NEWS RELEASE
December 3, 2012
On International Day of Political Prisoners:
Human Rights group storm Aquino residence; decry illegal arrests,
detentions
TIMES STREET, QUEZON CITY – Human rights group Karapatan in Southern
Tagalog staged their protest in front of the Noynoy Aquino’s home 10AM today to
denounce the continued illegal arrest and detention of political prisoners
in the country.
Glen Malabanan, secretary general of Karapatan-ST exposed the deceiving
tactics of the Aquino government in order to hide its hand on grave human
rights abuses. “Aquino is filing fabricated charges of common crimes to
political offenders to make it appear that there are no political prisoners in
the country,” she said.
Currently, Karapatan has recorded 224 cases of illegal arrest and
detention around the country. Malabanan cited the case of Rolly Panesa, an
innocent security guard who was mistakenly arrested for being “a top ranking
communist guerrilla leader of Southern Tagalog”.
“The sad thing about this is that the government even justified its use of
torture”, she added referring to the brutal injuries Panesa received from
the military saying this is a similar move they do to whoever they suspect
as “big fishes”, such as the arrest and torture of another political
prisoner and known New People’s Army commander Tirso Alcantara.
The group is demanding an end to Aquino’s “whitewash of human rights in
the international community” and call for the immediate and unconditional
release of Panesa along with all the other political prisoners such as
Darwin Liwag and Alex Arias, both peasant leaders in Laguna and many others.
Meanwhile, former political detainee, Axel Pinpin, initiated a
simultaneous poetry reading around the globe. Pinpin, who is also a poet, said that
one of his prison poems "Political Prisoner's Song" will be simultaneously
read today in different jails in the country as well as by various
supporters inside schools and communities. This is part of today’s commemoration of
the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners.
Alcantara together with Allan Jasminez, a writer and National Democratic
Front Consultant and other political prisoners in Bicutan Detention Center
will read Pinpin's poem at exactly 1500H (+0800 GMT).
Eduardo Serrano and Nante Gamara, both consultants to the NDF who are
detained in Camp Crame have already expressed their participation in the poetry
reading. The two have also started their fasting last December 1 as form
of protest.
“The symbolic protest action is very heartfelt. Even if we
are experiencing hunger because of our fasting, our hearts are full because
of the support we got from our comrades and friends,” Serrano said.
Pinpin added that they are also expecting high-profile political prisoners
in other countries to join the poetry reading. Among them, journalist
Mumia Ali-Jamal, The Cuban 5, punk band Pussy Riot and Kurdistan revolutionary
leader Abdullah Öcalan.
The poem is already translated in 7 languages including French, Spanish,
Portuguese and Russian.
A group of young activists from Stuttgart, Germany is also set to
translate and hold the poetry reading gig this Monday from where they hold their
regular mass demonstrations starting 5pm (12MN in the Philippines).
Pinpin also issued a personal statement for the release of Öcalan which
read, “We are fighting the same world capitalist system led by U.S.
Imperialism – it is therefore a must that we continue to strengthen our ranks and
unite for our common goals.”
Karapatan-ST also launched their week-long Lakbayan ng Mamamayan ng Timog
Katagalugan Para sa Karapatan (Southern Tagalog People’s March for Human
Rights) today in Lucena City amidst the threat of typhoon Pablo.#
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