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International solidarity protest demands surfacing of James Balao and other disappeared

ICHRP Secretariat
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Stop Enforced Disappearances! Surface the victims now!

17th of September 2012

(To president Benigno Aquino III,to the former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Philippines, mass media, trade unions and to the international democratic public, to the human rights organizations-  please forward this message wherever and whenever you can, to strengthen the international protest and solidarity movement for human rights in the Philippines, which people need for their life in standing up to fight for a liberated world!)

On the Monday demonstration against the unsocial law Hartz 4, we continue our vigil for James Balao in Stuttgart on the 17th of September 2012. We counted – as it was decided  in October 2008 in the partnership agreement between the Monday-Demonstration Movement Stuttgart and the family Balao and Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) –  the days of the disappearance of James Balao.

Today is the 4th year of the disappearance of James Balao, 4 years of waiting, 4 years of tears and remembrances and 4 years of international protests, 4 years of demanding justice and of demanding to stop impunity. The killers and murders are still living among us and they think, that they could go on with their counterinsurgency US made plan “Oplan Bayanihan”.

We want to know, what happened to James and we demand today again that the responsible persons and authorities should be jailed into prison like the former dictators in Argentina Videla and Co. More than 30 years the Mothers of the Placo de Mayo demanded for the truth and for stopping impunity. They have been successful and so we will be successfull, there is no doubt!

4 years of partnership between the Monday Demonstration movement are as well 8 years of fighting against the unsocial law Hartz 4 in Stuttgart and in more than 100 other towns in Germany every Monday.

James was as well with the participants of the 10th International Women Council in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart on the 15th and 16th of September. The German Filippines Friends GFF joined this meeting and demands with their guest from the Philippines and elsewhere:

Surface James Balao now!

International solidarity will be stronger than the power of dictatorship!

CHR Chair has historical amnesia—Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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CHR Chair has historical amnesia—Karapatan

Press Statement, September 17, 2012 – Karapatan today criticized Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Etta Rosales after she rebuked students and youth groups preparing for protest actions leading to September 21, in commemoration of the 40th year of the imposition of Martial Law.

In an interview over ABS-CBN week-end news last night, Rosales was quoted saying “Stop comparing Martial Law of yesterday to what they are doing now because if they do that they are merely muddling the issue. Mag-aral sila, naintindihan ba nila ang sinasabi nila.” Rosales added that the students should instead go the libraries instead of joining the protests.

“Rosales’ statement simply illustrates the historical amnesia, opportunism, and bankruptcy of those in the Aquino administration. They claim to “remember Martial Law,” yet they forget one of the quintessential lessons during those dark years – that when the people and the youth are faced with anti-youth and anti-people programs, rights abuses, and plunder of our lands and resources, we fight back,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.

The groups led by Anakbayan, National Union of Students of the Philippines, Student Christian Movement, College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines, and League of Filipino students will be holding protests against the rising tuition costs and the spate of human rights violations prevailing under the Aquino administration.

Palabay recalled that Marcos’ Education Act of 1982, which legitimized tuition increases, is still very much enforced under the Aquino government, as more than 260 tertiary schools have increased tuition this year by as much as 15%. Karapatan also received reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines continue with their red-tagging campaign against youth organizations in schools in their counter-insurgency symposia with the assistance of the Department of Education.

“These, Ms. Rosales, along with the continuing human rights violations, the poverty that drives the young out of schools and the sheer puppetry of Pres. Noynoy Aquino, are the ‘legacies’ of Marcos that you keep today,” said Palabay.

Karapatan and Bayan will lead the protest actions on Friday, as they will be joined by the students, in Mendiola.

“The youth will honor that lesson when they march with the people on September 21. And people like Rosales and Aquino will remain like cobwebs in the libraries of our history as a nation,” Palabay concluded. ###

Reference: Cristina Palabay, Secretary General, 09175003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580

———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

Romy Capulong, 1935-2012 – Numero Uno People’s Lawyer : Our loss, the people’s loss

ICHRP Secretariat
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Romy Capulong, 1935-2012 – Numero Uno People’s Lawyer : Our loss, the people’s loss

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), made up of generations of passionate lawyers and law students for the people deeply, mourns the passing of its much loved and admired founding chairman and chairman emeritus, Romeo T. Capulong at the age of 77.

Fondly known to us as RTC, he finally rested his case this evening, as if waiting until the conclusion of NUPL’s National Council meeting this afternoon on the ocassion of our fifth founding anniversary. He had battled a lingering illness and is survived by his wife Pia and three children.

His passion, selflessness, dedication, wisdom and vision inspired people’s attorneys and law students immensely, both here and abroad. As the first among us, he built an excellent example in both law and life for lawyers to follow.

RTC, son of a shared tenant famer, began to establish himself as an eminent legal scholar right out of the UP College of Law. He used his skills to defend the rights of the marginalized – the peasants, workers, urban poor, students, women, political prisoners, human rights defenders, peace advocates and other oppressed sectors of society – long before the idea of alternative lawyering secured a foothold in the Philippine legal system.

He represented the common man, the underdog and those who chose to fight back against an oppressive and exploitative system.

RTC’s devotion to his chosen clients was rooted in personal and professional solidarity. He handled public interest cases with the aim of effecting substantial changes, not simply quick relief. He took on suits litigation in behalf of basic sectors, driven by the desire to empower the people.

Our loss hence, is the people’s loss.

As a guiding pillar of NUPL, he ably and indefatigably guided – and still guides – us in our commitment to serve the poor, the exploited and the oppressed in our legal and metalegal struggles in different battlefields, goading us to push the parameters and serve the people.

His  ringing words will forever be etched in our hearts and minds: “After long years of experience as a people’s lawyer, I can honestly say it has been a treasured journey of self-fulfillment and rewarding achievement. I know it will be the same for all others who choose to tread this path.”

We fully concur beyond any shadow of doubt.

People’s lawyers like THE Romy Capulong never die. They just live in the work of the next generations of people’s lawyers.

Mabuhay si RTC! Ang manananggol ng bayan! Tuloy tayo na lumaban!

From martial law to Noynoy Aquino: After 40 long years, ML victims still invisible to the government —Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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From martial law to Noynoy Aquino: After 40 long years, ML victims still invisible to the government —Karapatan

Press Statement, September 16, 2012 – “Many of the victims of human rights violations under the Marcos dictatorship have left us without seeing justice rendered, 40 long years after the imposition of martial law. Even the barest gesture of justice, the Marcos Victims Compensation bill, remains at the backburner. The governments that followed after the dictatorship, from Cory Aquino to her son Noynoy, showed tolerance and gave concessions to the Marcoses. They all should be held accountable for perpetuating the crimes of the Marcoses.”

Thus said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay, as 68-year old Nicolas Sanchez passed away early this week. Sanchez was a victim of torture, illegal arrest and detention during the infamous “sona” (zoning of communities) in Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City in July 23, 1985. The “sona” was conducted by elements of the Marcos’ Philippine Constabulary, when residents resisted the demolition of their community to give way to the development plan of the Aranetas, in-laws of Marcos’ daughter, Irene. Two persons reportedly died during the incident, while many were arrested, including Sanchez.

Sanchez was brought to Camp Crame where he endured torture. He also witnessed the torture of several others, including that of Trinidad Herrera, leader of the urban poor group Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO) during martial law years. This year also saw the demise of martial law activists and victims such as Romy Luneta, Maita Gomez and Bong Barsoles.

Palabay asserted that “the immediate passage of a law that would acknowledge the State’s moral and legal obligation to render justice to the victims of the worst forms of rights violations, during Martial Law, will serve as a beacon and a reminder to everyone not end such violations and injustice.”

While Pres. Aquino, in his first two State of the Nation addresses called on both Houses of Congress to pass the Marcos Victims Compensation bill as an urgent measure, he seemed to have omitted this in his July 2012 SONA.

“What a callous act of ‘remembrance’ on the 40th year of the imposition of Martial Law! It is no wonder that the Marcoses continue to flaunt, with impunity, their political power as well as Imelda’s manic possessiveness of her jewels which, are testament to the plunder of the nation’s coffers during the Marcos dictatorship,” she said.

Karapatan, SELDA and Bayan will lead a protest action of Martial Law activists and various organizations on September 21 to strengthen the call for justice for victims of human rights violations from Martial Law up to Noynoy Aquino. #

Reference: Cristina Palabay, Secretary General, +639175003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, +63918-9790580

———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.

On the 5th year of its founding and on the occasion of the 40th year of Martial Law: Rights Lawyers “fast for freedom” for political prisoners; Keeping political prisoners under lock after 40 years of dictatorship a “continuing shame”

ICHRP Secretariat
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On the 5th year of its founding and on the occasion of the 40th year of Martial Law: Rights Lawyers “fast for freedom” for political prisoners; Keeping political prisoners under lock after 40 years of dictatorship a “continuing shame”

PRESS STATEMENT, 14 September 2012 – Hundreds of  human rights lawyers and law students of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) today conducted a nationwide simultaneous sympathy “fast for freedom” in solidarity with Philippine political prisoners.  NUPL, the country’s largest human rights lawyers’ group, called for the release, and/or the general, omnibus and unconditional amnesty of 385 political prisoners.

Forty years after Martial Law, it is anomalous and anachronistic to have political prisoners languishing in different jails all over the country. It is as if we are living in a time warp and have only gone from one form of state repression or intolerance to another.  A number of these political prisoners are NUPL’s direct clients and many are elderly, sick and women.

On the occasion of our 5th founding anniversary with a whole day fast, we shall deny ourselves  food, but this is a small sacrifice and symbolic gesture to demonstrate against the government denial of political prisoners their freedom.  The circumstances and even our frustrations compel us to not simply defend our clients, we stand by them as advocates in seeking truth and justice.

The NUPL expects close to 300 lawyers and 200 law students and paralegals in its 18 regional and provincial bodies/chapters to observe the fasting and to conduct jail visits in their own localities.

This trooping to jails across the country throws down the challenge to the Aquino administration to ensure that accountability and justice are delivered; rather than stand by and allow those falsely accused to suffer in prison.

The NUPL particularly notes that a President – who has all the powers at his disposal — cannot be the son of a father who was the foremost political detainee who was persecuted and has endured hardships  in jail and of a mother who has unconditionally released all political prisoners, and yet keep hundreds of political dissenters and innocent victims of state repression up to this time. It does not only not make sense, it is unacceptable, insensitive and callous. It is a continuing shame.

In concurrent jail visits across the country, NUPL highlighted the plight of political prisoners. In the conduct of its advocacy, NUPL has discovered that the alleged acts of prisoners are political in nature.  Only a slim minority of political detainees have been charged with rebellion.  In most cases, suspected political offenders are improperly charged with non-bailable ordinary crimes

The NUPL has assessed that most of these are actually improper, false or fabricated charges that further persecute these detainees, degrade their stature, and mock the basic rules of evidence. This is a travesty of justice on top of the multifarious violations of their rights including torture and harassment.

Various International lawyers groups from Belgium, Canada, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Turkey,  the United Kingdom, the United States as well as from the multi-country International Association of Democratic Lawyers and the International Association of People’s Lawyers have supported the NUPL sympathy fasting and joined calls for the release of the political prisoners, castigating the present government for such abomination at this age and time.

Indeed, when the lawyers start to take their cause outside the courtroom and into the streets and in the jails and elsewhere, the government must pause and take stock of things to come, sooner or later. By starting to put up the ante, the lawyers who are at the forefront of the court battles and part of the mass struggles  are saying that the traditional formulaic legal remedies under a supposed democracy have failed their clients, and ultimately, the people. #

Reference: Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL Secretary General, +639175113373

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