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

Political Prisoners temporarily lift hunger strike, launch countdown for the release of 32 political prisoners

Political Prisoners who have been staging a hunger strike for the past days and a protest fast since March 29, announced today in a press conference through their relatives and the human rights group KARAPATAN, the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, the temporary lifting of their hunger strike and protest fast, and the launching of the Countdown to the release of the political prisoners from April 5 to May 5.

In temporarily lifting their hunger strike Zenaida Llesis, Donato Continente, Irene Plagtiosa and other political prisoners and detainees languishing in various jails all over the country, are one in reiterating that their struggle for freedom continues. “We will be vigilant and count the days until each of the 32 political prisoners are finally released based on First Oslo Joint Statement of 14 February 2004. We will make sure that GMA will fulfill this commitment.”

Zenaida Llesis informed KARAPATAN yesterday that GRP panel member Atty. Rene Sarmiento wrote her a letter requesting her and the other political prisoners to lift their hunger strike and fast.

“The political prisoners have never faltered in their struggle. With the temporary lifting, the government is being given a chance to fulfill its commitment.” KARAPATAN Secretary General Marie Hilao-Enriquez said.

KARAPATAN has so far documented 310 political prisoners all over the country, of which 10 are women including three (3) nursing mothers, 15 are minors and 10 are 60 years old and above.

“We lament the fact that despite this good news, Donato Continente and the Mamburao 7 were excluded from the latest list of political prisoners due to be released.” Enriquez decried. “They too long to be back in the arms of their love ones, but the intervention of the US government and the influential Quintos family have further prolonged their incarceration.”

“It is the hope of all political prisoners and detainees and their families that the GMA administration will demonstrate its political will to implement the Second Oslo Joint Statement between the GRP and the NDF.” Enriquez concluded. ###