New plea to President Hu by Manila hostage crisis campaigners
New petition to president launched by survivors and victims' relatives two years after gun siege
Survivors and relatives of victims of the Manila hostage crisis launched a new petition yesterday urging President Hu Jintao to help them seek justice.
They launched a similar campaign last year, collecting nearly 10,000 signatures asking Hu to help the families of the eight who died and seven injured when sacked policeman Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tour bus and opened fire on August 23, 2010.
Mendoza was then shot dead by a sniper.
The group is demanding that the Philippine government compensate and apologise to the survivors and victims' families, and hold officials involved in the bungled rescue operation accountable for their actions.
They are also urging Manila to step up efforts to ensure the safety of tourists.
Last year, a month after the first anniversary of the tragedy, Premier Wen Jiabao asked Philippine President Benigno Aquino to take proper action over the siege.
But Tse Chi-hang, younger brother of slain tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, said nothing had been resolved and stressed they now needed Hu's help.