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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”

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

Lawyer of Palparan’s co-accused Osorio resorts to worn out tactics — Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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Lawyer of Palparan’s co-accused Osorio resorts to worn out tactics — Karapatan

PRESS STATEMENT, September 11, 2012 – “The lawyer of Sgt. Edgardo Osorio, failing to discredit at yesterday’s hearing the testimony of witness Wilfredo Ramos, tried to turn the table around by saying that the witness is testifying only because he is a member of Karapatan. He sounded so much like Palparan, who resorts to blaming the victims of human rights violations to justify the atrocities he committed against them,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.

Atty. Jose Cruz called the witness “biased” after Ramos recounted what he saw when the two UP students, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, along with farmer Manuel Merino, were abducted on June 26, 2006 in Bgy. San Miguel , Hagonoy, Bulacan.  Ramos and his father were hogtied and threatened in the incident. Ramos, who was only 14 years old at that time of the abduction, identified Osorio as one of those who abducted the students and Merino, when the latter accompanied Gen. Palparan during the preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice.

“The issue is not whether Ramos is a member of Karapatan or not. The fact is, Ramos was able to stand by and was consistent with his earlier testimonies, as well as, what was written in his affidavit while he was being cross-examined by Atty. Cruz. He was firm and calm, despite the harrowing experience he and his family encountered. His testimony bolsters the charges against Osorio, Palparan and the others,” Palabay said.

During the hearing, Ramos responded to Atty. Cruz’s insinuations by saying “Kahit hindi po ako miyembro ng Karapatan, gagawin ko pa rin po ito para mabigyan ng katarungan ang nangyari kay Sherlyn at Karen, at mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao.”

Palabay added that, “it is no use for Palparan, et al to attempt to discredit the witnesses to the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case because they speak the truth, they have nothing to hide and they want justice not only for Karen and Sherlyn, but also for themselves and their families who are  continuously violated by the military. They should instead face the court and tell the truth, especially on the whereabouts of Palparan.” ###

Reference: Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, Secretary General, 0917-5003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580

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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.

From martial law to Ninoy Aquino: hamletting and forced evacuation remain,Martial Law-style military operations drive away rural folks from their homes—Karapatan

ICHRP Secretariat
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From martial law to Ninoy Aquino: hamletting and forced evacuation remain,Martial Law-style military operations drive away rural folks from their homes—Karapatan

Press Statement, September 11, 2012 – Karapatan today held a picket at the Times St. residence of Noynoy Aquino to call the attention of the government on the “Martial Law-style military operations especially in the rural areas and on the plight of the evacuees such as those from the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province who left their homes because of these operations.”

Karapatan secretary general, Cristina Palabay said, “There are now eight military battalions in Bondoc Peninsula, something that has never happened before, even during the time of martial law.” Karapatan has documented several cases of threats and harassment against residents in the area, including those who are members of farmers’ organizations.

The protest action coincided with the birthday of the late Ferdinand Marcos, whose reign was marked by tyranny and terror that resulted to countless human rights violations. “With evacuations going on in many parts of the country such as in the Caraga region, in Bukidnon, and in Bondoc Peninsula, we believe that the Marcos era never left us after martial law. The essential elements of Marcos’ hamletting and forced evacuation happened during Cory Aquino’s time and the succeeding presidents after her; and it is still happening now,” Palabay added.

Quoting a study entitled IMPACT OF MILITARIZATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES [1], a document that traced the human rights violations during martial law, Palabay said that “reading through the text that described the hamletting and forced evacuation during the martial law years is like listening to the woes of the people in the rural areas who are currently displaced because of military operations in rural communities. Nothing changed.”

“By sowing fear through threats and by manifest violence, residents were made to feel that they had no other recourse but to evacuate and seek refuge in other areas… Mass evacuations…were triggered by harassment and intimidation of the residents by the military; intensified military operations like bombings and strafings; clashes between the guerrillas and government troops; and violent incidents like massacres or ‘salvagings’.

Palabay added that, “it is also significant to note that as in the martial law days, intense military operations are meant to drive people away from their lands. It preceded the entry of transnational corporations and agribusiness plantations or government projects such as dams. These days, military operations are similarly linked with the entry or expansion of mining operations by foreign big business as in the case of the Caraga region, the dams in Bukidnon, transformation of hacienda’s into agri-business in Bondoc Peninsula, and other projects related to Aquino’s Public-Private Partnership.”

Karapatan said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the U.S.-guided Oplan Bayanihan, attempts to sow terror in the communities that range from harassment and intimidation to strafing and bombings “that are no different from the Marcos era.”

Karapatan called for the immediate pullout of the military troops from the communities and an end to Oplan Bayanihan. ###

Reference:Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, Secretary General, 0917-5003879
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, 0918-9790580

August 30 International Day of the Disappeared commemorated

ICHRP Secretariat
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August 30 International Day of the Disappeared commemorated

Filipino relatives of victims of enforced disappearance from the Marcos regime to the current Benigno Simeon Aquino III administration, demand justice as they commemorate the August 30 International Day of the Disappeared at Plaza Miranda in Manila.

Karapatan calls for the enactment of anti-disappearance bill

ICHRP Secretariat
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Karapatan calls for the enactment of anti-disappearance bill

Press Statement, August 30, 2012 – As families and friends of the disappeared call for the surfacing and justice for their loved ones today, Karapatan challenged Pres. Noynoy Aquino to sign into law the long-pending legislation criminalizing the act of enforced or involuntary disappearances and penalizing state security forces and government officials involved in the perpetuation of such acts.

Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, said it is critical for Congress and Aquino to pass House Bill 98, as the 15th session draws to a close for the coming election. “The measure appears as ignored as the bill for justice and compensation for victims during Martial Law. With Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., the butcher behind the abduction of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, still on the loose, these, and more, reflect the administration’s very low regard for human rights,” she said.

It is unfortunate, she said, that relatives of the disappeared continue to be haunted not only by their protracted search for their loved ones, but also with the continuing harassment of elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Dr. Edita Burgos, convenor of End Impunity Alliance and mother of disappeared activist Jonas, was recently tailed again by alleged military agents, while hearings at the Court of Appeals and the Department of Justice on charges she filed against the perpetrators of the abduction of Jonas continue.

“Disappearances have continued to this day, with 11 victims under the Aquino administration. Such are still being perpetrated not only by the AFP but also by their paramilitary groups, such as the RPA-ABB. Jully Devero, Gerald Abale, Novito Gabriel, Michael Celeste, four farmers in Negros were abducted and are still missing because of the RPA-ABB’s role in the Aquino government’s counter-insurgency program,” Palabay commented.

Mercenary groups such as the RPA-ABB are included in the Social Integration Program under the government’s Oplan Bayanihan, and Executive Order 546, an Arroyo measure legitimizing the operations of paramilitaries and private armies, has not been revoked by Aquino.

“Aquino cradles these paramilitary groups to inflict grave violations such as disappearances. These are among the indications that Martial Law exists to this day, albeit without a formal declaration,” she emphasized.#

Reference:Cristina “Tinay” Palabay, Secretary General, 0917-5003879
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.

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