[m2c] US-based Women's Org Demands release of Gabnet 3: NO TO POLITICAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, REPRESSION!

[Huibin Amelia Chew]

hey all, I've been in the Philippines for an international solidarity
conference held by the amazing grassroots women's organization here,
GABRIELA.

unfortunately, several fellow organizers with Gabriela Network
(www.gabnet.org) are being banned from returning to the US (they're on
some sort of list from previous human rights documentation work they
did).

we're calling for people to fax the US embassy -- please see below.
thanks!  -Amee

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: GABNet3 Off The List <GABNet3OffTheList at gabnet.org>
Date: Aug 10, 2007 3:14 PM
Subject: 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 at gabnet.org ;  (212) 592- 3507, (718) 753-0257;

Milady Quito, GABNet3OffTheList at 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.




###




-- 
...when your innocent eyes glance
at this confused, beginningless book,
you will see a deep-rooted, lasting rebellion
blooming in the heart of every song. ...

-- Forough Farrokhzad, translated

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inciteboston.blogspot.com
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