The human rights law group National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has directed all its 300 lawyer-members in the country to wear black arm bands or ribbons especially whenever they appear in courts until the “butchers” of 57 innocent civilians, journalists, and lawyers have been convicted.

In a statement, the group said the wearing of arm bands and ribbons is a symbolic way to demand speedy justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.

The two lawyer-victims in the massacre, Atty. Concepcion Brizuela and Cynthia Oquendo, were active members of the NUPL and the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM). Brizuela was the UPLM treasurer at the time of her death.

The NUPL’s Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Lawyers said the death of Brizuela and Oquendo brought the total number of lawyers and judges killed in the country to 24 and 15, respectively, since President Arroyo assumed power on Jan. 20, 2001.

“The committee has made the directive as a means of showing to the public prosecutors handling the multiple murder charges against accused Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his cohorts, and to the judge hearing the same that human rights lawyers are keenly observing the status and developments of said cases to ensure the convictions of the accused,” the group said.

The NUPL said negotiations are likewise being made for the NUPL’s and UPLM’s lawyers to act as private prosecutors on behalf of the families of the slain lawyers. The groups’ lawyers are likewise willing to provide free legal services to the families of other victims if they would consider engaging the services of private prosecutors.

The NUPL, at the same time, said they are strongly supporting the call for the transfer of venue of the trial to a neutral ground, either in Manila or Makati City.

“The transfer of venue of criminal cases has been done previously in controversial cases like the Subic rape case and the rebellion case against former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari.

Both cases have been tried in Makati City. A transfer of venue of the Ampatuan massacre trial may likely ensure impartiality of the judge and safety of prosecutors, witnesses and family members of the victims,” the group said.

As this developed, NUPL’s lawyers and law students shall participate in a march on Wednesday, Dec. 9, to end impunity and demand speedy justice for the victims of the massacre.

Dubbed “Global Day of Solidarity,” the march will start from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in España and end at Chino Roces Monument in Mendiola, Manila. The NUPL will be joined by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and human rights defenders.