Kabataang Artista Para Sa Tunay Na Kalayaan (KARATULA) calls for the immediate release of Remy Jade Manzon, member of KARATULA UP Cebu, Melanie Montanio from the League of Filipino Students UP Cebu, and Januelle Rontos of Nagkakaisang Kusog ng mga Estudyante, a political party in UP Cebu. The three were illegally arrested and are currently detained in Philippine National Police Precincts in Toledo City and Pinamongajan.
They were arrested while the police violently dispersed a protest camp of peasants in Sitio Camarin, Brgy Bonbon, Aloguinsan, Cebu. According to reports, 300 elements of the PNP and SWAT roused the camp at 5:30 in the morning saying they have orders to arrest everyone in the camp. Together with the UP Cebu students, the police arrested other youth and peasants by 10 in the morning and brought to the custody of Toleda City Jail and Pinamongajan Municipal precinct.
The peasants were protesting against land grabbing of the Aboitizes who plan to turn the 168 HA of land into a shipyard and special economic zone. Manzon, Montanjo and Rontos were part of a group of 11 students who integrated with the peasants in support of their campaign.
KARATULA condemns this shameless violation of human rights and calls for the end of enduring repression and culture of impunity under Aquino’s regime as manifested by the growing number of cases of censorship, political prisoners and extrajudicial killings. The current government and its police have clearly shown that its interest lie with the rich and foreign corporations for their greater profit while trampling on the human and socio-economic rights of peasants such as those from Sitio Camarin who have long defended and cultivated their land.
The Aquino government’s aggression will only further fuel the determination of the growing number of youth and people to defend and fight for their rights and interests for a government that fulfills the needs of the people and genuine land reform.
IMMEDIATELY RELEASE REMY JADE MANZON, MELANIE MONTANIO, AND JANUELLE RONTOS!
FIGHT FOR GENUINE LAND REFORM!
FIGHT THE FASCIST AND ANTI-PEOPLE AQUINO REGIME!
