DEMAND FREEDOM FOR RAFAEL BAYLOSIS AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

BAYAN USA
Written By Prop

NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION FEB. 2 - 5, 2018

BACKGROUND

Last November, the Duterte government called for the termination of the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) with Proclamation No. 360 and the re-arrest of NDFP consultants, despite widespread calls for the continuation of the peace talks to tackle the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines.

On January 31st, peace activist Rafael Baylosis and his companion, Roque Guillermo Jr., were slapped with trumped up charges and arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR).  The arrest of 69 year old Rafael Baylosis, a long-time activist, labor leader and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant, violates the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), of which the Philippine government is a signatory and therefore bound to by way of the peace talks.

Duterte has arrested at least 145 people for politically-motivated reasons, including six peace consultants, a Bishop, and other faith leaders, bringing the total to over 486 political prisoners under his administration.  Duterte has even launched an assault on mass leaders of progressive organizations who led anti-Trump protests last November during the ASEAN Summit, including Vencer Crisostomo (Chairperson of Anakbayan), Einstein Recedes (Secretary General of Anakbayan), Teddy Casino (BAYAN MUNA Partylist), Renato Reyes Jr. (Secretary General of BAYAN USA), and Representative Carlos Zarate (BAYAN MUNA Partylist).

As concerned peoples organizations and human rights advocates in the US, we condemn the  Duterte government’s  violent crackdown on organizations in the Philippines resisting injustice and working for social change.  President Duterte has vowed to intensify his attacks on activists opposing his three wars against the Filipino people including the so-called Drug War, Martial Law in Mindanao, and counterinsurgency war against the revolutionary movement.

We reiterate our call for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP to address the roots of the armed conflict in the country. Durable solutions lie in addressing poverty and landlessness through much-needed social and economic reforms. This is imperative for a just and lasting peace in the Philippines to be truly realized.

We call on all our member organizations, human rights organizations, and peace advocates to stand up for human rights and take action to oppose President Duterte's attacks on progressive organizations and community leaders.

DEMANDS

We demand Rafael and Roque be immediately released from Camp Crame; accountability from President Duterte for trampling on the rights of NDFP consultants; dropping all trumped up charges; and an immediate stop to the harassment, surveillance, arrests, and detention of activists and critics of the Duterte regime.

CALLS

  • Free Rafael Baylosis and All Political Prisoners!

  • Activism Is Not a Crime!

  • Never Again to Fascist Dictatorship!

  • Free All Political Prisoners!

  • Resume the Peace Talks!

MATERIALS & SOCIAL MEDIA

TAKE ACTION

  1. Educate the community about intensified attacks on grassroots organizations and activists.

  2. Launch mass protests in front of the Philippine Embassy and consulates from Friday, February 2nd till Monday, February 5th to garner widespread support and media attention to oppose Duterte’s crackdown on activism.

  3. Call the Philippine Embassy to demand the release of Rafael Baylosis and all political prisoners and to end the attacks on human rights defenders: (202) 467-9300

  4. Produce creative art, posters, infographics, social media memes, songs, and more to inform the public about the human rights situation in the Philippines and the need to free all political prisoners.

  5. Issue public statements to condemn Duterte’s crackdown on activism.

  6. Share information and on-the ground news updates on the situation in the Philippines.

For more info:

bayan-usa-logo-large-red.png

BAYAN-USA is an alliance of 20 progressive Filipino organizations in the U.S. representing students, scholars, women, workers, artists, and youth. As the first and largest international chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Philippines), BAYAN-USA serves as an information bureau for the national democratic movement of the Philippines and as a center for educating, organizing, and mobilizing anti-imperialist and progressive Filipinos in the U.S.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-US is a network of  39 organizations throughout the US, concerned about the human rights situation in the Philippines and committed to campaign for just and lasting peace in the country. Since 2015,  ICHRP-US has coordinated national speaking tours hosting indigenous, faith-based, and environmental grassroots leaders, igniting US based people and organizations to advance the international movement for just and lasting peace in the Philippines

Prop
Previous

Stand Up for Human Rights Activists in the Philippines: Stop Duterte from Silencing Critics!
Next

Join Us! Philippine Solidarity Week Feb. 4-11th