Filipino Ambassador to US besieged by questions on ‘human rights’ during talk In Seattle (tags)
The Honorable Willie Gaa, Philippine Ambassador to the US wrestled with claims of illegal arrest and detention of Congressman and labor leader Crispin Beltran and United Church of Christ Berlin Guerrero, the unabated political killings of unarmed social activists—at least 850 since Pres. Arroyo took power, and the involvement of the death squads affiliated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, during an open discussion at the Filipino Community Center last Saturday, June 16th. A member of the Ecumenical Fellowship for Justice and Peace, a church-based human rights group, presented the full page advertisement of the ‘statement of concern’ of the church and labor community, demanding among other things an immediate end to state sponsored political violence and the release of all political prisoners in the Philippines.
AJLPP HAILS PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISION FOR THE PROVISIONAL RELEASE OF SATUR OCAMPO (tags)
The Alliance for A Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) shared the progressive Filipino democratic movement joy and relief over the Supreme Court decision for the detained BAYAN MUNA Congress person Satur Ocampo. It proved US President and jurist John Quincy Adams statement; “ The independence of the court safeguards the independence of the nation.” While we savor the tactical victory we are not completely happy. Congressperson Ka Bel ( Crispin Beltran) is still languishing in jail together with more than 200 other political prisoners like the Mamburao 6 and the Tagaytay 5 all of whom are peasants. We should exert all efforts to free all political prisoners and stop the political persecution under the US- Arroyo regime.
PHILIPPPINE MILITARY CHIEF CALLS BAYAN MUNA's OCAMPO, CASINO -"ENEMIES OF THE STATE.& (tags)
Philippine ARMED FORCES of the Philippines chief of staff, General Hermogenes Esperon yesterday said some party-list representatives, including Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño, were enemies of the state hiding behind the legitimate cover of their organization, Bayan Muna. On the other hand, the Philippine Peasant Support Network(Pesante)-USA based in Los Angeles, in a statement issued today, September 14, 2006 vehemently criticized Esperon’s statement against Ocampo and Casino and other leaders of the progressive mass organizations in the Philippines. “Esperon’s statement is a clear military’s anti communist mind-set. It’s bunker mentality that foments anti-communist with-hunting and a clear signal for the military death squads to go after progressive mass leaders.”