when a disgraced former policeman Rolando Mendoza hijacked their tour bus and opened fire on August 23, 2010.
Mendoza was shot dead by a sniper at the end of his murderous rampage.
Dressed in black, brothers of slain tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn and three other survivors, Joe Chan Kwok-chu and Yik Siu-ling, who were severely injured by gunshot wounds, and Lee Ying-chuen observed a minute's silence and shouted "justice undone" and "we will never forget" a few times before handing a petition to the Philippine consulate.
"Basically, they did not give us any assurance, what they can do is convey our message to the Philippine government. No promise was made," said Masa Tse's younger brother Tse Chi-hang, after meeting with the consul general for more than an hour.
The group may fly to Manila to file a petition if they don't hear from the Philippine government within two months, Tse said.
Premier Wen Jiabao last September told Philippine President Benigno Aquino III he needed to handle the aftermath of the bus siege in a proper manner.
Philippine Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima also promised in August last year to send regular reports to the survivors and victims' relatives.
"It has been a year, yet we have heard nothing from them," said Tse Chi-hang. "We feel disappointed and angry."
Tse Chi-hang told reporters that the whole family has been experiencing ups and downs in the past year. "The Hong Kong government acted assertively by convening an inquest but after that, everything died down. The rise and fall of moods is torturing us," he said, struggling to fight back tears.
"It was a really hard for us in the past two years, recalling the crisis over and over again," stressed Tse. "I believe our government will safeguard our rights."
"The government has all along been rendering assistance to the victims and their families, including the provision of medical treatment, social welfare, education and housing, etc. The relevant government departments continue to follow up those cases and render appropriate assistance. We also meet with victims and their families from time to time and relay their requests through the proper channels," said a Security Bureau spokesman.
The SAR government has retained the outbound "black" travel warning on the Philippines that was put in place after the hostage crisis.
"I think the black travel alert should absolutely not be countermanded because I don't see the Philippine government accepting responsibility. We can't guarantee there will not be another similar incident if the alert is cancelled," remarked another brother of Masa Tse, Tse Chi-kin.
Survivors and victims' relatives will meet Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok and Director of the Chief Executive's Office Edward Yau Tang-wah on Friday. A spokesman of the office said it shows the sincerity of the Chief Executive.
Survivor Jason Leung Song-xue, who suffered brain damage during the bloodbath, is still hospitalized at Tuen Mun Hospital and progressively improving, said hospital's neurosurgery chief, Dawson Fong To-sang. Fong said Jason and his mother wish to live a peaceful life afterwards.
(HK Edition 08/24/2012 page1)