Brief vom 05.11.2013: A Day of Solidarity for Roy Velez and Amelita Bravante (Gamara) and all other Victims of Political Persecution
dear Amy, dear Roy,
congratulations to the success of revocation and suspension of the warrant of arrest by the court. It is hopefully the first step to stop your prosecution.
This and last year the GFF informed many people about the situation of the political prisoners in the Philippines, especially at the Whitsun Youth Meeting in Germany. We published the fotos and biografies of more than twenty political prisoners. The European Union and the German Government stresses to be for human rights. But we also know that they do not interfere against human rights violations if there is not a profit for them to do so. But the people in our country are very sensitive about the political suppression of a militant opposition. Also political prisoners in other countries such as Turkey (about 10.000) have the sympathy of many of us.
Please forward our greetings to the political prisoners.
We are very happy to have our long ongoing friendship between GFF, Kapatiran, KMU and Defend Jobs. We met with Roy and Amy last year and feel a deep personal friendship with them.
In solidarity
Dagmar Eberhard for the GFF
Am 05.11.2013 06:11, schrieb Stoppersecution Campaign:
On July and October 2013, regional trial courts of Lagawe, Ifugao and Labo, Camarines Norte respectively revoked and suspended the warrants of arrest issued against trade union leaders Roy Velez and Amelita Bravante who have been charged with fabricated murder cases.The two courts also ordered the City and Provincial Prosecutor’s Offices in Ifugao and Camarines Norte to conduct a re-investigation on the charges filed against the two union leaders with other human rights defenders who are also co-accused in the same cases such as Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano of COURAGE, Rene Abiva (ACT TEACHERS), Virgilio Corpuz (PISTON) and peasant advocates Ramon Argente and Nancy Ortega.We believe that this is a huge victory for Roy Velez, Amelita Bravante and other victims of political persecution, their families, friends, colleagues and their organizations. And this is due to our unwavering and collective campaigns to stop the criminalization of human rights defenders.We have formed the Tambuli ng Mamamayan composed of victims, families, friends, supporters and colleagues of victims political persecution in Metro Manila which started since December 2012. Since then, we have organized various activities and actions to stress our calls and demands to junk the trumped charges and justice to all victims of political persecution and other human rights violations.Nevertheless, we must continue our actions to call for the total dismissal of the fabricated cases against our trade union leaders. We must continue to stand that genuine justice shall be served to all victims of political persecution and human rights violations.We must also continue our campaign and calls for JUSTICE to all victims of extra judicial killings such as Arnel Leonor (Silverio Compound), Antonio Homo (Navotas), Marilou Valle (Tondo), Erning Gulfo and Marlyn Sumera (Malabon); call to FREE RENANTE GAMARA, RANDY VEGAS, RAUL CAMPOSANO, RENE ABIVA, VIRGILIO CORPUZ, SILVERIO 10 and all Political Prisoners.Most of all, we must continue to expose and oppose Oplan Bayanihan which aims to silence and stop our legitimate struggles for land, jobs, homes, justice and for meaningful social change.Thus, we are inviting everyone on November 8, 2013 to A DAY OF ACTION AGAINST POLITICAL PERSECUTION & SOLIDARITY WITH ROY VELEZ, AMELITA BRAVANTE & OTHER VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.7:00-11:00 AM- Picket Dialogue in front of the Department of Justice and Supreme Court with Roy Velez and Amelita Bravante.2:00-4:00 PM-Solidarity Action (Justice for Arnel Leonor. Free Silverio 10)6:30-8:30- Solidarity Gathering with Roy Velez and Amelita Bravante on the continued campaign to stop the criminalization of human rights defenders. IFI Conference Room, Taft, Avenue.See you and thank you very much!