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Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Karapatan to mark Christmas with political prisoners
KARAPATAN Southern Mindanao will hold its annual "Paskuhan kasama ang mga Bilanggong Pulitikal" on December 21 at the Compostela Valley Province Provincial Rehabilitation Center in Tagum City.
The event is in their solidarity with the political prisoners this holiday season.
Likewise, Karapatan has found a more meaningful way to celebrate the yuletide season with the released of 11 political prisoners at Compostela Valley Province Provincial Rehabilitation Center.
Darwin Cabillar and Melecio Banquil were released last November 4 and 11 respectively.
Paraiso Viray, Gary Tanoy, Wilfredo Damalerio, James Francis de Fiesta, Bebiano Veriales, Angelica Alaba, Alejandro Maldo, and Bernie Perez were finally released last December 6.
Furthermore, Karapatan posted a cash bond for Rexan Ecoy last December 15 duly signed by acting Municipal Trial Court Judge Juanito A. Betonio.
"The release is long overdue," said Ariel Casilao, Karapatan secretary-general.
Casilao hit on the Arroyo government "for reneging on its commitment in the peace process, specifically in decriminalizing political detainees."
"The act of criminalizing political dissent has not ceased with the continued arrest and detention of activists, community organizers, peasants, workers, women and even minors. Most of the political prisoners were victims of arbitrary arrest and detention. Among them are peasants involved in land disputes, political activists, suspected NPA, MNLF, and MILF supporters, ordinary Muslims and fall guys presented and paraded before the media in the government's campaign against terrorism," Casilao said.
Presently there are 275 political prisoners in 62 jails all over the country, Casilao noted.
"We had traced 21 political prisoners in Southern Mindanao Region and 11 of them were detained at the Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center. These political prisoners were charged, tried or convicted of common crimes, which unjustly covered up the true political nature of their cases," he said. (BOT/With press release)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 21, 2005 issue)
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