Former political prisoners and survivors of state violence speak out against the continuing human rights crisis in the Philippines and the fight to end impunity under Aquino
Sunday, March 11, 2012
2-4 PM
at the San Francisco Public Library:
Koret Theater (lower level)
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco
FREE (donations accepted)
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, doctor and public health activist, health care trainer and member of the “Morong 43 Health Workers” who were unjustly imprisoned on fabricated charges for 11 months
Angelina Ipong, long-time human rights activist, consultant to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and political prisoner for 6 years, known as the “oldest female political prisoner in the Philippines” until her release in 2011
Bishop Felixberto Calang, chair of Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao, who survived state-sponsored threats, harassment, intimidation and surveillance as one of dozens of church people listed on the Philippine military’s “Order of Battle” and labeled an enemy of the state for their work for peace and human rights
“It is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest appreciation of freedom can come. ”
― Malcolm X
On their first international speaking tour since being freed from prison and cleared of all charges against them, Dr. Clamor and Ms. Ipong will speak about their experience of political persecution for their activism and decades of work serving the poor, indigenous and peasant communities in the Philippines. Although Clamor and Ipong’s release from prison in 2011 was a victory of the human rights movement, over 300 political prisoners continue to languish in jail in the Philippines under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. Dr. Clamor and Ms. Ipong will be joined by Bishop Felixberto Calang, a survivor of military harassment, intimidation, and surveillance whose name appeared on the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ “Order of Battle”—a military document which listed dozens of church people, lawyers, journalists, activists and NGO workers as “enemies of the state.” Such lists earned international condemnation as a virtual hit list used by the military to abduct, jail, torture and extra-judicially kill civilians who voiced criticism of the government. The speakers will recount their experience of harassment, abduction, torture and detention by military and police forces, as well as expose the disturbing pattern of human rights violations which has persisted under Aquino. They will also illuminate the vision of social and economic justice and peace for which they continue fighting, even in the face of continued government harassment and labeling as “enemies of the state” and “terrorists.”
US Speaking Tour sponsored by BAYAN-USA, Karapatan-Alliance for Human Rights, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and the Philippine Working Group of the Asia Pacific Forum. Bay Area Co-sponsors (partial list): BAYAN-USA Northern California, Bay Area Committee to Stop Political Repression, Ecumenical Forum for Filipino Concerns, National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Rhonda Ramiro, BAYAN-USA Secretary General: 415-3BAYAN0 secgen@bayanusa.org
ANAKBAYAN SAN JOSE 