STATEMENT
15 June 2016
15 June 2016
Victims of human
rights violations and kin:
RELEASE ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS!
RESUME PEACE
TALKS!
RESOLVE THE ROOTS
OF ARMED CONFLICT!
WE ARE citizens who have experienced human rights
violations since the Marcos dictatorship until the departing Noynoy Aquino
administration. We know what
persecution, torture, deprivation of liberty, forced separation from family,
and isolation from society mean. We are former political prisoners who have
survived to tell our stories.
Today, we are joined by kith and kin, other victims
of rights violations, and justice advocates, to urge the release of all
political prisoners who have been enduring injustice and suffering state
brutality because they fought a war against slavery and poverty, elitism and
greed, subservience to foreign interests, and unfreedom.
They must all be freed.
Today, as we press for the release of 509 political
prisoners languishing in jails all over the country, we are encouraged by the
declaration and intention of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to do so. We are
completely behind him to right what all the past presidents did wrong.
Releasing all political prisoners, especially the 18
consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, will
absolutely create a positive climate for the resumption of the peace talks. There is no way that granting freedom to
citizens who have been wrongfully arrested, jailed, and slapped with trumped-up
charges will not encourage peace. This much-awaited milestone act of
statesmanship by the President-elect, once realized, will what shall initiate
closure to many instances of injustice.
Together with the freed political prisoners and all
our families and organizations, we stand foursquare behind the peace process in
search of solutions to the root causes of the war that has long raged in our
country.
We warn the diehards of the withering Noynoy Aquino
regime and all saboteurs not to sow intrigues, not to redtag, and not to
disrupt and derail the release of political prisoners and the success of the peace
negotiations.
We, the people, shall overcome!
The
Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) is an
organization of former political prisoners in the Philippines. Founded
on December 4, 1984, SELDA was initiated by newly-released political
prisoners of the martial law period. SELDA’s primary task is to work
for the release of all political prisoners and to see to it that humane
treatment of those who are still in detention are complied with by the
Philippine authorities. SELDA advocates justice for current and former
political prisoners. It calls for the mobilisation of resources in
support of political prisoners, former detainees and their families. It
carries out legislative advocacy for the indemnification and
rehabilitation of political prisoners. SELDA goes into partnership and
builds solidarity with concerned individuals and groups for the freedom
and welfare of political prisoners and all victims of tyranny.
SELDA National Office: 2/F, Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets,
Brgy. Central District, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Tel: 632-9906595 Fax: 632-4354146
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