GABRIELA DENOUNCES POLITICAL HARASSMENT, DEMANDS GABNET3 OFF THE WATCH LIST

NEWS RELEASE
11 August 2007

Reference: Lana Linaban, deputy secretary general, 371-2302 /0928-7923242 / 0917-8299895

"We denounce the Arroyo government's unceasing attacks on progressive organizations such as Gabriela. It has now reached a point when our friends and supporters are being targeted as well." This was the statement today of Lana Linaban, deputy secretary general of Gabriela Philippines in a press conference. The women's group was refering to an alleged government "watch list" which prevented Dr. Annalisa Enrile, chair of Gabriela Network USA, from leaving the country last August 5.

Enrile, also a professor of the University of Southern California in USA, was barred by the Bureau of Immigrations from taking her flight and was told that she is on a watch list and is not allowed to leave the country unless she gets clearance from the Department of Justice, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Security Agency, and the Office of the President.

"Securing clearance from these agencies is highly irregular. We cannot think of any reason to hold Annalisa unless these agencies, which happen to be part of the Anti-Terrorism Council, consider her a threat to national security," Linaban said.

"In that case, we can't help but ask, is this then a part of the implementation of the Human Security Act and that Gabriela is its first victim?"

Aside from Enrile, internationally acclaimed novelist Ninotchka Rosca and human rights advocate Judith Mirkinson, both officers of Gabriela Network US, are also in the Philippines. All three women are in country as delegates of the recently concluded 10th Women's International Solidarity Affair in the Phippines sponsored by Gabriela.

"We have reason to believe that Ninotchka and Judith are likely to face the same harassment as Annalisa endured because all their names appeared in the so-called watch list released last December during the ASEAN Summit," added Linaban.

"We demand that the GABNet3 be taken off the watch list. Their harassment only adds to the long list of transgressions of the Arroyo government, only proving this government's shamelessness despite national and international condemnation it is getting for its culpability in the violation of human rights."

"Rather than deter us, the Arroyo government only spurs us to intensify our struggle against political repression bolstered by a strong support of women activists all over the world," Linaban concluded.