Press Statement Reference:                                                                                                                                 Marie Hilao-Enriquez
02 April 2004                                                                                                                                                     Secretary General

Press Releases on Political Prisoners Release an electoral campaign gimmick for GMA - KARAPATAN

KARAPATAN the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights today, slammed the GMA government for merely releasing press releases on its commitment to release political prisoners after it agreed to this action as a confidence-building measure during the previous round of peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway last February 9-14, 2004.

“After the conclusion of the first round of peace talks we thought that the release of political prisoners would be immediately facilitated by the concerned government agencies. But more than a month has passed and now that the second round of negotiations are also coming to a close, only press releases have been issued and no single actual act of release has been facilitated.” KARAPATAN Secretary General, Marie Hilao-Enriquez lamented. She is currently in Oslo, Norway as one of the Joint Monitoring Committee Observers in the second-phase of peace talks from March 30 – April 2.

Because of this development, 50 political prisoners are conducting a protest fast which was started by nursing mother Zenaida Llesis last Monday, March 29. To follow is a hungerstrike to be staged by the almost 300 political prisoners nationwide. This is to show their disgust and disappointment over the government’s deliberate inaction on their plight despite the signing of the Oslo Joint Agreement on February 14, 2004 binding the government’s supposed commitment to peace-building in the country.

“The hungerstrike is the highest form of protest our political prisoners will stage for them to call the attention of those who are supposed to serve the people’s interest.” Enriquez declared, “As it is, our fear that this is merely being used as an electoral campaign gimmick for the president is evidently being proven true.”

Aside from those currently incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prisons, political prisoners from the Quezon province, Sorsogon, Negros Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao, Compostella Valley and Kidapawan are on sympathy protest fast.

KARAPATAN has so far documented almost 300 political prisoners detained in different jails and detention centers from all over the country. Eleven are women three of whom are nursing mothers jailed with their children and 16 are minors.

“We call on the government to end its double-talk and empty promises. We are challenging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be faithful to her commitment to the people and the ongoing peace negotiations. Free all political prisoners now!” Enriquez concluded. ###

KARAPATAN
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
#43 Masikap St., Brgy. Pinyahan,
Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
telefax: (632) 928 6078 and (632) 435 4146
email address: [email protected]
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website: www.karapatan.org