Media Advisory

Kilusang Dekada 70

Contact: Bonifacio Inkana

phone: (213)241-0906

KD70 Statement

December 18, 2008

FREE RANDALL ECHANIS AND ALL POLITICAL DETAINEES!

Los Angeles - The recent charades, so called arrest and hospital detention and then the eventual release of Jocjoc Bolante after he was deported back to Manila by US immigration authorities truly reflects the ills of a justice system under rule of the puppet US-Arroyo regime in the Philippines.

The Kilusang Dekada 70 vehemently condemns the recent travesty of justice. We ask- why is it so easy for this government play charades and masquaredes in the Congress and in the courts than to listen to the cries for justice coming from victims of enforced disappearance, torture and unjust imprisonment?

Until now more than 200 human rights, peace and justice activists like Randal Echanis, Randy Malayao, Elizabeth Principe and many more are languishing in jail under harsh conditions.

More than 200 are still missing and cannot be found. Activist like James Balao, Leo Velasco, Philip Limjoco, Sherlyn Cadapan, Karen Empeno and many others.

For the Kilusang Dekada 70 the case of peasant rights advocate Randy Echanis, a veteran activist since the First Quarter Storm (FQS)of 1970 since the Ferdinand Marcos years stands out.

It’s almost a year now since he was imprisoned on trumped-up murder charges filed against him by the government. Last July, he was brought to the police general headquarters Camp Crame and, in August was illegally transferred to the Manila City Jail.

We ask,what is the difference between Bolante and Echanis? Is it because Bolante served Arroyo by diverting the P 780 million fertilizer fund for her campaign in 2004 that is why he is treated royally and Echanis who is the deputy secretary general of the KMP kept in the Manila City Jail to rot like a common criminal?

The KD70 believes there exist a double standard of justice in the Philippines. One for the rich and the other for the poor. One for people like Bolante, Teehankee and others while the full force of the law is applied against Echanis and others who fights for the interest of the people.

Thus, we join and actively echo the impassioned call of our compatriots in the Philippines:

FREE RANDALL ECHANIS AND ALL POLITICAL DETAINEES!

JAIL THE TRUE CRIMINALS LIKE BOLANTE!

KILUSANG DEKADA 70

(First Quarter Storm Network-USA]

Los Angeles

The Kilusang Dekada 70 vehemently condemns the recent travesty of justice. We ask- why is it so easy for this government play charades and masquaredes in the Congress and in the courts than to listen to the cries for justice coming from victims of enforced disappearance, torture and unjust imprisonment?

Until now more than 200 human rights, peace and justice activists like Randal Echanis, Randy Malayao, Elizabeth Principe and many more are languishing in jail under harsh conditions.

More than 200 are still missing and cannot be found. Activist like James Balao, Leo Velasco, Philip Limjoco, Sherlyn Cadapan, Karen Empeno and many others.

The KD70 believes there exist a double standard of justice in the Philippines. One for the rich and the other for the poor. One for people like Bolante, Teehankee and others while the full force of the law is applied against Echanis and others who fights for the interest of the people.

Thus, we join and actively echo the impassioned call of our compatriots in the Philippines:

FREE RANDALL ECHANIS AND ALL POLITICAL DETAINEES!

JAIL THE TRUE CRIMINALS LIKE BOLANTE!