Dutch and migrants' human rights groups on Thursday joined the growing worldwide condemnation of the 23 November massacre of 57 civilians in southern Philippines and the complicity of the Gloria Arroyo government, as they picketed in front of the Dutch Parliament and the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, The Netherlands during the International Human Rights Day.

Forming a picket line in one of the busiest plazas in The Hague, protesters belonging to migrant groups Filipino Refugees in the Netherlands (FREN) and Migrante – Europe were joined by the Dutch-Filipino Solidarity Movement (NFS) and the International Committee Against Disappearances (ICAD) in unfurling bright yellow umbrellas with red painted slogans demanding “Justice for victims of the Maguindanao massacre!”, “Today Maguindanao, tomorrow the Philippines, NO to martial law!” and “Oust Gloria Macapagal Arroyo!”.

Joining the picket line in front of the Dutch Parliament building was Luis G. Jalandoni, NDFP Chief International Representative, stating, “ Today, International Human Rights Day, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) condemns the Arroyo regime for more than a thousand extrajudicial killings of social activists and the enforced disappearances of more than two hundred civilians. The NDFP condemns the Maguindanao massacre last November 23 wherein 31 journalists, people's lawyers Connie Brizuela and Cynthia Oquenda, other women and civilians were massacred in a horrifyingly brutal way by more than a hundred killers of the Ampatuan warlord clan that is coddled by Mrs. Gloria Arroyo.”

The protesters later walked over to the nearby Philippine Embassy and formed a picket line there, chanting “No, No, No to Martial Law! Never again!” and “Oust, Oust Arroyo!”.

On 4 December, Arroyo declared martial law in the province, claiming that an atmosphere of rebellion is brewing in the area. According to a statement of the protesters Thursday, “it is more likely that she will use martial law to exonerate the real criminals and use it instead against the people calling for her ouster and prosecution.”

A signed statement distributed by the Dutch and Filipino migrant groups called on the Dutch public “to join in fighting this murderous and criminal regime of Gloria Arroyo.

“We can only stop the impunity if we oust this government. We call on all freedom-loving citizens to petition your government to stop political and economic support for the criminals now ruling the Philippines.”

A statement carrying the title “No celebration on Human Rights Day for Filipinos” was eagerly received by other demonstrators coming mostly from different migrant groups and even regular passersby. Not a few expressed shock over the gruesome massacre in Maguindanao and the human rights record of the Arroyo government.

As the picket continued outside the Parliament, migrant groups affiliated with the Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD), Unrepresented Nations and People's Organizations (UNPO) and Freedom, Legality and Rights in Europe (FLARE), had an audience with the Dutch Parliament. Representatives presented a Manifesto addressing urgent human rights issues affecting The Netherlands and third world countries where the migrants came from.

Migrante – Europe and FREN joined the drafting sessions for the Manifesto on 9 December in The Hague, drawing attention to the “horrible human rights violations and crimes against humanity” committed by the Gloria Arroyo government.

Munting Nayon joined the picket to condemn the massacre of journalists and civilians in Maguindanao.