Political prisoners’ nationwide hunger strike/fast ended on January 19, where almost all of the 491 political detainees in more than 50 jails took part from January 15-19. The political prisoners’ hunger strike/fast was the highlight of the “Free All Political Prisoners” campaign held during the Papal visit to dramatize before the public the plight of political prisoners inside jails, and to call on Pope Francis to intercede for their immediate release.
Political prisoners’ nationwide hunger strike/fast ended on January 19, where almost all of the 491 political detainees in more than 50 jails took part from January 15-19. The political prisoners’ hunger strike/fast was the highlight of the “Free All Political Prisoners” campaign held during the Papal visit to dramatize before the public the plight of political prisoners inside jails, and to call on Pope Francis to intercede for their immediate release.
Aside from the political prisoners’ relatives, friends, and human rights advocates who took part in solidarity activities, more than 600 inmates, the common crime violators, especially at the Davao Penal Colony and the Batangas Provincial Jail joined in the hunger strike/fast in solidarity with political prisoners. They echoed the call to release political prisoners and the resumption of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Repression during the Papal visit
The Aquino government did not only suppress the “noise” the political prisoners made during the Papal visit, specifically those at the Special Intensive Care Area-1 (SICA-1) at Camp BagongDiwa but also members of people’s organizations who wanted the Pope to see them and hear their collective cry for justice, against poverty and corruption.
Nuns from the Sisters Association of Mindanao (SAMIN) led by its executive secretary Noemi Degala were stopped and held up by an hour by members of the Philippine National Police in Tanauan, Leyte. They were on their way to Tacloban, where the welcome ceremonies for Pope Francis were held. The nuns had official identification papers and travel passes. The police accused them as members of the New People’s Army.
“BS Aquino muted the voices of the people. He is shameless and self-absorbed. He didn’t want the world to know the realities in the country,he made a speech all about himself and shamed our country before the world. His concern for his hair seemed more important than anything else in this country,” added Palabay, referring to the speech made by Pres. Aquino during his welcome to the Pope.
“It is deplorable how the government used the Pope’s safety and security as excuse. State forces blocked those who wanted the Pope to see the real situation of the country, including the nuns from
Mindanao who were among the first responders who assisted the victims of Yolanda,” said Palabay.
Hundreds of letters to Pope received
“Karapatan, Selda, Hustisya, and Desaparecidos received hundreds of letters to Pope Francis from political prisoners, inmates who are common crime violators, families of the disappeared and other victims of human rights violations, all appealing for Pope Francis to stand with them in their quest for justice,”Palabay related.
“We will seek other channels to reach the Pope as we continue our call to release all political prisoners and the resumption of the peace talks, and persevere in our fight for justice for victims of human rights violations,” she said. ###