U.S.-WIDE VIGIL FOR GABNET 3--U.S. CITIZENS / PERMANENT RESIDENT IN PHILIPPINE "WATCH" LIST, BARRED FROM RETURNING HOME

PRESS RELEASE
15 August 2007

For Immediate Release

Contacts: Faith Santilla faithsantilla@yahoo.com 626.353.2649
Milady Quito gabnet3offthelist@gabnet.org

Women's group GABRIELA Network USA (GABNet) last night held a US-wide vigil to demand the immediate release of the GABNet 3--Dr. Annalisa Enrile (Chairperson), Ninotchka Rosca (Founding Chair, writer) and Judith Mirkinson (International Relations Officer, founding member)--who've been placed by the Philippine Department of Justice in a "watch" list and barred from returning home to the US. The actions in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco were held in front of Philippine Consular offices and in San Diego at the center of the Filipino community.

"To place these 3 women in some kind of watch list is completely outrageous," one protestor in New York said. "They haven't done anything but defend women's human rights. But for a corrupt, puppet government like in the Philippines, this kind of injustice is expected, isn't it?" Dr. Enrile was prohibited from boarding her return flight on August 5, 2007. Soon thereafter, it was discovered that Ms. Rosca and Ms. Mirkinson were also reportedly on the watch list.

More than thirty organizations joined the vigil, including the ANSWER coalition, Women in Black, Women?s International League for Peace and Freedom, Women for Genuine Security, Jericho Movement for Political Prisoners, DAMAYAN, Ugnayan, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Fil-Am Arts, Pilipino Workers Center, Kabataan maka-Bayan, BAYAN USA, and Justice for Filipino American Veterans. Over two dozen of Dr. Enrile?s former university students also joined the vigil. Over 300 protesters across the US carried placards and banners that said ?GABNet 3 Off The Philippine Watchlist?, ?Solidarity is Not a Crime?, and ?Respect Human Rights?.

In Los Angeles, GABNet Chapter Coordinator Ivy Quicho was joined by the family of Dr. Enrile in meeting with Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Aragon. While awaiting the result of the consular meeting, the crowd grew to over 100 people who were chanting, ?Free, Free, Free The GABNet 3, Stop, Stop, Stop Intimidation!? and ?GABNet 3, Set Them Free!?. The Consul General pledged to inquire with her colleagues in the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs as to the status of the GABNet 3. Later in the evening, the Consul General returned to inform them that her colleague at the Office of American Affairs said that ?they are looking into the matter? and that they are ?on top of it? in terms of the GABNet 3 boarding the flight tonight. Ms. Quicho vowed to contact the Consul General every hour to receive an update on the GABNet 3?s status. She also pledged that the vigils would continue should the Philippine government fail to remove the GABNet 3 from their ?watch list?.

In New York, GABRIELA Network San Diego co-coordinator Thea Quiray Tagle, NYNJ member Alex Ruhland and ally Linda Abad of DAMAYAN met with NY Consul General Cecilia Rebong on Monday August 13th at 430 pm. The group had a 20-minute audience with the Consul to discuss the GABNet 3. The assessment from the group was two-fold: 1) Rebong claimed innocence of the whole affair (despite radio Station WBAI interviewing her 30 minutes before GABNet met her) 2) Rebong tried to trivialize the event, even saying that perhaps the names of Annalisa et al is on the list by accident, maybe because of a misspelling. Meanwhile GABNet NYNJ and their allies conducted a program outside of the consulate that from all accounts was very well received by the public. According to one GABNet member, Monica Bauer, ?hasidic Jewish men to young Korean tourists stopped by to inquire what our protest was all about (a lot of people were stopping and taking pictures), especially when Karra Bikson, a professor of Social Welfare at NYU and a former colleague of Annalisa Enrile, read a statement claiming that the Holocaust began also with the naming of individuals.?

Members and supporters of the GABNet San Diego chapter congregated at the busy intersection of the 805 Freeway and Plaza Boulevard, by a local Filipino-American strip mall. Mothers brought their children along with them to demonstrate their support for the GABNet 3. Together they chanted, ?Sulong, Gabriela! Lumaban, Makibaka!?

San Francisco?s Consular office saw a mass of over 70 people in front of their Philippine Center Building. The family of Judith Mirkinson requested a formal appointment with the Consul General but its staff was unable to assist them. Regardless, the Mirkinsons proceeded to the consulate and demanded an audience with the Consul General. They were able to meet with the Consul General who informed them that he was already aware of the situation and he would contact the office of Philippines Ambassador to the United States Gaa in Washington DC. Meanwhile, the crowd outside of the consulate continued to grow and the protestors were able to put letters together which said, ?FREE THE GABNET 3!?

?Despite the small successes of the various GABNet chapters being able to meet with the local Consul Generals, the women of GABRIELA Network and it?s supporters remain steadfast in calling for the safe return of the GABNet 3 to the United States and they pledge to continue putting pressure on the Philippines to answer for the countless human rights violations, nearly 900 murders of activists and community organizers, and hundreds who have disappeared,? said GABNet NY/NJ Coordinator Olivia Quinto.

GABNet is a Philippine-US women's solidarity mass organization established in 1989