July 19, 2000 STATEMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE PHILIPPINES ON THE BRUTAL ATTACKS AGAINST POLITICAL PRISONERS IN TURKEY Since July 12, human rights groups across Europe have engaged in sympathy fasts for political prisoners in Turkey. In solidarity, we shall fast from July 19-20. These protest actions are not altogether without merit. We, political prisoners in the Philippines, are revolted by reports saying that political activists and revolutionaries unjustly imprisoned by the Turkish government have been attacked and massacred by fascist Turkish military troops. According to reports, women political prisoners in Turkey have been raped, some with the use of fluorescent lamps. To date, 60 political prisoners in Turkey have been injured or wounded by the barbaric attacks no thanks to the Turkish State Prison wardens and guards. With these attacks, the Turkish government is committing yet another dastardly crime over the hideous practice of jailing those who hold and assert different political beliefs. By waging these brutal assaults, the Turkish government is on a rampage to demonize and demoralize imprisoned political opponents. This is overkill, a brutal exhibitionism by the fascist Turkish government that deserves the strongest condemnation. At the same time, we also ask our people to look into the ghastly jails across the country where imprisoned opponents are kept by the Philippine government. Today, over 200 Filipinos are kept in prison for the sole crime of fighting what we consider as an unjust and exploitative government. It is also important to note that the Philippine government is not only jailing activists and revolutionaries, including mere suspects. It likewise refuses to acknowledge them as such but as common criminals. This is done by the lodging of trumped-up cases including murder, attempted murder, arson and other charges, all of which are non-bailable. Take the case of Kumander Parago Sandoval of the New People's Army who was captured by the military in Davao City last year. The military lodged 16 separate criminal suits against him in Quezon City courts. Since his arrest, he remains in solitary confinement at the Intelligence Service of the AFP headquarters. His case reeks with multiple violations by the military of his human rights as well as the very laws the AFP is mandated to enforce. Political prisoners are not criminals. Just like those in Turkey, we do not deserve such maltreatment. We deserve to be freed so that we may freely converse and organize our peoples in building a just and humane society in the Philippines and Turkey. For instance, eighty percent of the 200 political prisoners in the Philippines are of peasant origin. Their crime is taking a different road against the centuries-old land monopoly that endlessly exploits them. Together with our families and friends, we join the ongoing protests and sympathy fasts in Turkey and Europe. We join them and other freedom-loving people in holding the Philippine and Turkish governments liable for unjustly imprisoning their political opponents. Through the noise of empty plates and the murmur of empty stomachs, let us demand an end to these barbarous assaults against political prisoners in Turkey and the only appropriate and humane treatment for all political prisoners - freedom, nothing less. (Sgd.) DONATO CONTINENTE Spokesperson of Political Prisoners ------------------------------------------------------------- KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights) 23-D Mabuhay St., Central District, Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES Tel. Nos. (+632) 434-1865 / 435-2878 E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Join our mailing list. Send a blank email addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- To Post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
