Hands Off Liza Maza!

STATEMENTS and RELEASES

PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
11 May 2006
Reference: Dorotea Mendoza
Secretary General, GABRIELA Network USA
secgen@gabnet.org; 212.592.3507

5,000 SIGNATURES FROM 25 COUNTRIES IN 6 CONTINENTS HELP FREE PHILIPPINE CONGRESSWOMAN LIZA MAZA, BUT CAMPAIGN AGAINST POLITICAL PERSECUTION AND REPRESSION CONTINUE

Philippine Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Maza is free at last! Hopefully, for good. Late morning on Monday, May 8, 2006, Congresswoman Maza and 4 progressive Philippine congressmen, left a 70-day protective custody at the House of Representatives after charges of rebellion against them filed by the Philippine Department of Justice (PDOJ) were dismissed by a court hearing on May 5th. This is indeed a victory. But while we in GABRIELA Network USA (GABNet) and supporters will certainly celebrate a successful Hands Off Liza Maza Campaign, a petition and letter-writing campaign in defense of Congresswoman Maza and against political repression, there will be no let-up in our fight to defend the defenders of democratic and women’s rights. We in GABNet are grateful for worldwide support for Congresswoman Maza and against political persecution in the Philippines.

Launched a month ago by GABNet, the Hands Off Liza Maza Campaign has so far gathered over 5,000 signatures (online and on paper) and 20 letters of support. Represented in the petition are no less than 25 countries in 6 continents: Holland, Germany, Peru, Canada, India, Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Italy, Belgium, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Nigeria, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Iran, Colombia, Russia, Spain, United States. Among the 3,139 online signatories are actor activist Lily Tomlin, feminist icons like Ms. Magazine global editor Robin Morgan, overseas Filipino contract workers, students, professionals, representatives from unions, academic institutions and various women’s, youth, church, human rights, political prisoners rights and cultural organizations. Across the US, students collected support in universities like New York University, Oberlin College, University of California-Irvine, Trinity College, University of California-Berkeley, Columbia University, University of Chicago, University of California-Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Georgia State University, and Scripps College. California State Assembly member Karen Bass, ABC Newscaster Denise Dador, granddaughter of legendary labor activist Cesar Chavez and 2006 California State Assembly candidate Christine Chavez, and actor writer Alison de la Cruz are among the 20 personalities, lawmakers, academicians, women’s and human rights organizations who submitted letters of solidarity. (View the online petition.)

The fight is far from over, though. Congresswoman Maza and her 4 colleagues in Congress are still at risk of warrantless arrest. The PDOJ has promised to re-file the rebellion charges. One congressman, Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Party, remain in detention after being arrested on February 25, 2006, for a warrant issued in 1985 under dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Political persecution and repression is sure to heighten as Philippine de facto President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has faced widespread demand that she resign over vote-rigging, corruption, and human rights violations, is continuing to do all she can, no matter how unjust or unconstitutional, to hold on to power. In 2006, there’s been at least 60 political killings of activists who were critical of Macapagal Arroyo. Since she came to power in 2001, 70 women leaders and community organizers have been assassinated. Macapagal Arroyo’s boldness is surely bolstered by backing from the US government, which continues to send military personnel and materials to the Philippines.

Already there are moves to punish judges who do not conform to the wishes of Macapagal Arroyo. The PDOJ, under Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, is seeking to reprove Judge Jenny Lind Delorino, who refused to admit the PDOJ-sponsored rebellion charges against Congresswoman Maza and her colleagues, and Judge Benjamin Pozon, who on April 8, 2006 ruled against Gonzales’ request to downgrade rape charges against 3 of the 4 US marines who are among the original 6 accused of gang raping a 22-year old Filipina last November 1, 2005, at the former US naval base in Subic, Olongapo, Philippines. In fact, Judge Delorino, no doubt because of pressure from Gonzales, just recently removed herself from presiding over the rebellion cases against Congressman Beltran and one Lt. Lawrence San Juan.

Already Macapagal Arroyo is stepping up her campaign for Charter change (popularly known as Cha-cha), which will see the Philippine Constitution amended and manipulated to guarantee that Macapagal Arroyo, despite election fraud and other acts against the Filipino people, remains in power until 2010. Cha-cha will amend provisions on impeachment, remove safeguards and checks regarding the declaration of Martial Law, rescind provisions protecting national patrimony. Cha-cha economic provisions will certainly please multi-national companies as it will give non-Filipinos the right to own land and exploit Philippine natural resources. Worse, Cha-cha will open to foreign ownership all types of businesses, including the operation of public utilities. Cha-cha will replace the presidential form of government with parliamentary—a shift that will remove the party-list system that has allowed progressive parties like Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) to partake in governance. Without the party-list system, without parties like GWP, marginalized women, men and children of the Philippines will no longer have genuine representation in Congress.

As seen in her panicked February 24, 2006, presidential proclamation of a state of national emergency, provisions in which have been ruled unconstitutional by the Philippine Supreme Court, Macapagal Arroyo is indeed capable and willing to employ any means necessary to hold on to power. She’s had the PDOJ file unfounded rebellion charges against members of Congress and 46 others who have been vocal against her and her policies. She’s had the PDOJ fabricate evidence, ridiculous and absurd. Congresswoman Maza was accused of, among others, being involved in the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1970. She was then only 12-years old. On February 20, 2006, supposed witnesses located her and the 5 other congressmen supposedly congregating with leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Meanwhile, official records show that at said date she and her colleagues were at a budget hearing. Macapagal Arroyo is currently mobilizing government personnel, resources, and funds to gather signatures in support of Cha-cha. By gathering support, Macapagal Arroyo’s minions mean bribery or getting signatures in exchange for cans of sardines and 20 pesos (less than 50 cents), coercion or use of fear (as in people signing for fear of losing their jobs) and even outright deception where people are told they’re signing a petition for Macapagal Arroyo’s ouster.

In the end, Macapagal Arroyo will get just that—ouster from power. We in GABNet, alongside GABRIELA Philippines, Gabriela Women’s Party, and our wide network of women and men allies around the world, vow to pry her from power. As we fight for immigrant women’s rights in the US, it is most imperative that we ensure Congresswoman Maza is not silenced. Her work as a legislator and activist give hope to women of Philippine ancestry, and, indeed, to all women across the globe. She is one of the few leaders in the world who tackle from the root the issues women face in and outside the Philippines, including trafficking, immigration, and violence against women. Evidenced by the wide-reaching and effective Hands Off Liza Maza Campaign, women in the US, the Philippines and around the world, from the mountains of Peru to the deserts of Zimbabwe, can and will unite for social change. ###

STATEMENTS and RELEASES

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