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 email whereever and whenever you can to strengthen the international protest and solidarity movement for human rights in the Philippines, which people needs for their life in standing up to fight for a liberated world!
On the 7th anniversary of the Monday demonstration against the unsocial law Hartz 4 and on the 3rd anniversary of the disappearance of James Balao, an international vigil and birthday-meeting was made in Stuttgart on Monday, the 12th of September 2011.
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 People Alliance (CPA) – the days of disappearance of James Balao. It was the 1092nd day of the disappearance of James Balao.
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Dear friends of the Monday demonstration in Stuttgart,
As you all know we have decided together with Solidarity International of Stuttgart to organize a partnership with the family of the enforced disappeared victim James Balao of the Philippines and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA). James Balao was one of the founding members of the CPA. Being an international protest and vigil, we count the days of his disappearance.
Today is the 1092nd day of his disappearance.
In the last three years there were mutual visits and emails and a lot of information. Some newspapers in the Philippines reported about the postcard action to President Aquino III at the 1000 day (12th of June 2011) of his disappearance and it strengthened the solidarity there and here: You never walk alone!
Seven years of Monday demonstration in Stuttgart are 3 years of solidarity with the struggle of the people in the Philippines for liberty and dignity.
More than 1000,00 € and more than 20 Balik Bayan Boxes could be transfered. Thank you very much. International solidarity needs active and passive members.
Join Solidarity International for 1,50 € monthly.
Medy of the organization Kapatiran, the counterpart organization of the German-Filippines Friend wrote: “Many many thanks to the Monday demonstration for the friendship and the solidarity. We are one in our struggle for liberty and justice fo all peoples!”
If we demonstrate on the 17th of September in Berlin against the policy of the German goverment, we demonstrate as well for the surfacing of James Balao and for a stop to impunity!
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Dear friends: Greetings of peace based on justice!
September 17, 2011 marks the1097th day since the indigenous people activist James Balao was abducted by state security forces in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Here in Baguio City, we will be commemorating this day and reiterating our demand for the government to surface him through an activity with the theme, “Never again to Martial Law! Surface James Balao! Justice for all Victims of Human Rights Violations!”
It has been three long years since James Balao was taken away and still we continue to search for him. The administration of President Benigno Aquino III has been silent on the issue despite the thousands of postcards sent to his office since June 12 of this year appealing for him to take action on the matter. Since President Aquino took oath, there have been eight documented cases of enforced disappearances and other human rights violations similar to the ones perpetrated under martial rule.
On September 17, we will gather to condemn the Philippine government’s inaction regarding the enforced disappearance of James Balao and the continuing human rights violations. We will also take this time to continue to impart the lesson from the darkest years of Martial Law as former Senator Jose Pepe W. Diokno stated in one of his famous speeches, “ I knew then that martial law could crush our bodies; it could break our minds; but it could not conquer our spirit. It may silence our voice and seal our eyes; but it cannot kill our hope nor obliterate our vision. We will struggle on, no matter how long it takes or what it costs, until we establish a just community of free men and women in our land, deciding together, working and striving together, but also singing and dancing, laughing and living together.”
We encourage you to organize solidarity actions this coming September 17 to call on the government to surface James Balao and to put an end to enforced disappearances.
The continuing struggle for justice is not only for him but for all victims of human rights violations in the country. We are very optimistic that you can join us on this day and in the continuing pursuit for peace based on justice…
Thank you.
Sincerely, Jude Baggo
Secretary General
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On behalf of the Monday-Demonstration against Hartz 4, Stuttgart
