STATEMENT - US-BASED WOMENS ORGANIZATION DEMANDS RELEASE OF THE GABNET 3. DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS! NO TO POLITICAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, REP

STATEMENT - US-BASED WOMENS ORGANIZATION DEMANDS RELEASE OF THE GABNET 3. DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS! NO TO POLITICAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, REPRESSION!




Please distribute far and wide





STATEMENT





For Immediate Release Contact: Doris
Mendoza, Secretary General,


9 August 2007
secgen@gabnet.org ; (212) 592- 3507, (718) 753-0257;

Milady Quito, GABNet3OffTheList@gabnet.org



US-BASED WOMENS ORGANIZATION DEMANDS RELEASE OF THE GABNET 3. DEFEND HUMAN
RIGHTS DEFENDERS! NO TO POLITICAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, REPRESSION!



The Philippine Government, headed by de facto President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, has once again brandished an undemocratic, unjust and
cruel rule. She has placed three GABRIELA Network (GABNet) leaders on a
"watch list" and has already prohibited GABNet Chair Dr. Annalisa Enrile
from returning home to Los Angeles.



On August 5th, 2007, Dr. Enrile was barred from boarding her return flight
home from Manila, Philippines. Dr. Enrile was informed that she was on the
"hold" list of the Phil Department of Justice. Two other GABNet leaders
Ninotchka Rosca and Judith Mirkinson are reportedly on the same hold list
and are likely to face the same restriction of movement. The GABNet 3 had
attended the 10th bi-annual Women's International Solidarity Affair in the
Philippines (July 29-August 5 2007). Dr. Enrile also led a delegation of
USC Social Work Masters students on a Philippine summer immersion program.



It is no coincidence that the GABNet 3 have been targeted by the Philippine
Department of Justice. They have been instrumental and most vocal in the
international campaign to defend GABRIELA Women's Partylist Representative
Liza Largoza-Maza who has suffered and continues to suffer intense political
persecution, including baseless charges of murder and sedition. They also
led last year's all-women human rights legal mission to the Philippines, a
report from which points to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other
military elements as perpetrators of the murders/assassinations of close to
nine hundred activists, ninety of whom were women who worked closely with
GABRIELA.



The scheme is obvious: harass, intimidate all the dissenters, all those who
criticize Macapagal-Arroyo's regime. The GABNet 3 are virtually being held
hostage by the Philippine Government. The ransom: silence from all critics
- Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike. For GABNet though, such inhumane
tactics leads only to heightened vigilance and determination.



We demand that the Philippine Government release the GABNet 3 so that they
may return to their homes and their lives in the US. We demand that the US
Embassy in the Philippines and the US Ambassador to the Philippines act on
behalf of the three U.S. citizens/permanent resident and demand that the
Philippine Government release them at once.



We call on our friends and allies to defend the GABNet 3. Help us get them
safely home. Contact your Congressional and Senate representatives to urge
their safe return. Contact via fax the US Embassy, American Citizen
Service, at 011-632-522-3242 or fax the US Embassy, Ambassador Kenney, at
011-632-522-4361.



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FW: STATEMENT - US-BASED WOMENS ORGANIZATION DEMANDS RELEASE OF THE GABNET 3. DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS! NO TO POLITICAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, REPRESSION! -----Original Message-----