on his third day of fasting, but it was not for his own health or
welfare that he sounded the alarm but for fellow political detainees
collectively known as the Tagaytay 5. Beltran began his first round of
fasting late March in protest of his continuing detention, the arrest
of Bayan Muna Satur Ocampo, and the continuing attacks against members
of progressive party-lists and people's organizations. This second
round is in solidarity with and in support of the Tagaytay 5.
The Tagaytay 5 or Riel Custodio, Axel Pinpin, Aristides Sarmiento,
Enrico Ybanez and Michael Masayes embarked on a hunger strike which
began on March 6, 2007. As of April 2 reports, the political
detainees' health have visibly worsened and they are all severely
weakened. All have are victim of abduction, arbitrary detention,
incriminatory machinations, torture, inhumane treatment at the hands
of the Philippine National Police (PNP). As a consequence of the
hunger strike, Pinpin and Custodio have now become bed-ridden and
unable to get up.
The five men where traveling along Ligaya Drive, Brgy. Sungay,
Tagaytay City when they forcibly arrested by an estimated 30-40
elements of the PNP. For seven days they were kept blindofolded and
hogtied; interrogated without the presence of legal counsel,
physically abused and threatened with electrocution and summary
execution. They have since then been charged as members of the New
People's Army (NPA) when their credentials as members and staff of the
Katipunan ng mga Magsasaka sa Kabite (or Kamagsasaka-Ka) and the
Cavite Farmers Consultative Council (CFCC) right up to the time they
were arrested.
"The Macapagal-Arroyo administration continues to flout civil and
human rights and remains a staunch supporter of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and the PNP's escalating attacks against civilians and
activists. As of Dec. 2006, the Arroyo government keeps 232 political
prisoners, and refuses to heed the call of human rights groups that
these civilians be immediately released. The case of the Tagaytay 5 is
yet another glaring proof that this government will resort to the most
inhumane and devious tactics to criminalize activists," he said.
Beltran, 74, is second-time political detainee. The first time was
under the Marcos dictatorship when he was detained for two years after
the August 13, 1982 Crackdown on the militant trade union movement.
Now he is a detainee under the Arroyo regime, charged with inciting to
sedition and rebellion. He has been detained for 14 months now since
he was arrested February 25, 2006 on the anniversary of EDSA People
Power 1. He was originally detained in Camp Crame but because of high
blood pressure, diabetes and other related illnesses, he was
transferred to the Philippine Heart Center where he is under 24-7
guard by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group
(CIDG).
"If it had not been for the strong assertion of human rights and cause
oriented groups on my behalf, I would have been forced to remain as a
political detainee in Camp Crame. I have no illusions that I would
have been treated with special care while under the direct custody of
the PNP; ironically, it has been my unstable health that has kept me
alive because I have to doubts either that my life would've been cut
short had I been detained in Camp Crame."
"It is then with deep anger and outrage that I protest against the
continuing detention of the Tagaytay 5 and the rest of the political
prisoners all over the country. On a daily basis they are subjected to
various forms of torture, ranging from physical, mental and emotional.
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must be made to take responsibility for
the inhumane treatment the PNP subjects the political detainees to,
particularly the Tagaytay 5."
Beltran said that the candidates of Macapagal-Arroyo's Team Unity
should be defeated in the May elections because they will only
perpetuate Macapagal-Arroyo's rule as a condoner of human rights
violations and a protector of human rights violators and masterminds
of extra-judicial killings. He said that he will continue to fast for
the entire duration of the Holy Week in protest of the worsening human
rights situation in the Philippines.#
--
No comments:
Post a Comment