An Open Letter from the Claver Family to the People of the Cordilleras and the Philippines

Relatives, friends, and to all who are gathered here today, thank you for sharing your sorrow with us in this hour of our grief and bereavement. The outpouring of your material assistance, but most especially of your moral support, has considerably lightened the burden of our loss.

Indeed, in these times of intensifying state terrorism against innocent, unarmed citizens, we need to draw strength from one another.

Our family has yet to come to terms with this tragedy. We cannot understand why they had to kill Alyce and harm Chandu, whose only intention was to serve their community and heal it of social maladies and diseases bred by years of injustice.

We grieve over the loss of Alyce, a warm and intelligent sister, a loving, supportive mother and wife, a caring, affectionate aunt to her nephews and nieces, a strong, unwavering woman committed to the Cordillera and nationalist cause. In the past, Alyce experienced acts of violence — the murder of her parents and the more recent forcible entry of armed men into their family residence.

But like the strong woman that she always was, Alyce overcame these traumatic experiences and stayed on here in Kalinga, where she and Chandu chose a life of service to the people.

For the last time, we say goodbye to Alyce, we give tribute to her, and we pray that her soul finds the peace she greatly deserves.

We are thankful that Chandu, a son and brother, and a servant of the people, is still with us. We are thankful that his motherless children will still have the guiding and loving hand of their father. But for how long?

We fear for the life of Chandu who, we believe, was the main target of the assassins. These assassins are the ruthless tools of an intolerant administration that abhors criticism of its horrific crimes; that is addicted to power and so will do anything to silence dissent. This administration wants the silence of the dead, and it will stop at nothing to satisfy its lust for power.

Many lives have been taken and many more are in danger. Anyone amongst us who dares speak out against the evil rampant in our land is a virtual target. But let us not wallow in despair or be paralyzed with fear. Let us call upon our countrymen to be more united in fighting this reign of injustice. Let us tell the world of this state-sponsored terrorism that is ravaging our country today.

Let not the death of Alyce and the others before her, be in vain.

STOP EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS NOW!
JUSTICE FOR ALYCE AND ALL VICTIMS OF STATE TERRORISM!