tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23222488816245268652024-03-18T20:02:23.061-07:00Free Ericson AcostaEricson Acosta is an artist, journalist and cultural worker illegally arrested by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last February 13, 2011 in San Jorge, Samar province in the Eastern Visayan region. He faces trumped-up charges of illegal possession of explosives and is currently detained at the Calbayog City sub-provincial jail.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-76497831862071989212015-03-26T01:06:00.000-07:002015-03-26T01:14:35.714-07:00Launch of Ericson Acosta's "Mula Tarima Hanggang"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mula Tarima Hanggang at iba pang mga tula at awit </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benefit Book Launch, Poetry Reading & Jam for the country's more than 500 political prisoners</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fsl">April 16, 2015 | Thursday, 4 PM<br /> UP Main Library, University of the Philippines </span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fsl"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Diliman, Quezon City</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fsl"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mula-Tarima-Hanggang" target="_blank"> Mula Tarima Hanggang</a>
at iba pang mga tula at awit by Ericson Acosta will be sold at a
special launch price of <b>Php 350</b> (Regular Price Php 400). Part of the
proceeds will go to the campaign to <a data-gt="{"entity_id":"268948866452260","entity_path":"WebEventPublicProdFeedPermalinkController"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=268948866452260&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://freeallpps.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Free All Political Prisoners</a><a href="https://freeallpps.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> in the Philippines.</a><br /> <br /> To reserve copies of the book, please email<b> freeericsonacosta@gmail.co</b><wbr></wbr><b><span class="word_break"></span>m</b> | contact 09299562333 | or send a Facebook message to the <a data-gt="{"entity_id":"147528518640325","entity_path":"WebEventPublicProdFeedPermalinkController"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=147528518640325&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/Free.Ericson.Acosta.FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners" target="_blank">Free Ericson Acosta</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Free.Ericson.Acosta.FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners" target="_blank"> page.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fsl">Click the link to view the Facebook event page for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1432235267074755/" target="_blank">Launch of Ericson Acosta's "Mula Tarima Hanggang" </a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nearly two years after my arrest,
I am in high spirits as I return to the ranks of cultural workers and mass
activists for national democracy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My incarceration brought me face
to face with the grim conditions in prison, and the dismal state of our justice
system. In those two years, as well, my comrades and supporters have kept me
abreast on current events, national campaigns, and urgent people’s concerns. Our
fight for human rights and justice amidst the climate of impunity in the country
is even more pressing today; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and it is a
compelling reason for our unity and action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our campaign for human rights has
for the past years attained worldwide reach. We are in a better <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>position to push for the release of all
political prisoners. Reflecting on my own experience, a crucial component of
this campaign is our call to end the criminalization of political dissent,
illegal arrest and torture. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only then can
we ensure that people like Maricon Montajes, Charity Dino, Alan Jazmines, Bart
Alcantara, Eduardo Sarmiento, Randy Vegas, Raul Camposano, who have chosen to
serve the people will not suffer further injustice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wish to thank the National
Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) led by Atty. Edre Olalia, Atty. Jun Oliva and
Atty. Rey Cortez and the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) which is a broad
network that vigorously campaigned for my freedom here and abroad. I would also
like to thank the Public Attorney’s Office led by Atty. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta,
the doctors and staff of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Sen. Chiz
Escudero, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the National Commission for Culture and Arts
(NCCA), KARAPATAN, SELDA, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BAYAN, the
Concerned Artists of the Philippines, the Amnesty International, PEN
International and Philippine PEN led by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, the
various Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines in various parts of the
world, INTAL Belgium, HumanWrongs Philippines, the ALL U.P. Workers Alliance,
CONTEND, various people’s organizations and progressive partylist groups
representatives from Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, ACT and Kabataan, and the Kapunungan
han Gudti nga Paraoma ha Weste han Samar-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
(KAPAWA-KMP) which enabled me to integrate with the peasant communities in Samar.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We will continue to call for a
general, omnibus and unconditional amnesty for all political prisoners. We will
continue to fight for justice. And through our collective efforts, we will be
victorious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PADAYON!</span></div>
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Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-72344224168003669352013-01-30T22:49:00.000-08:002013-01-31T00:46:16.089-08:00DOJ dismisses Ericson Acosta case, poet demands freedom for all political prisoners<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">January <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2322248881624526865" name="_GoBack"></a>31, 2013</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reference:
Ericson Acosta, 0939-9259368</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZrTG84eTgN0ePBANMGO9LPMpld6EFpUAF7acOU3hJbCiKvZ2aorayeqb-9ao9VO1nbQ-DG03ML32tVb4YFhXPZZ11QJ3KcIMYH0Cmp46F6wT4emz58SZj6zBC56FHo8I2pgnUv-_Cmc/s1600/release+order.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZrTG84eTgN0ePBANMGO9LPMpld6EFpUAF7acOU3hJbCiKvZ2aorayeqb-9ao9VO1nbQ-DG03ML32tVb4YFhXPZZ11QJ3KcIMYH0Cmp46F6wT4emz58SZj6zBC56FHo8I2pgnUv-_Cmc/s320/release+order.jpg" width="320" /></a></h5>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 20.0pt;">DOJ
dismisses Ericson Acosta case</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Poet demands freedom for all political prisoners</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
After almost two years, cultural worker
Ericson Acosta is now free to write poems and songs outside prison.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
The Department of Justice (DoJ) today released
a favorable resolution to Acosta’s Petition to have his criminal case reviewed.
His Petition for Review was filed at the DoJ in September 2011.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Acosta was arrested in San Jorge, Samar in
February 13, 2011 on suspicion that he is a member of the New People’s Army -- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just because he carried a laptop. He was falsely
charged with illegal possession of explosives at the Gandara Regional Trial
Court. Last January 17, the Gandara RTC granted Acosta temporary release to
undergo medical check-up, confinement and treatment at the National Kidney
Transplant Institute in Quezon City. The Gandara RTC, Branch 41, granted the
said motion on the same day. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Asked what he plans to do soon after his
release, Acosta said, “I would personally thank everyone who campaigned for my
release – my family, lawyers, friends, former classmates and colleagues, fellow
artists and human rights advocates. Without their continuous support, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>authorities would not have taken action on my
case. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an urgent need to
continue the struggle to free all political prisoners.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Human rights group KARAPATAN reported
that there are now more than 400 political prisoners under the Aquino
administration. However, Malacanang, through its spokesperson Edwin Lacierda,
made a public statement that there are no political prisoners in the
Philippines. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
“The unwarranted arrest and torture torment
political prisoners each day they remain in prison. Political prisoners are
rendered de facto ‘criminals’ and ‘terrorists,’ deprived of due process, forced
to be at the mercy of the military. This injustice has to end.” Acosta said. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Acosta’s Petition for Review cited irregularities and human rights
violations in the conduct of his arrest and detention cited in the petition for
review, namely, 1) he was arrested without warrant while not committing any
crime or doing anything illegal; 2) he was not informed of the reason for his
arrest at the time of his arrest; 3) he was denied the right to counsel; 4) he
was denied a phone call and prevented from contacting his family or lawyer; 5)
he was subjected to prolonged interrogation for 44 hours; 6) he was physically
and psychologically tortured during tactical interrogation; 7) he was deprived
of sleep, threatened, intimidated, coerced and forced to admit membership in
the NPA; 8) the grenade subject of the case was planted; 9) the complaint
against him was filed in court only after 72 hours and 30 minutes; and, 10) he
was detained in a military camp, which is not of civilian jurisdiction.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
The Free Ericson Acosta Campaign
rejoiced at the DoJ’s decision and held a short program outside NKTI. The group
said that a solidarity event is to be held in the next few days in support of
all political prisoners in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">he
campaign to free Ericson Acosta has been sustained for almost two years,
gaining widespread local and international support from prominent artist and
human rights organizations such as the Amnesty International, PEN
International, Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines in the United
Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, INTAL-Belgium, The International Conference
for Progressive Culture-People’s Art Network, BAYAN, SELDA, UP Diliman
University Council, Concerned Artists of the Philippines and even members and
officials of the state’s National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
On November 2011, Acosta was named finalist of the Imprisoned Artist
Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa,
along with other nominees from Myanmar and Tibet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZrTG84eTgN0ePBANMGO9LPMpld6EFpUAF7acOU3hJbCiKvZ2aorayeqb-9ao9VO1nbQ-DG03ML32tVb4YFhXPZZ11QJ3KcIMYH0Cmp46F6wT4emz58SZj6zBC56FHo8I2pgnUv-_Cmc/s1600/release+order.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Acosta said, “In jail, I yearned
for sea and sky. Freedom cannot be achieved by mere yearning, only by struggle.
###</span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>PRESS STATEMENT<br /> 31 January 2013<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">On the DOJ resolution granting poet-activist Ericson Acosta's petition
for review, reversing probable cause and dismissing trumped-up charges
of illegal possession of explosives:</span><br /> <br /><span>
We hail the resolution as it finally officially exposed the trumped-up
charge of illegal possession of explosives against our client who has
suffered already a gross injustice. Somehow, it brings some renewed hope
again that dogged pursuit of justice and persistent efforts to right a
wrong can still be rewarded ultimately. We hope that the many who are
politically persecuted, thrown in jail on false or fabricated charges
through legal shortcuts and hocus-pocus, and made to indefinitely wait
in anguish will get their own well-deserved freedom.<br /> <br /> References: <br /> Atty. Jun Oliva, counsel from NUPL <a href="tel:%28%2B639157707067" target="_blank" value="+639157707067">(+639157707067</a>)<br /> Atty. Edre U. Olalia, NUPL secretary general <a href="tel:%28%2B639175113373" target="_blank" value="+639175113373">(+639175113373</a>)</span></span></span></span> </span></div>
</h5>
Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-14701379872236639332013-01-27T01:20:00.000-08:002013-01-27T01:20:35.064-08:00Int’l groups to DOJ: Resolve pending review, release Ericson Acosta now!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></i></b></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 20.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">January 27, 2013</span> </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">International human
rights groups appealled yet again to the Department of Justice (DoJ) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to immediately issue a favorable resolution to
the Petition for Review filed by detained poet-activist Ericson Acosta. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima, who met with Acosta’s family last week, promised Acosta and his
supporters that the DoJ resolution will be out “by Friday (last week) or early
next week.” However, The DoJ is yet to release its decision as of posting time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In separate
statements addressed to the DoJ, human rights support groups from the United
States, Canada and the United Kingdom, reiterated their appeal for Acosta’s
immediate and unconditional release. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Acosta’s
complainants have failed to file any comment on this petition. Without such
opposition, the review petition should have been resolved within 60 days,” said
Rev. Canon Barry Naylor, honorary president of the CHRP-UK (Campaign for Human
Rights in the Philippines-United Kingdom). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The petition for review was filed by Acosta’s
lawyers from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) in September 2011. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“We as SF CHRP (San
Francisco Committee for Human Rights Rights in the Philippines) demand that all
of the trumped-up and fabricated charges against him be dropped and that he is
set free in order to pursue his artistic passions,” said Rupert Estanislao,
chair of the SF CHRP.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“(Acosta’s) continued
detention is a colossal injustice to Acosta and to the Filipino people whom he
has chosen to serve through his courageous and creative involvement in the
people’s struggle for their economic, political and cultural rights,” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>said Orval K. Chapman, founding member of the
Canada-Philippines-Solidarity for Human Rights. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acosta, 40, a
cultural worker arrested by the military in San Jorge, Samar while conducting
human rights research, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is currently confined
at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City after
securing a court order for a medical furlough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon arrest, Acosta was interrogated and
tortured inside a military camp for three days before a trumped-up charge of
illegal possession of explosive was filed against him to justify his arrest and
detention. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before his confinement at the
NKTI, Acosta was detained for 23 months at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail in
Samar. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">His supporters say that
his current medical problems are the direct result of torture and dismal prison
conditions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Free Ericson
Acosta Campaign (FEAC) demanded that the DOJ resolve the case immediately while
Acosta is under medical furlough. “We do not want him to return to a hostile
environment given his medical condition,” the group said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The only thing
(Acosta) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is guilty of is dedication and
service to the oppressed masses of the Philippines,” they said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Father also in hospital</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acosta’s family continues
to raise funds for his medical bills even as Acosta’s elderly father, Isaias,
79, who publicly appealed for his son to receive medical treatment since July
of last year, is now also scheduled to undergo a spinal operation within the
week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The distress of
Ericson’s imprisonment has also taken its toll on my husband’s health. He is in
severe pain now due to a spinal ailment and needs to immediately undergo
operation. We are very old, our only wish is to see our son walk free again,”
said Liwaway, 80, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acosta’s mother. ###</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></div>
Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-62694275686344785872013-01-24T03:55:00.001-08:002013-01-24T03:55:56.566-08:00Supporters of Ericson Acosta want DOJ to resolve petition while poet still under medical furlough<!--[if !mso]>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">January 23, 2013<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 5.0pt;"> </span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2T0PgVpzv9jIRSu8RiBLIzs_IECbb2r5hJ0DxIhCM6_EafS9IpD6-yvE5dFBz7VD_BnKk2bD3x3C-XONxz2HE1qsukUKexyaPnmghhUkrHw39y2wp7uGVUzO7NzEqK33hy0O94rqT3U/s1600/doj2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2T0PgVpzv9jIRSu8RiBLIzs_IECbb2r5hJ0DxIhCM6_EafS9IpD6-yvE5dFBz7VD_BnKk2bD3x3C-XONxz2HE1qsukUKexyaPnmghhUkrHw39y2wp7uGVUzO7NzEqK33hy0O94rqT3U/s320/doj2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw33fLOrwgdz9Ze-gqAMbPqqoe03cdsM28aT2SRo-GhYX4_2OqbcQkhsmQk4IOvLw7v3Cg-_1b0HNOWej6AGU7n-ncMP4oqFjWccLzDaazuDUV1Ds1ZYK2tCaT4ez9ydhliPXgR7igv8/s1600/doj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw33fLOrwgdz9Ze-gqAMbPqqoe03cdsM28aT2SRo-GhYX4_2OqbcQkhsmQk4IOvLw7v3Cg-_1b0HNOWej6AGU7n-ncMP4oqFjWccLzDaazuDUV1Ds1ZYK2tCaT4ez9ydhliPXgR7igv8/s320/doj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt;">Supporters of Ericson Acosta want DOJ to
resolve petition while poet still under medical furlough</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
family, supporters and fellow artists of detained poet Ericson Acosta held a
picket-rally at the Department of Justice to call for his immediate release.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acosta,
40, a political prisoner was earlier granted temporary release from the
Calbayog sub-provincial jail to undergo medical treatment at the National
Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City, through the provisional
assistance of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) led by Chief Atty. Persida V.
Rueda-Acosta . </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
line with the PAO’s Legal and Medical Jail Visitation and Decongestion Program,
Atty. Rueda-Acosta visited Samar Sub-Provincial Jail inmates, including Acosta,
at his detention cell, and consequently filed a Manifestation cum Compliance on
17 January 2013 seeking for his release for the purpose of undergoing medical
check-up, confinement and treatment at the NKTI.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
picket-rally was held as Atty. Rueda-Acosta submitted her report to the
Department of Justice (DOJ) on PAO’s provisional assistance on Acosta’s case. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The PAO, in the same letter, requested that
the DOJ “immediately resolve” the petition for review filed by Acosta’s legal
counsels on September 1, 2011 “in the highest interest of justice and for
humanitarian reasons”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
PAO’s submission came in light of DOJ Chief Leila de Lima’s directive for the
“immediate disposition” of Acosta’s petition for review following intensified
clamor from his supporters and a personal letter from Acosta requesting for a
dialogue. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acosta’s
supporters in the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) said that the DOJ failed
to act promptly on the petition for review. “It’s been almost two years.
Ericson’s current medical condition is due mainly to having been tortured and
unjustly and illegally incarcerated. The DOJ should immediately dismiss the
complaint against Ericson,” said National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido
Lumbera.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Acosta’s
petition for review stated several irregularities and human rights violations
in Acosta’s arrest and detention, namely, 1) he was arrested without warrant
while not committing any crime or doing anything illegal; 2) he was not informed
of the reason for his arrest at the time of his arrest; 3) he was denied the
right to counsel; 4) he was denied a phone call and prevented from contacting
his family or lawyer; 5) he was subjected to prolonged interrogation for 44
hours; 6) he was physically and psychologically tortured during tactical
interrogation; 7) he was deprived of sleep, threatened, intimidated, coerced
and forced to admit membership in the NPA; 8) the grenade subject of the case
was planted; 9) the complaint against him was filed in court only after 72
hours and 30 minutes; and, 10) he was detained in a military camp, which is not
of civilian jurisdiction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Isaias,
Acosta’s father, appealed to the DOJ to urgently resolve his petition while he
is still confined at the NKTI. “We do not want him to go back to Calbayog for
as long as he needs medical attention. We do not want him to return to a
hostile environment where the whole military organization in the region, and
even the provincial governor, deliberately ignored and actively blocked our
requests for much-needed medical attention for my son.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The
campaign to free Ericson Acosta has been sustained for almost two years,
gaining widespread local and international support from prominent artist and
human rights organizations such as the Amnesty International, PEN
International, Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines in the United
Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, INTAL-Belgium, The International Conference
for Progressive Culture-People’s Art Network, BAYAN, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2322248881624526865" name="_GoBack"></a>SELDA,
UP Diliman University Council, Concerned Artists of the Philippines and even
members and officials of the state’s National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">In
November 2011, Acosta was named finalist of the Imprisoned Artist Prize at the
Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, along with other
nominees from Myanmar and Tibet. ###</span></div>
Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-9939401871279216882013-01-23T06:49:00.000-08:002013-01-23T08:15:49.426-08:00Detained poet welcomes DOJ action, supporters to Sec. de Lima: FREE ACOSTA NOW!<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>ADVISORY:</i></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Supporters of the FREE ERICSON ACOSTA CAMPAIGN will troop to the Department of Justice offices in Padre Faura, Manila<span style="font-size: large;">, 10:00 am tomorro<span style="font-size: large;">w (January 24) </span></span>to push for Ericson Acosta's immediate release.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Photos:<span style="font-size: large;"> Artists visit</span> Ericson Acosta at the NKTI</span></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrvwsVY2rSt3tzOptAVNE9rmBi4lgBI3HCm7W3OiBTkt6IV7D9UfRW-wEDHCC6suMdfY4jiX3V0k0Q-ehEEIfWZSJnmeLN7kokDubcxKoqyHuJlPeR8zc8lHpIL3S8gJOjBFca4HOC_E/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrvwsVY2rSt3tzOptAVNE9rmBi4lgBI3HCm7W3OiBTkt6IV7D9UfRW-wEDHCC6suMdfY4jiX3V0k0Q-ehEEIfWZSJnmeLN7kokDubcxKoqyHuJlPeR8zc8lHpIL3S8gJOjBFca4HOC_E/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>with National Artist for Literature and Philippine Center of International PEN Chairperson BIENVENIDO LUMBERA and PAO Chief PERSIDA V. RUEDA-ACOSTA </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYjPwagE4P0dj4xYCbrwR2GftYL9Go5oUBvyc4h0INorlOeStMC7N0wDmx5IbNHr2v1L_CeUKWZMZH9XDZwQr4hXbkQxN6FXXJrV719ipufqVsvax3-pbKc8H0_hacsCrmLuNKFAJgkU/s1600/blkd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYjPwagE4P0dj4xYCbrwR2GftYL9Go5oUBvyc4h0INorlOeStMC7N0wDmx5IbNHr2v1L_CeUKWZMZH9XDZwQr4hXbkQxN6FXXJrV719ipufqVsvax3-pbKc8H0_hacsCrmLuNKFAJgkU/s320/blkd.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>with rap artist BLKD </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-h41_FwxxzXkO5fvvO0BxA1sjrzGu2r33v3uGRb82jS6frW2l_4ABYpOURX0m4jf7CowbYVVwOYtrPAgyjK7uHfGEjz4Ze1L2Ppt-thkWMwqwKgcn-yq1mT3omGZHWQDB4abu3_E_kA/s1600/fqs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-h41_FwxxzXkO5fvvO0BxA1sjrzGu2r33v3uGRb82jS6frW2l_4ABYpOURX0m4jf7CowbYVVwOYtrPAgyjK7uHfGEjz4Ze1L2Ppt-thkWMwqwKgcn-yq1mT3omGZHWQDB4abu3_E_kA/s320/fqs.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>with First Quarter Storm activists </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Prof. JUDY TAGUIWALO, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>poet and songwriter JESS SANTIAGO, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>and screenwriter and actor </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>BONIFACIO ILAGAN. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddwriDJI_HSqb_Rn8IsVmCZ9ruIfLIfW5c94v-zRTzyCCAB9qgrMcV46C7KeYVapih99od1JEDmpjPyWbSzqe4AyyVBxsDLT1XBLUTzmZ63DNRCLtVEnMoZduWwIx23Pbbp6tLn11NOA/s1600/P1160088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddwriDJI_HSqb_Rn8IsVmCZ9ruIfLIfW5c94v-zRTzyCCAB9qgrMcV46C7KeYVapih99od1JEDmpjPyWbSzqe4AyyVBxsDLT1XBLUTzmZ63DNRCLtVEnMoZduWwIx23Pbbp6tLn11NOA/s320/P1160088.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>with social realist painter </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>and former UP College of Fine Arts</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Dean LEONILO DOLORICON</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxgB227hykoZqnf0FGvgNNYhjSEs_rRXi_g9I-WaPr5PlOeybeKlB8uaHfAChjqu9YLxzflYMFRPQBa1XWlgUUSXON6oXhDdQIWjdAYn4thqLg5dZJIVeWG18s3zaxetAXyBS83-0RIw/s1600/P1160089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxgB227hykoZqnf0FGvgNNYhjSEs_rRXi_g9I-WaPr5PlOeybeKlB8uaHfAChjqu9YLxzflYMFRPQBa1XWlgUUSXON6oXhDdQIWjdAYn4thqLg5dZJIVeWG18s3zaxetAXyBS83-0RIw/s320/P1160089.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>with stage and TV actor </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>and Tanghalang Pilipino executive NANDING JOSEF </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jLrggjMfzXoFONVOBVHR17y8sCrXM16Hbvb-HkM8MFjVWw_vzIF-9WQ1TxHDN22HOVnSz9nGcqUxy9qzltPVzwKO8QYcP_4zbuFi5x5-hG22dxGAsmsWDpVbh8sHWYVmqcZndXJf3tU/s1600/mideo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jLrggjMfzXoFONVOBVHR17y8sCrXM16Hbvb-HkM8MFjVWw_vzIF-9WQ1TxHDN22HOVnSz9nGcqUxy9qzltPVzwKO8QYcP_4zbuFi5x5-hG22dxGAsmsWDpVbh8sHWYVmqcZndXJf3tU/s320/mideo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3sRGzxXUnONpsXgZ0qvsD5p7cdYIp5leqwv-PQF57U2_scPJznRSSfD02aInlSgV6vI8HhBcESvvRpA89cliTsaOjKGjjT55k1WPNo3fRyfCwhkoO_fMYjDSMbrET6A5ZNfJSSYelws/s1600/bibeth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3sRGzxXUnONpsXgZ0qvsD5p7cdYIp5leqwv-PQF57U2_scPJznRSSfD02aInlSgV6vI8HhBcESvvRpA89cliTsaOjKGjjT55k1WPNo3fRyfCwhkoO_fMYjDSMbrET6A5ZNfJSSYelws/s320/bibeth2.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>with painters Johnny Manajo </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>and Mideo Cruz</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>with actor and screenwriter </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>BIBETH ORTEZA</i></span><br />
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<i>Read the Philippine Daily Inquirer story </i>:<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/345361/finally-doj-takes-notice-of-poet-activists-plea" target="_blank"><b>Finally, DOJ takes notice of poet-activist’s plea</b></a></span><br />
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Detained poet Ericson Acosta today welcomed DOJ Sec. Leila de
Lima’s directive for the “immediate disposition” of the petition for
review of his case.<br />
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The Justice chief promised immediate action in response to Acosta’s personal letter inviting her to a dialogue.<br />
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Until last Friday, Acosta has been detained at the Calbayog
Sub-Provincial Jail while his petition for review at the DOJ has been
pending for more than a year. Acosta was recently granted temporary
release by the Gandara RTC in Samar on humanitarian grounds. He is
currently confined at the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) in
Quezon City while undergoing tests and treatment for a kidney ailment.<br />
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"I welcome Sec. Leila de Lima's directive. The resolution of my
petition for review is awaited not only by myself but by my family,
friends and supporters all over the world. My invitation to a dialogue
with her still stands," Acosta said.<br />
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Acosta also thanked his supporters for their sustained campaigning
and vigilance. “This latest development in my legal case is mainly due
to the untiring support of my supporters. If not for them, the DOJ would
not have taken notice.”<br />
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He also thanked his supporters for their alertness amid attempts by
his BJMP guards to employ irrational and repressive measures during his
confinement at the NKTI. Yesterday, his BJMP guards threatened to
handcuff him to his bed but were stopped by quick action from his
supporters and legal counsels.<br />
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According to the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign, the BJMP’s failure to
further repress Acosta and terrorize visitors was an “initial victory”.
“Still, the BJMP remains overzealous in restricting his privacy and
rights. Visitors confirmed that the armed guards are the same ones that
guarded Morong 43. These are not mere guards but professional bullies,
our vigilance must be increased tenfold,” the group said.<br />
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The FEAC called on the DOJ to also immediately address and set
parameters on the BJMP’s role at the NKTI. “They are tasked to guard and
secure Acosta but they are the ones posing a threat to his security.”<br />
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Yesterday, at 6:00 in the afternoon, a certain Dr. Col. Mundin who
introduced himself as a doctor of the BJMP unceremoniously barged into
Acosta’s room and started asking about his medical condition. He was
accompanied by two BJMP guards. He then showed a document and informed
Acosta and his companions that other members of the “BJMP Health Team”
are set to “do a series of tests” on him. Mundin again attempted to
enter Acosta’s room today but was stopped by NKTI security.<br />
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“The BJMP has no business meddling into Acosta’s medical procedures.
We expect the DOJ to put the BJMP in its place. The added stress and
obvious ploys to harass him will only aggravate Acosta’s medical
condition,” the FEAC said.<br />
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The FEAC, led by various artists, cultural workers and supporters,
will stage a picket-rally at the DOJ tomorrow to call for the dismissal
of Acosta’s case. ###Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-20532740394560798782013-01-21T16:03:00.001-08:002013-01-21T16:37:06.571-08:00Ericson Acosta seeks dialogue with DOJ, supporters urge Sec. de Lima to free detained poet <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYkCCA9dF1zM1LU2_cPua4r3IvNoY82YMgG8MvYY0KxwBn8M0T5lZl7HdMry27caTpz5inQtfqdUPAuaG6ff8gaEx9KyLHYy3ZKLEbcKmamkXYRgLJ3zv7FmC3uKyNabnJaBLpzh03xM/s1600/bjmp3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYkCCA9dF1zM1LU2_cPua4r3IvNoY82YMgG8MvYY0KxwBn8M0T5lZl7HdMry27caTpz5inQtfqdUPAuaG6ff8gaEx9KyLHYy3ZKLEbcKmamkXYRgLJ3zv7FmC3uKyNabnJaBLpzh03xM/s400/bjmp3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />MEDIA ADVISORY:</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lone jail officer flying back to Samar, <span style="font-size: medium;">c</span>ourt<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>orders Bu<span style="font-size: medium;">reau of </span>Jail Management and Penolog<span style="font-size: medium;">y (BJMP) to take over political <span style="font-size: medium;">detainee Ericson Acosta's custody at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Que<span style="font-size: medium;">zon City. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Around 10 <span style="font-size: medium;">fully-armed person<span style="font-size: medium;">nel of the BJMP will return to Ericson Acosta's hospital room <b>11 am today</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> to implement court order. <span style="font-size: medium;">Col. Joseph Vela informed Ericson Acosta yesterda<span style="font-size: medium;">y </span>that he must be han<span style="font-size: medium;">dcuf<span style="font-size: medium;">fed to the hospital bed<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">, v</span>isitors <span style="font-size: medium;">and <span style="font-size: medium;">perso<span style="font-size: medium;">nal compa<span style="font-size: medium;">nions will also not be allowed to use cellular phones<span style="font-size: medium;">, etc<span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">Acosta's supporters<span style="font-size: medium;"> say there is no need for overkill security measures. Artists <span style="font-size: medium;">and supporters continue to visit detained cultural worker <span style="font-size: medium;">Er<span style="font-size: medium;">icson Acosta -- expected visitors today <span style="font-size: medium;">inclu<span style="font-size: medium;">de act<span style="font-size: medium;">or Bibeth Orteza and painters<span style="font-size: medium;">' groups</span> led by Mideo Cruz. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />MEDIA COVERAGE REQUESTED. WITH PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>PRESS
RELEASE:</b> January
22, 2013 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="http://www.freeacosta.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Reference: Ericson Acosta, (confined at the NKTI)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Atty. Jun Oliva,
National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) 09157707067</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Ericson Acosta seeks dialogue with DOJ, </span></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: red;">supporters urge Sec. de Lima to free detained poet </span></i></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While undergoing
medical treatment at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI),
political prisoner Ericson Acosta has asked for a dialogue with Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima to seek the immediate resolution of his case. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Acosta, 40, a poet,
songwriter and former editor of the UP Philippine Collegian, was arrested by
the mlitary in San Jorge, Samar , February 13, 2011. He was interrogated and
tortured inside a military camp for three days before a trumped-up charge of
illegal possession of explosive was filed against him to justify his arrest and
detention.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Acosta was granted
temporary freedom by the local court in Samar for him to undergo medical
treatment for his renal problems. After
23 months at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail, Acosta went straight to the NKTI
for treatment last Friday, January 18. He
was flown to Manila through the assistance of Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, chief
of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I
was arrested without warrant by the military, tortured, tagged a terrorist and
criminal, incarcerated for 23 long months – left to suffer while waiting for
your good office to carry out a favorable resolution to the Petition for Review
we filed in September 2011.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Why exactly is
this resolution still pending?” read Acosta’s one-page letter to the Justice
Secretary.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The campaign to
free Ericson Acosta has been sustained for almost two years, gaining widespread
local and international support from prominent artist and human rights
organizations such as the Amnesty International, PEN International, Campaign
for Human Rights in the Philippines in the United Kingdom, Canada and New
Zealand, INTAL-Belgium, The International Conference for Progressive
Culture-People’s Art Network, BAYAN,SELDA, UP Diliman University Council, Concerned
Artists of the Philippines and even members and officials of the state’s National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). In November 2011, Acosta was named finalist of
the Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape
Town, South Africa, along with other nominees from Myanmar and Tibet. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Acosta’s family and
supporters are currently raising funds to shoulder costs of his
hospitalization, including expenses
for a scheduled operation to remove
kidney stones, and medicine. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: red;">Overkill Security Arrangement</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday, around 10
armed personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) arrived
at Acosta’s hospital room and introduced themselves to be his new security
detail. BJMP personnel will replace the lone jail officer from the Calbayog
sub-provincial jail, who will be flying back to Samar tomorrow. Acosta’s visitors
and friends expressed disappointment with the new rules including Acosta being handcuffed
in bed, and not allowing his family or
paralegal companions to use cellular phones. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Ericson was
temporarily released on humanitarian grounds. He stayed here for four days with
only one security escort and there have been no problems with him entertaining
dozens of visitors and supporters every day. He is not a criminal. The last
thing he needs is an overkill of simple security arrangements, ” said UP Art
Studies Prof. Roselle Pineda who was visiting Ericson when armed BJMP personnel
arrived at the NKTI last night. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“We hope that Sec.
de Lima considers Ericson’s request so that she can see for herself what kind
of person this government has wrongly imprisoned. Ericson should not be tied
down anymore because he clearly does not want to escape justice. Ericson Acosta
in fact is just waiting for justice to finally prevail, ” Pineda said. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial black,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-3016866265553620552013-01-21T00:03:00.002-08:002013-01-21T00:03:45.887-08:00COMPEL THE DOJ TO FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_50fcf4cbee4e81e46145752">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yTqhKoOzucLh2c8yOqUqaRLAF_rjv3ZMwRjaouHHHD5zyUlGWxQjybBZruGUvChADJn-mu6hlYCiVxusY4VrBLYgwbv_tfxuLiluQOY73AdC-0psosV9tXvo_v_uWBoZ-ftJhaR4q6M/s1600/sayas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yTqhKoOzucLh2c8yOqUqaRLAF_rjv3ZMwRjaouHHHD5zyUlGWxQjybBZruGUvChADJn-mu6hlYCiVxusY4VrBLYgwbv_tfxuLiluQOY73AdC-0psosV9tXvo_v_uWBoZ-ftJhaR4q6M/s400/sayas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>PHOTO: Ericson Acosta with 79-year-old father Isaias Acosta, who is
also undergoing treatment for a spinal ailment. Watch the video here: <a href="http://youtu.be/K0E0EHyTFVk" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://youtu.be/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>K0E0EHyTFVk</a></i></span></span></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show"></span></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show"> <br />
Poet-songwriter Ericson Acosta, detained for 23 months at the Calbayog
sub-provincial jail in Samar on trumped-up criminal charges, is
undergoing medical treatment at the National Kidney and Transplant
Institute (NKTI) through a court order.<br /> <br /> <b>ERICSON ACOSTA IS STILL
NOT FREE.</b> His Petition for Review, citing serious irregularities and
human rights violations in the conduct of his arrest and detention, has
been pending before the Department of Justice for more than a year.<br /> <br />
Almost two years have passed since his illegal arrest on February 13,
2011 -- there is still no immediate favorable resolution in sight for
Ericson's review petition. We need to urge DOJ Secretary de Lima to drop
the trumped-up charges against Ericson Acosta.<br /> <br /> The government
is not obliged to shoulder his medical expenses at the National Kidney
Transplant Institute (NKTI) since his medical check-up was granted by
the court on account of a motion prepared by Ericson's lawyers.<br /> <br />
Ericson's family needs to raise a substantial amount of money to cover
his medical expenses, over and above his parents' who are themselves
currently undergoing medical treatment for various ailments.<br /> <br />
The Free Ericson Acosta Campaign enjoins your support in this very
challenging phase of our campaign to free activist poet Ericson Acosta
and all political prisoners.<br /> <br /> FREE THE ARTIST!<br /> FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!<br /> <br /> <b>HOW YOU CAN HELP</b><br /> <br /> You may deposit your financial support may to this account:<br /> <br /> Isaias Acosta<br /> BDO The Block<br /> SM City North branch<br /> Savings Account # 0251065464<br /> <br /> For international donations:<br /> <br /> Isaias Acosta<br /> BDO The Block<br /> SM City North branch<br /> Savings Account: 00-0251065464<br /> Routing #: 021000089<br /> Swiftcode: BNORPHMM<br /> <br /> <b>WRITE TO DOJ SECRETARY TO PRESS FOR ERICSON'S IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b><br /> <br /> <br /> You may use this template to write to Secretary Leila de Lima:<br /> <br /><span> __________________________</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>__________________________<br /> <br /> <br /> Secretary Leila de Lima<br /> Department of Justice<br /> Padre Faura Street, Manila<br /> PHILIPPINES<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Secretary de Lima,<br /> <br /> <br />
Ericson Acosta is a poet and cultural worker. He has dedicated his life
to serving the people. He was arrested without warrant February 13,
2011 while conducting human rights research in Barangay Bay-ang, San
Jorge, Samar. He was brought to a military camp where he was
interrogated and tortured for three days, before he was levied with a
trumped-up charge of illegal possession of explosive to justify his
arrest and continued detention.<br /> <br /> His arrest, torture and almost
two years in detention have resulted in the deterioration of his health.
After Ericson's current medical treatment at the National Kidney and
Transplant Institute, it will be unacceptable and lamentable for him to
recover only to be brought back to the Calbayog Sub-Provincial Jail. We
must put an end to this mockery of justice.<br /> <br /> As citizens longing
for justice, we await your prompt action on the Petition for Review of
Acosta's case filed by his counsel, the National Union of Peoples'
Lawyers (NUPL) before the DOJ in September 2011. We respectfully urge
your honorable office to set aside the earlier resolutions of the local
prosecutor in Samar, and to effect Acosta's release with the withdrawal
of the fabricated complaint against him as soon as possible.<br /> <br /> Sincerely yours,<br /> <br /> <br /> Name______________________<br /> <br /><span> Address___________________</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>_<br /> <br /> <br /><span> __________________________</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>__________________________<br /> <br /> <br /> FREE THE ARTIST! FREE ERICSON ACOSTA NOW!<br /> <br /> Sign the online petition at change.org<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/release-detained-filipino-artist-ericson-acosta-now" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.change.org/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>petitions/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>release-detained-filipino-a</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>rtist-ericson-acosta-now</a></span></div>
<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoPageTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-17631625452051832122012-12-19T17:41:00.000-08:002012-12-19T17:41:20.914-08:00Appeal to DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima<!--[if !mso]>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJiN3dp4r9EkxI4NyEgwYbdEPMqGkNBNyDtRgiqQad27sI3KsOr9J1RKFzyhpiemHzguqWCkHoOsSwYrAdKi21b_6rmZ1x_hXTP-g_iJotbw1opFy8LkmNM6wLJiPHE_JhG3neGIYXLY/s1600/b&w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJiN3dp4r9EkxI4NyEgwYbdEPMqGkNBNyDtRgiqQad27sI3KsOr9J1RKFzyhpiemHzguqWCkHoOsSwYrAdKi21b_6rmZ1x_hXTP-g_iJotbw1opFy8LkmNM6wLJiPHE_JhG3neGIYXLY/s320/b&w.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">December 20, 2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">HON. LEILA DE LIMA</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Secretary, Department of Justice</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Manila, Philippines</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Secretary de Lima,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">I am Isaias P. Acosta,
father of detained poet and activist Ericson L. Acosta. My son has been
illegally detained at the Calbayog City sub-provincial jail in Samar for 22
months now. </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">He was
arrested without warrant by the Philippine army February 13, 2011 in San Jorge,
Samar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Madame Secretary, I am writing you once again to seek the immediate
release of my son.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">My wife and I are now both
very old – my wife just turned 80 and I am turning 80 next year. We would
willingly spend this coming Christmas with our son as we did last year, if not
for our failing health. We may have but a few years left and our only wish is
to see Ericson walk free again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The serious irregularities
and human rights abuses so evident in the conduct of Ericson’s arrest and
detention urged us to file a Petition for Review before your good office, with
high hopes for a swift, decisive and just resolution. We were even thankful
then that Ericson’s unlawful arrest occurred under President Aquino’s new
administration. We had nothing but optimism and faith in the President’s
promise of justice and impartiality and his “daang matuwid” crusade.</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">But how long must we wait,
Madame Secretary? It has been 22 months and we are still waiting in vain. </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">It has been more than a year since we filed our Review Petition in
September 2011 – and the DOJ resolution remains pending. The standard 60 days
of waiting have now stretched into 446 tortuous days. This has been punctuated
by two more motions to seek the immediate resolution of the original Petition;
dozens of letters of appeal and thousands of petition signatures gathered from
various activities of concerned organizations and supporters from all over the
world; and three week-long hunger strikes by Ericson – not a line or page of
any formal opposition from Ericson’s military accusers, yet the Justice
department still cannot issue a resolution. Why does it now seem that this
government cannot swiftly dispense justice?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The grave injustice of
Ericson’s unwarranted arrest, torture and incarceration torments us each day he
remains in prison. Ericson has been languishing in jail without due process and
far longer than warranted by the country’s own laws. My son is in effect
rendered de facto “criminal” and “terrorist” by the military, and sadly, by the
President’s own spokesperson who has declared that there are officially no
political prisoners in the country. With these insensitive, irresponsible pronouncements,
are we being made to accept that we have no choice but to be at the mercy of
the military? This simply cannot be so, Madame Secretary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The longer Ericson stays in prison, the more that we become direct
witnesses, and, yes, victims, to injustice, serious threats and harassment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">This “terrorist” hysteria
has been the military’s justification for the highly irregular deployment of 8<sup>th</sup>
Infantry Division troopers within the civilian sub-jail compound in Calbayog
City. Ericson is regularly being subjected to intimidation and verbal abuse by
young, sorry pawns in full-battle gear threatening that he is never safe from
so-called “accidents” inside prison. His visitors and supporters likewise
suffer harassment and undue surveillance, even after they leave the prison
compound. This was the kind of hostile environment that we ourselves witnessed
and experienced during our Christmas jail visit last year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">On July
2012, we filed a motion at the RTC Branch in Gandara, Samar requesting
permission for Ericson to undergo immediate medical check-up after he
complained of sharp pains while urinating. During a hearing in August, Ericson
was ironically asked by the prosecutor to prove that he is indeed ill, for him
to be allowed access to a proper medical facility. Unfortunately, our lawyers
recently informed us that </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">the RTC Judge has already denied our motion, without
prejudice to the presentation of proof that Ericson is indeed ill. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">For
several months now, we have been doing all within our means to have a private doctor
check on Ericson but facilitating a doctor’s visit is extremely difficult for
us financially and physically as we are also dealing with our own medical
maladies. But above all other difficulties, we have to primarily deal with the very
real but unspoken viciousness of military threats and harassment. It is
precisely the fear of earning the ire of the military that has discouraged
doctors from visiting Ericson. Arrested without committing any crime, tortured,
locked-up, intimidated and denied medical attention – for how long must our son
go through such cruel fate, Madame Secretary? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">On the mornings of October
24 and 25 this year, our driver received text messages saying that Ericson <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“is in danger..he might get killed on all
souls day,”</i> and warning that we, his parents, were also targets for
assassination. </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">On November 2, the text
threats warned that our house was already surrounded by assassins. We could
have easily dismissed these messages as awful but harmless pranks but local
human rights workers based in Calbayog City also received the very same
messages. </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Through
Ericson's friends and supporters, we were able to report the incidents. But
when authorities told us that more soldiers have been dispatched to the jail to
assure Ericson's "safety," we were far from appeased. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">We are
now more anxious and restless knowing too well that increased military presence
in and around the sub-provincial jail is the primary threat to our son's life
and well-being. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">It has
been 22 months, Madame Secretary. 22 months of anguish and anxiety for us, his
parents. 22 months of longing for Ericson to be reunited with own son and
family. 22 months of disappointment and disillusionment for all his supporters
around the world. 22 months of government neglect. 22 months of injustice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">It has
been more than enough. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(signed)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">ISAIAS P.
ACOSTA</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-89415631007800402952012-12-03T05:13:00.000-08:002012-12-12T00:18:07.310-08:00SOME NOTES ON PEOPLE’S CULTURE AND THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">by</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"> Ericson
Acosta</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Political
Prisoner</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Despite the
grim reality of imprisonment, I have not, as of yet, been condemned to a total
state of ignorance as far as current efforts of various committed art and
cultural groups and alliances are concerned. Thanks largely to a good number of
artists and writers who have generously been sparing their time to visit me ever
since the very first weeks of my incarceration almost two years ago, I have
quite auspiciously been kept updated, however generally, on the developments
and direction of the struggle in the artistic and cultural front here as well
as in other parts of the world. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Last year
for example, in July, a delegate from the U.S. to the International Conference on
Progressive Culture (ICPC) flew all the way here as soon as the successful
launching of that conference formally ended in Manila. He related to me not
only the rich showcase of works and performances that capped the said cultural
gathering, but also the wealth of theoretical discussions and interface of
experiences through which was achieved firm common resolve to unite around a
general set of tasks. One among such tasks, in relation to responding to urgent
people’s concerns, was to subscribe to the International League of People’s Struggles’
(ILPS) declaration in 2004 making every 3<sup>rd</sup> of December International
Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War. It is that day
today and so from this tiny cell here at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail in
Samar island, or from this penal colony more popularly known as the Philippines,
I raise a clenched fist for solidarity.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">DEFENDING
PEOPLE’S CULTURE</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">A visual
artist from the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) apprised me a month
ago on a major ICPC event in the works for early 2013, which I understand will
be a 2-day global action carrying the theme “defend people’s culture.” Very
good news no doubt which speaks much of how the ICPC, since its inception last
year, has so far been able to effectively keep its momentum of active
engagement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The call
“defend people’s culture,” furthermore, presupposes that amid the crisis of the
world capitalist system, and side by side with the intensifying struggles of
the people for their basic democratic rights and for national and social
liberation, a formidable and dynamic movement of progressive artists, writers
and cultural workers is indeed in resurgence in the world today. This palpable
trend – arising from the people’s movements’ renewed recognition of the need to
combat cultural imperialism, and of the immense value of art and culture as
tools for progressive social change – we welcome with much eagerness. And with
the vast consciousness-building, organizing and mobilizing possibilities opened
up in social media – notwithstanding modern communication technology’s
otherwise dominant function as global accelerator of finance capital and consumerism,
and as nexus for pacifism, utopianism and anarchism, social alienation and
degeneration – this new wave of people’s culture can certainly develop in a
very profound, even unprecedented way. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Consequently,
however, such advance, in the face of the escalating attacks by states against
progressive artists and cultural workers, should entail a prompt consolidation
of ranks in order to be defended. I have just been recently informed, for
instance, of the killing of Argentine musician Facundo Cabral; other artists
meanwhile like Kurdish singer Ferhat Tunc and the Russian punk band Pussy Riot
have been sentenced to serve time merely because of the political contents of
their performances. Defending progressive culture, in this light becomes in
itself a legitimate urgent people’s concern.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">In the
Philippines, there are at present some 400 activists and revolutionaries who
languish in various detention facilities as consequence of the state’s
long-running, institutionalized policy of criminalizing political dissent and
involvement in advocacies and movement for real and wide-ranging social
reforms. Mostly affiliated with national democratic formations and coming from
the toiling masses of workers and peasants, they are victims of illegal arrest
and torture. In order to justify their continued detention and to hide the
political context of their cases, they become victims as well of the patently
bogus modus of being slapped with trumped-up charges of non-bailable heinous
criminal offenses, even as court proceedings move in very slow dubiously
erratic motion.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">While
imprisoned artists and writers comprise only a small portion of the current
statistics, it is timely and important to note that art and culture, especially
literature and songs, have long assumed a distinct part in the continuing
struggle of political prisoners for justice and freedom. In the context of
defending people’s culture, it appears that artists and writers who continue to
create even under detention, as well as those political prisoners who may not
have been active culturally before being imprisoned but who have now learned to
produce works of art and literature, do not only belong necessarily to those
who must be defended, but very interestingly are in fact at the same time among
our most ardent defenders.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">“PRISON
MAKES US INTO POETS” </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">“Prison
makes us into poets,” says National Democratic Front (NDF) peace consultant
Alan Jazmines in one of his poems written in the early ‘80s, during the period
of his second imprisonment (he is now on his third since February of last
year). Jazmines is here however referring to poets mainly in the figurative
sense. Prisoners, he suggests, in many instances, apprehend prison life in much
the same way as poets usually set out composing their pieces. In rising above
the adversities of a bounded, compact existence, for example, prisoners are
just like poets who try painstakingly to achieve poignancy of meaning in the
barest minimum amount of verse. Political prisoners are all poets, he says,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Who struggle everyday</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">to break the dross confines</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">of image of life outside</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">compressed into a few such things</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">as the iron bars</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">you squeeze for thought.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Prison after all, is only</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">a frugal, compact version</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">of an outside world,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">bereft of so much verbiage</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">and the prose of assumed life</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">with somewhat freer movement</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">And yet
quite self-evidently on account of this brilliant poem alone, and taking exception
of the the fact that Jazmines has had barely a literary background to speak of
prior to prison, we are made convinced that prison does make poets in the most
literal, practical and very important sense.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">It is not
simply out of tedium or for lack of anything else to do that political
prisoners actually take to writing. For one thing, those who have been thrown
in jail for the audacity of their written works are quite naturally expected,
given their character, to employ nonetheless the very same methods of the pen
as one of their more immediate, self-acting responses to defy imprisonment
despite extremely difficult new challenges.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Accustomed
to the general strain of a relatively busier “outside world,” writers may
presumably have found forthwith in prison, and not without much irony, the
prospect of freer time to devote to writing. But such in any case is just as
quickly offset by the attendant weight of arbitrary restrictions,
ill-treatments of various kinds, and the tense chaos that takes turns with the
doldrums in defining the climate of misery behind bars. Far from being trivial,
their frustrations over having been deprived of otherwise standard essential
tools as a word processor or a dictionary or ready references to current events,
are pretty intense and justified considering how much of their former competence
or of the work process they have previously been inured to, is severely
undermined.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Many
times however, it is the emotional and psychological scars left by their
abductors and torturers that prove to be the more daunting impediments. For
some, it is the hounding dread from clear and present threats of murder by
state agents – or what they call “accidents” around here – that makes it seem
impossible to write altogether. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">All these
of course, in the viciously tiresome scheme it seems of things, are but stuffs
themselves that beg to be written about in earnest. The urgency of writing under
such circumscribed circumstances – of giving full account of the machinations
of injustice no longer expounded from observation alone or from one’s sound
grasp of theory, but as something that now grips one very tightly in the neck –
is so compelling that the imprisoned writers on the whole, despite all
deterrents, are able to will themselves to write.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Though they
may usually have to start from a practical non-guarantee that what they write
could immediately reach their audience beyond prison walls, they write
perseveringly just the same knowing that their works, as documentation of a
continuing real social, human experience, should be able, in one way of
another, to hold their relevance and cogency over time. Temporarily in such
cases, the general inmate population becomes their immediate audience; which
should serve them just as well and not in the least significant way given the
political prisoner’s task of organizing the imprisoned masses – themselves a
collective embodiment of the extreme dehumanizing effects of social injustice –
into politicized prisoners. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">And
always, the imprisoned writers are themselves are their own works’ necessary
audience – they who at all times must be reminded of the true socio-political,
even historic essence of their ordeal; they who continually must be
strengthened in militancy, ideology and spirit. The urgency of writing in
prison is such that even the previously non-writers among the political
prisoners strive to learn to write and become people’s artists and writers in their
own right. In the history of state political repression, prison transformed as
veritable workshops not only for but of writers has built its own living legacy
of militant literature and culture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">I am
still quite uninformed as to how precisely this category of the imprisoned
writer is operationalized by PEN International. I see no reason, however, how
such could possibly differ in any basic way from the progressive or militant
sectors’ own definition. Anyway, I am very much thankful to the PEN International
and its Philippine Center for their continued support, especially those who
just last November 15, led a successful forum in Manila on the International
Day of the Imprisoned Writer – Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, Elmer Ordoñez, Jun Cruz
Reyes and many others. I extend my gratitude as well to Katia Canciani of
Canada, and Tom Eaton of South Africa who represented me in their respective PEN
events on the said date.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">POLITICAL
PRISONERS AND U.S. HEGEMONY</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">One
particular issue that a Filipino-American cultural worker brought up during his
visit here in prison last year had something to do with the rather general
difficulty of American artists and intellectuals (even those in fact in
progressive circles) in imagining the phenomenon of the political prisoner.
This notwithstanding, let’s say, Assata Shakur’s already legendary pre-eminence
in the counter-cultural consciousness of some of hip-hop’s more relevant
quarters, or the popular mainstream MTV and concert circuit advocacy for Nelson
Mandela’s freedom in the ‘80s, or for Aung San Suu Kyi’s in the last couple of
decades. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The
national democratic movement in the Philippines could readily suggest as basic
reference the documents of SELDA, a human rights group which focuses on cases
of political prisoners in the country. There are of course international
organizations like Amnesty International whose work on those who fall under
their category of “prisoners of conscience” is more expansive and worldwide.
But I think must be given stress here – especially if what is commonly invoked
to explain the inability of U.S. artists and intellectuals to comprehend the
discourse of the political prisoner is the assumption that such discourse in
fact is absolutely alien to the general political landscape of purportedly
advanced democratic societies like the U.S. – is this: that political prisoners
in many so-called weak democracies like the Philippines or say, Colombia, are
as much the political prisoners of the monopoly capitalist state of the United
States as they are of their respective reactionary governments. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The
politico-military dominance of the US through which the monopoly bourgeoisie
and financial oligarchy are able to impose upon the starving peoples of the
world the rapacious economic system of neoliberalism to rake in superprofits
and accumulate capital, is the very same global hegemonic presence that allows,
and in fact guides puppet states to design and implement with alarming
impunity, repressive fascist policies against the organized resistance of their
people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">President
Benigno Aquino III’s Oplan Bayanihan (Operation Plan “Cooperation”) is one such
U.S.-Pentagon instigated “counter-insurgency” (COIN) policy. Under Oplan
Bayanihan, state force systematically carry out extra-judicial killings,
enforced disappearances, abduction and illegal detention of activists, and forced
evacuation of whole communities, all in the name of state and imperialist imperatives.
Through Oplan Bayanihan, the U.S.-Aquino regime has already accomplished in
just two years an awesome track record of flagrant human rights violations –
most recent and gruesome of which is the massacre of anti-mining activists and
families of indigenous peoples in Tampakan in Mindanao island.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">CULTURAL
FASCISM</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Oplan
Bayanihan moreover has its own cultural component. No longer content with corporate
media or traditional state cultural and propaganda apparatuses dutifully
performing their usual sabotage job of blacking-out information about military
atrocities, the regime still very much consistent with the pervading COIN
doctrine of the U.S. has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to
reorganize and beef up its media and public relations (PR) machinery. The AFP,
with more spin, savvy and persistence than in the past years, has now been able
to establish closer and more constant working relations with practically the
entire milieu of PR sectors and potentially PR-rich institutions – TV and radio
network producers, publishers and corporate advertisers, the church and the
academe, national agencies such as the Department of Tourism or even the Commission
of Human Rights, local government units, and shady non-government organizations
(NGOs) – all for the chief purpose of aggressively re-imaging the military
establishment as far as possible from its actual savage practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">While
artists and cultural workers of the national democratic open mass movement are
vilified and persecuted as “Leftist propagandists” and terrorists, the AFP’s
civil-military commanders and other fascist publicists, impresarios and
stylists are now vigorously trying to sustain a campaign of mobilizing directors,
writers and actors for such ubiquitous media productions as Christmas network
IDs, drama anthologies, short films or public service programs, to project the
false idealization of the militaryman at once as humble everyman and as
selfless patriot. An AFP website has commissioned poets (those of the mercenary
type themselves) to calibratedly emulate militant peasant literature as a
cunning but rather desperate ploy to gloss over the fact that the military
itself is the single most powerful instrument of the big landlord class in
crushing the aspirations of the peasant masses for genuine land reform. While
no less than eight (8) battalions of the Philippine Army continue to sow fear
and havoc in the towns and barrios of South Quezon, a platoon, for good measure
as a sort of blocking force, is deployed to a noontime TV variety show to dance
the Gangnam Style. And, as declared by the AFP in a high-profile event a few
days ago, the most popular celebrity diva in Philippine show business today, is
now also the official Oplan Bayanihan ambassadress.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The culture
of impunity in the Philippines, as a state policy, is not only contingent on a
juridical system that is by nature grossly complicit. It requires at the same
time for a particular fascist contrivance of deception to permeate the general
moribund feudal, bourgeois and colonial culture – a mode through which, as we’ve
seen, certain segments of the art, culture and media professions, however
unwittingly, are enlisted and implicated in state repression and terror. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">BREAKING
THE (STEREOTYPE) CHAINS</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">But
again, the growing strength of the organized art and culture sector that is
determined to speak the more consequential truths in society and advance the
course of freedom of expression along with the people’s struggle for
liberation, democracy and social justice, is undeniable. This, despite the
rather enduring inaccurate assumption that singles out the artists and writers
as among the toughest, almost impossible to organize. Cultural organizers in
the main are able to rectify the attitude of inordinately amplifying the
tendency of artists and writers toward individualism, liberalism or careerism,
as if these were, in the class context of the petty-bourgeoisie, qualities that
are perpetually irreversible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">They are
aware that the state and the monopoly capitalists are only too happy to get
help from whomever in perpetuating this stereotype. It is in the interest of
the ruling class to constantly prop up this myth in order to spoil the objective
potential of artists and writers in participating in radical social movements
and in truly serving the people. For imperialism, it is important for artists
and writers to remain blind to this class potential amid the culture of
consumerism, elitism, mysticism and decadence, and even as their talents,
skills and labor themselves are exploited in the service of fascism and
neoliberalism.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">With
social investigation and class analysis, appropriate methods and patience, and
in working for the artists and writers’ particular democratic demands, the resurgent
worldwide people’s cultural movement can organize cultural activists in great
numbers. They must continuously be consolidated through an efficient system of
political and theoretical education, collective work, and practical integration
with the lives and struggles of the working classes. This should enable them
not only to create more socially truthful and potent works of art and culture
but also to effectively do battle with their own petty-bourgeois ideological
fetters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">In
prisons meanwhile around the world, people’s art and culture remains a viable
ideological weapon of intense power. In Batangas in Southern Luzon,
Philippines, Charity Di</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">ñ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">o, a peasant organizer and public
school teacher, has just recently taught herself to write poetry behind bars.
Impelled by the need to exorcise the demons of torture in hear head, to
reaffirm herself the militant principles of service to the people, and to
exhort those outside prison to fearlessly carry on the fight against fascism,
social injustice and imperialism, she writes: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">This heart heavy with grief vows</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">To melt away these iron bars</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">To ensure justice for those</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Stripped of their rights</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">These tearful eyes vow</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">To tear down these walls</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">To ensure the meeting of fists</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Out to forge freedom</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">…Shackled, out of breath</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Threatened with death</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">I vow ever to be loyal to you,
the toiling masses! </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">-Ericson Acosta</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Calbayog sub-provincial jail</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Western Samar, Philippines</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">December 3, 2012</span></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-71330659425570562702012-11-17T22:29:00.002-08:002012-11-17T22:29:24.704-08:00Tanikala at Talinhaga (Chained Metaphors)"Tanikala at Talinhaga" (Chained Metaphors) is a documentary on artist-political prisoners in the Philippines: National Democratic Front peace consultant Alan Jazmines, a poet and visual artist; activist poet-songwriter Ericson Acosta, and film student Maricon Montajes. <br />
<br />
This clip features the segment on poet Ericson Acosta.<br />
<br />
There are more than 400 political prisoners in the Philippines today. For more information, please visit http://freeallpps.wordpress.com/<br />
<br />
FREE THE ARTIST!<br />
<br />
Read this Yahoo! article on Ericson Acosta http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/writer-voice-calbayog-jail-213001875.html -- "My grandson Emmanuel watched a film on national hero 'Jose Rizal'. I knew there are some questions lurking in his mind: what was Rizal writing and why was he in jail? Why was he shot and what was his crime?"
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-KpNCGgv6Uo" width="560"></iframe>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-72087849570801214642012-11-04T15:05:00.000-08:002012-11-04T15:07:23.411-08:00Nov 15 Day of the Imprisoned Writer Forum at UP Manila<!--[if !mso]>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTBFafzJDddeADnavxaE2KQE43fQ8gE-DcmKsXbT5PVhQkMNaXGDaV2unb22gZnSkP86K7qggChqua43Taz06IysjZLgjtfkDUJ7Om-P8uFGqNMtvCHnnBjDNN76PpcMJhP_zBPh_35s/s1600/invitcardsampol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTBFafzJDddeADnavxaE2KQE43fQ8gE-DcmKsXbT5PVhQkMNaXGDaV2unb22gZnSkP86K7qggChqua43Taz06IysjZLgjtfkDUJ7Om-P8uFGqNMtvCHnnBjDNN76PpcMJhP_zBPh_35s/s400/invitcardsampol.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear
Friends, </span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists,
Novelists) Writers in Prison Committee is hosting a writers’ forum and
gathering this coming November 15 to mark the Day of the Imprisoned Writer. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This activity will be held from 1:30 to 3:30
in the afternoon at the University of the Philippines – Manila, College of Arts
and Sciences Little Theater, Padre Faura, Manila. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
November 15 Day of the Imprisoned Writer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>is an annual, international day intended to recognize and support
writers who resist repression of the basic human right to freedom of expression
and who stand up to attacks made against their right to impart information. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PEN
Centers all over the world will highlight cases of imprisoned writers,
including that of Filipino poet <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ericson
Acosta</b>, who has been in detention in a Samar jail for more than a year now.
Prominent writers, their institutions, unions and organizations from all other
the country, have likewise pledged to participate in the November 15 activities
and actions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
this light, we invite you and your organization to join us in the writers’
forum. We hope that you can share your thoughts on freedom of expression and
human rights with our literary community on this very important day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
details and inquiries, please contact Prof. Rommel Rodriguez (Ph.D.) at 09154832742.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ck_aF43HfX5y-HT21FOpbdYaFdrj8KzlxdLT3dVYxwAzB5frXQgbGmfmPdN4Wvy1gyxa3nAsJTdOsVN8PjbouFnxCfNpvKmP0hz9cbTOOG17WOlDZBgkoCpEkAK2w9tb5L85k8k1Pvk/s1600/bien.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BIENVENIDO LUMBERA</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">National
Chair, Philippine Center of the International PEN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">National
Artist for Literature</span></div>
Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-52636908027681583632012-10-31T16:52:00.000-07:002012-10-31T16:52:03.599-07:00Day of the Imprisoned Writer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWQfxApmswnIWky8adGKLC_bMQ4DaD3gC-8BKC2m5-jd_Go-YhOCNk4yKj0uHsMslX_QoGjxq3adB4Gf5ZRu0ylrGrXfBN_XbJj_wj7Tz5qrvfbGadSLUGU6SSRJRQeE5Sklzfkoqcww/s1600/forumweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWQfxApmswnIWky8adGKLC_bMQ4DaD3gC-8BKC2m5-jd_Go-YhOCNk4yKj0uHsMslX_QoGjxq3adB4Gf5ZRu0ylrGrXfBN_XbJj_wj7Tz5qrvfbGadSLUGU6SSRJRQeE5Sklzfkoqcww/s400/forumweb.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-19518123023540392722012-10-26T06:35:00.000-07:002012-10-26T06:35:55.822-07:00Family of political prisoner decries threat, harassment <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQbZ3nujhwlHKf2nK0GgxUhtt0ykkb2oVlpMknscXVNGtQGanjNg-SjeLwTpfA5Gg-7274nttQi6zr1zJ5wOyL_ISF8_A2zDUZ_0C128DLkeuw3JeKZ-fdyIPlQxUsz8QZXsFG5yJ0xE/s1600/jail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQbZ3nujhwlHKf2nK0GgxUhtt0ykkb2oVlpMknscXVNGtQGanjNg-SjeLwTpfA5Gg-7274nttQi6zr1zJ5wOyL_ISF8_A2zDUZ_0C128DLkeuw3JeKZ-fdyIPlQxUsz8QZXsFG5yJ0xE/s400/jail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Troops
from the 8th Infantry Battalion are deployed within a civilian facility
-- the Calbayog sub-provincial jail where political prisoner Ericson
Acosta is detained for more than a year now.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Father asks President Aquino: “Who will be held responsible if
something bad happens to my son while he is unjustly detained?”</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
family of political prisoner Ericson Acosta decried threats against their son
and their family after receiving text messages which said he or his parents might
get killed on November 2, All Souls Day. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Isaias
Acosta, 79, father of Ericson, said his driver received a series of messages in
the morning of October 24 and 25. The first message read: “ericson acosta is in
danger he might get killed on all souls day please spread the news.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><i> </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This was
followed by a Filipino translation of the first message:<span> </span><i>“please
spread the news ericson acosta plano</i> <i>patayin
sa araw ng patay. kung ndi man siya ay ang kanyang magulang n nktra sa anapolis
cubao... Anonymous UST...” </i><span> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ericson
Acosta, 40, is a poet and journalist who was arrested without warrant on
February 13, 2011 in San Jorge, Samar. Military elements accosted him for mere
possession of a laptop.<span> </span>After three days
of interrogation and torture inside a military camp, Acosta was charged with
illegal possession of explosive and was tagged by the military as a
high-ranking NPA rebel.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“<i>Wala kaming kaaway. Matatanda na kami.
Marami na kaming sakit. Mag- ootsenta anyos na ang asawa ko ngayong Linggo. Magbi-</i>birthday<i> siya na nakakulong pa rin ang aming bunso.
Ito pa ba ang ireregalo nila sa kanya? (</i>We have no known enemies. We are
too old. We have many illnesses. My wife is turning 80 this Sunday. She will
mark her birthday with our youngest son still behind bars. Is this their idea
of a birthday present?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According
to Acosta, they can only suspect these threats to come from state agents. “Ericson
is the lone political prisoner (at the sub-provincial jail in Calbayog City),
yet the military has deployed troops around the jail to harass him and his
visitors. The jail is supposed to be a civilian facility, yet Ericson has been
virtually under military detention.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
elder Acosta is equally disheartened about President Aquino’s rash statements
on the country’s human rights situation. In recent interviews, human rights
violations were dismissed by the President as “only Leftist propaganda.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lamenting
the President’s recent pronouncements, Isaias said, “My son is a victim of
torture and prolonged illegal detention. Our petition for review before the DOJ
(Department of Justice) has been pending for more than a year now, when it
should only take 60 days for them to issue a resolution.”</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Last
July, we filed a motion for Ericson to be accorded immediate medical attention
for his renal problems. After three months, the court has not acted upon the
motion. Private doctors have silently turned down our requests to check on Ericson
-- we understand their fears because Ericson is surrounded by soldiers. In his
latest letter, Ericson said he had another high fever last week. Instead of
justice, we now receive more insults and threats.”</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Bakit naghahamon ng tulong ang Presidente
para maresolba ang mga kaso ng pang-aabuso, gayong nasa kanya na nga ang lahat
ng kapangyarihan? (</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Why
must the President challenge people to help him solve these cases of abuses,
when he has all the power to do this?)” he asked.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Gusto ko pong tanungin ang
Pangulo: sino po ang magiging responsable kapag may masamang nangyari sa anak
ko habang siya’y nakakulong at hindi gumugulong ang hustisya? </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">( I would like to ask
the President: who will be held responsible if something bad happens to my son
while he is unjustly detained?)”said Mr. Acosta. <span><br /></span></span></span></div>
Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-22202835857570881572012-10-25T06:29:00.001-07:002012-10-25T06:30:19.034-07:00November 15 is International Day of the Imprisoned Writer<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM0wCWWferEF9vtDRR4OR-eQSJqttAFIAKV9mW6Md1dI8hEASk7ZTmOif4LQchEIgd2PYupl0x7c6Q8aRSxiWti8oHmRVyT_7vDOicFWd8tqhys3nue6YL63eO46jAnDkAYfcDGO8x5U/s1600/DAYIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM0wCWWferEF9vtDRR4OR-eQSJqttAFIAKV9mW6Md1dI8hEASk7ZTmOif4LQchEIgd2PYupl0x7c6Q8aRSxiWti8oHmRVyT_7vDOicFWd8tqhys3nue6YL63eO46jAnDkAYfcDGO8x5U/s400/DAYIP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The
Day of the Imprisoned Writer is an annual, international day intended
to recognize and support writers who resist repression of the basic
human right to freedom of expression and who stand up to attacks made
against their right to impart information.<br /> <br /> Ericson Acosta is a
Filipino poet, journalist, and songwriter who was arrested without
warrant on February 13, 2011 in Samar. Military elements </span></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
accosted
him for mere possession of a laptop. To this day, Ericson remains
imprisoned. He and his family continue to suffer various forms of
harassment. <br />
<br />
Ericson Acosta is only one of more than 400 political prisoners under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.<br />
<br />
We enjoin all writers, writers' groups, circles and publications to
share their advocacy for freedom by composing a piece for the freedom of
Ericson Acosta. Put together, our appeals, statements, poems, and other
contributions will demonstrate the strength of the worldwide solidarity
for the freedom of the imprisoned writer on November 15, 2012. Please
spread the word! <br />
<br />
Click here for the <a href="http://www.pen-international.org/newsitems/philippines-poet-journalist-and-activist-remains-detained-without-trial/" target="_blank">PEN International appeal for Ericson Acosta's release:</a> and the <a href="http://philippinepen.ph/resolutions.html" target="_blank">Philippine PEN resolution</a> to support the campaign to free Ericson Acosta: <br />
<br />
Please send copies of your appeals to freeericsonacosta@gmail.co<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>m. </div>
Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-91284468834125895752012-10-10T20:52:00.000-07:002012-10-10T20:52:56.614-07:00Free Ericson Acosta<a href="http://penmanila.ph/2012/10/03/penman-no-14-free-ericson-acosta/" target="_blank">by Butch Dalisay </a><br />
PENMAN, Philippine Star<br />
<br />
Last Monday, I wrote about recalling the horrors of martial law,
which had been declared 40 years earlier. That same day, I had a chance
encounter with a young woman named Kerima Tariman Acosta, whose husband
Ericson has now been languishing in a Samar jail for a year a political
prisoner under a new regime four decades after martial law.<br />
<br />
My interest in the case was piqued not just because of the obvious irony, but because Ericson was a former editor of the <i>Philippine Collegian</i> and a poet in other words, a brother-in-arms as a writer.<br />
<br />
Ericson was arrested on Feb. 13, 2011 by soldiers of the Philippine
Army near San Jorge in Samar, without a warrant; Kerima says that he was
carrying only his laptop, a cellphone, and some money, having been
conducting human rights research in that militarized community on behalf
of a peasant group, Kapawa. Later, however, his captors produced a
grenade, which they claimed Ericson had in his pocket; they would later
charge him with illegal possession of explosives, which Ericson
vehemently denies, saying that the grenade was planted to link him to
the New People’s Army.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=854493&publicationSubCategoryId=79" target="_blank">Read more </a>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-84435487022564990642012-09-18T15:44:00.000-07:002012-09-18T15:44:07.275-07:00Tanikala at Talinghaga<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Tanikala at Talinhaga" (Chains & Metaphors) is a documentary on artist-political prisoners in the Philippines, with interviews from National Democratic Front consultant Alan Jazmines, a poet and visual artist; activist poet-songwriter Ericson Acosta; and film student Maricon Montajes. </div>
<br />
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EJ4vxzvJfvI" width="560"></iframe>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-40900687483109641582012-09-12T04:16:00.000-07:002012-09-12T04:17:40.607-07:00Appeal from Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
Mr. President, your father’s memory as a political prisoner, hopes to
bring you to take action to promote the protection of human rights of
Filipino people. One of the very first acts of the late Pres. Corazon
Aquino, your mother, was to free political prisoners. It was an action
matched with her words to restore the Filipino people's democratic
rights.
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444;">7 September 2012</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: #444444;">His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #444444;">President Republic of the Philippines </span></b><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Malacañang Palace JP Laurel Street, San Miguel Manila 1005 Philippines</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Transmitted via Electronic Mail and Telefax:</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">(+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Dear President Benigno Simeon Aquino III:</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">On behalf of the <a href="http://www.canadaphilippinessolidarity.org/2012/09/mr-president-your-fathers-memory-as.html" target="_blank">Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR)</a>, I would like to bring to your
attention, the case of ERICSON ACOSTA, an artist, poet, cultural worker,
former editor of the University of the Philippines’s school Paper, and
human rights activist—who is illegally detained at the sub-provincial
jail of Calbayog City, Samar province.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">While doing a study on the human rights
situation in militarized communities with the Small Peasants Association
of Western Samar and the Alliance of Concerned Samarenos (ACOS), Acosta
was arrested without warrant by members of the 34th Infantry Battalion
of the Philippine Army in February 13, 2011. A grenade was later
produced by the military who accused him of illegal possession of an
explosive, which is a non-bailable offence.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">According to the counter-affidavit that was filed by the National Union of People’s Lawyers on Acosta’s behalf:</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">a. He was arrested without warrant while not committing any crime or doing anything illegal;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">b. He was not informed of the reason for his arrest at the time of his arrest;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">c. He was denied the right to counsel;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">d. He was denied a phone call and prevented from contacting his family or his lawyer;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">e. He was subjected to prolonged interrogation for 44 hours;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">f. During tactical interrogation, he was physically and psychologically tortured;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">g. He was deprived of sleep, threatened, intimidated, coerced and forced to admit membership in the New People’s Army;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">h. The grenade subject of the case was planted;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">i. The complaint against him was filed in court only after 72 hours and 30 minutes;</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">j. He was detained in a military camp, which is not of civilian jurisdiction.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Acosta’s incarceration is a violation of
Article 9 of the Convention on Civil and Political Rights which protects
a person from arbitrary arrest and detention, to which the Philippine
government is a signatory.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">In a recent open letter written by
Acosta’s father, Isaias, it was revealed that Acosta is suffering from
abdominal and back pains, is passing blood in his urine and may possibly
have a prostate problem due to bad prison conditions. For humanitarian
reasons, political detainees like Ericson Acosta, ought to be freed
immediately because he is sick.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Mr. President, your father’s memory as a
political prisoner, hopes to bring you to take action to promote the
protection of human rights of Filipino people. One of the very first
acts of the late Pres. Corazon Aquino, your mother, was to free
political prisoners. It was an action matched with her words to restore
the Filipino people's democratic rights.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">CPSHR adds our collective voice to the
legions of individuals and organizations in the Philippines and abroad
such as the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, the Philippine
Center of the International PEN, and Amnesty International in calling
for the immediate and unconditional release of Acosta. His continued
detention is a colossal injustice to Acosta and to the Filipino people
whom he has chosen to serve through his courageous and creative
involvement in the people’s struggle for their economic, political and
cultural rights.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Thank you and we hope for your immediate attention and action on this case.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Sincerely yours,</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #444444;">SGD. Orval K. Chapman</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Founding Member</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="color: #444444;">Copy furnished:</span></i><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Mr. Jose Arthur P. Ampeso, Consul General </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">700 West Pender, Suite 1405 Philippine Consulate, Vancouver BC</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Hon. Leila M. De Lima Secretary, Department of Justice (DOJ)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila, 1000 </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Email: lmdelima@doj.gov.ph / doj.delima@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin Secretary, Department of National Defense (DND) </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Camp Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo Quezon City 1110 </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Fax: +63 2 982 5640; Tel: +63 2 982 5638 </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Email webmaster@dnd.gov.ph</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales Commission on Human Rights (CHR) </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue U.P. Complex, Diliman Quezon City </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Tel: +63 2 928 5655, +63 2 926 6188; Fax: +63 2929 0102 </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Email: rosales.chr@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444;">General Eduardo SL Oban Jr. Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">DND Building, Camp Gen Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City 1110 </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Tel: +63 2 911 6001 local 8414; Fax: +63 2 421 3531 </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Email: bacsecretariat@dnd.gov.ph</span>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-14490916357550177062012-07-31T02:40:00.000-07:002012-07-31T02:46:15.271-07:00A Father’s Plea: Medical Attention for Ericson Acosta<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">July
31, 2012</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">DEAR FRIENDS,</span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Political prisoner Ericson Acosta is in need of medical
attention. Please forward, blog, tweet and share this letter of appeal from the
Acosta family. We also encourage everybody to write to the Department of
Justice (DOJ) to request the resolution of the Ericson Acosta case review which
has been pending for almost a year. You may also address appeals to concerned
government officials to drop trumped-up charges against Ericson and effect his
immediate release.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 15pt;">A
Father’s Plea</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I am Isaias Acosta, father of detained artist and activist
Ericson Acosta. I am writing this while I recuperate from a minor surgery
pending further medical tests. Prior to my operation, I was all set for another
visit to the sub-provincial jail in Calbayog City, Samar where my son has been
detained for more than a year now. <br />
<br />
I am now 79 years old, not in the best of health but would not pass up a chance
to visit Ericson if I could help it. My wife, Liwayway, is turning 80 this
year. She would have gone to Calbayog without me but she can hardly walk
without support. <br />
We are both physically suffering due to our respective conditions but nothing
compares to the torment of knowing that our son continues to be unjustly
imprisoned. <br />
<br />
My recent medical setback ironically and agonizingly emphasizes the reason
behind our intended urgent visit. Lately, Ericson had been complaining of a
nagging pain in his abdomen and lower back. The pain, he says, intensifies
whenever he urinates. Now he has also noticed spots of blood in his urine. My
cousin, Ericson’s uncle, displayed similar symptoms before he succumbed to
prostate cancer.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Ericson rarely complains when he is sick. Even when he was
arrested last year, his first words to me were, “Daddy, huwag kayo’ng
mag-alala.” He always tells his mother not to fuss over him<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. Ganyan si Ericson. Hindi niya iniinda hangga’t kaya niya. </i>Once
when he was still in grade school, he waited until a “stomach ache” had become
too unbearable before he finally told us to take him to the hospital. It turned
out he immediately needed to undergo an appendectomy. The doctor said we got
there in the nick of time.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Ericson’s last check-up two years ago revealed a renal
function abnormality and a possible prostate affliction. So as soon as we
received word that he is in pain, we arranged for a visit and asked our lawyers
to immediately file a motion before the court seeking urgent medical attention
for my son. <br />
<br />
We had to skip the visit because of my condition. But after we filed the motion,
we were told that the judge in charge of his case had just retired. How long
would it take until a new judge is installed? It is as if our frustration with
the slow resolution of Ericson’s case is not enough. We are once again left
bereft of immediate legal options. <br />
<br />
I write this letter of appeal to the jail warden, to the Department of Justice,
to Secretary Leila de Lima, and to all other concerned branches of government.
I am an old man with no shortage of illnesses as expected of anyone my age, but
I would gladly forfeit any trip to the doctor if it could only be traded for
much-needed medical treatment for my son. His mother and I fear that his latest
hunger strike has further worsened his condition. Ericson must get the medical
attention he needs.<br />
<br />
I am writing this letter a few days after former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo was released on a million-peso bail. I cannot but be
distressed by the continuing prejudice of our justice system against my son and
other political prisoners like him. <br />
<br />
Arroyo was placed under hospital arrest in consideration of her illness. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Si Arroyo, sa kabila ng kanyang mga
kasalanan sa taumbayan, ay pinayagang manatili sa de-</i>aircon<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> na ospital, regular na inaasikaso ng mga
doktor at nars gamit ang buwis ng mamamayan. Ngayon siya’y pinalaya pa.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Si Ericson at iba pang tulad niya na ang
tanging kasalanan ay magsakripisyo para sa maliliit na tao, nasa kawawang
kalagayan at hindi kinikilala ang mga karapatan.</i> No, we do not seek
preferential treatment like Arroyo. What we demand is that Ericson and all
other political prisoners – who are ailing precisely because of dismal prison
conditions – also be accorded the right to medical attention as necessary. <br />
<br />
We appeal to all freedom-loving citizens and human rights advocates to once
again help us in our latest plea for Ericson. During these disconcerting times,
we shall continue to fight for Ericson’s release from detention. We add our
voices to all others whose sons and daughters are unjustly imprisoned – free
all political prisoners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Yours, </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">ISAIAS P. ACOSTA</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Details for letter-writers:</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Department
of Justice</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Padre Faura Street, </span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Malate, Manila, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">PHILIPPINES, 1000</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Telephone:</span></i><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> (02) 532-8481, (02) 523-6826 </span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Email:</span></i><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">
communications@doj.gov.ph </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Website</span></i><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">: www.doj.gov.ph</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Telefax:</span></i><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> 523-9548 </span></b></div>
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lmdelima@doj.gov.ph; <a href="mailto:lmdelima_doj@gmail.com"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">lmdelima_doj@gmail.com</span></a></span></b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">H.E.
Benigno Simeon Aquino III</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Manila 1005</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Voice: (+632) 735-6201 /
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / <a href="mailto:opnet@ops.gov.ph"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">opnet@ops.gov.ph</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/about-the-dfa/rp-embass</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNshajyWr4sgkyYCawYnk4PcAN3rinQgAasmAaPy7_NiHEPJNVGyYLGjIfVkRqk7NtTi3TXYgQhdDfAchTVxKq9683WluqVuL1ZMS8fv2cv7Amv6jv6_FwruLTUqQbpH5L5kmLSGs5hME/s1600/xmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">consulates-a-rcos/phl-embassies-and-consulates-general</span></div>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-8020631881568261682012-07-27T19:15:00.000-07:002012-07-27T19:15:15.624-07:00on the 2012 SONA & political prisoners' hunger strike<object height="240" width="320"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/3920440261845" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/3920440261845" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="240"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<span class="hasCaption"></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_501349a3197fb8d31034105">
Last
September, just as a week-long hunger strike of political prisoners was
nearing yet another frustrating ending, some unconfirmed and cryptic
piece of news had filtered out of the Palace, alleging to the effect
that Philippine jails were now being divested of political prisoners.
But the President had not in fact made any announcement acceding finally
to the strikers’ call for a general, uncon<span class="text_exposed_show">ditional
and omnibus declaration of amnesty to free all political prisoners in
the country – it turned out that it was just the Presidential
Spokesperson giving official word that in the first place, as far as the
administration was concerned, political prisoners simply did not exist.<br /> <br />
It was not however your usual fare of Malacanang farce; Edwin Lacierda
this time was not at all the stammering, choking bureaucrat screwing up
on an otherwise perfect lie. It was, rather, a highly ingenious and
studied performance which, for all its supposed terseness and
indifference, still managed to come across as a perversely powerful
warning – that as a matter of state principle, political dissenters
shall invariably treated in no other context except in relation to
common, even heinous crimes. Instead of general amnesty, what government
had in essence declared was general policy.<br /> <br /> The unabated
incidence over the last couple of years of government critics, activists
and revolutionaries being arbitrarily arrested or abducted, tortured
and slapped with fantastic non-bailable criminal charges, attest to how
seriously such policy of political persecution has so far been put to
actual practice by the present dispensation. Indeed with the full
repressive force of existing laws and state machinery thoroughly
committed to the purposes and methods of the current Pentagon-designed
counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, the US-Aquino regime is
building its own legacy of human rights violations and state terror –
now with a record 99 documented cases of extra-judicial killings, 10
enforced disappearances, and 107 political prisoners arrested under its
watch. The military, police and prison systems have likewise recently
conspired in a number of separate attempts to carry out the transfer of
certain political prisoners from civilian jails to military camps to
further punish and break their militant response to the debilitating
conditions of their incarceration. <br /> <br /> Hundreds of political
prisoners nationwide including myself, are once again on a hunger strike
to condemn the continued prevalence of illegal arrests and detention,
and the heightened repression and “custodial militarization” of
political prisoners. Under the US-Aquino regime, general, unconditional
and omnibus amnesty for political prisoners can be granted only through
the strength of people’s clamor and widespread support. Freedom can only
be achieved through unrelenting struggle.<br /> <br /> FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!<br /> <br /> Ericson L. Acosta</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">July 16, 2012<br /> Political Prisoner<br /> Calbayog City<br /> Sub-provincial jail<br /> Western Samar</span></div>
<br />
<br />Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-13295234782916228952012-07-24T15:51:00.001-07:002012-07-24T15:51:48.341-07:00Finally, with Ericson Acosta!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiOkPRYxOhRMBTdWRoo6sdnB9kbRi33NrhDseSdgk_7yhVksGCISBqZ7NaT1kD5WwjfIbjo6Ww2JI7xT4bwAGyoFcvwmr3kHg1S9o_N6C0Nzkt55fsiuVzrA4AXEAkonceuSlj76Tv7o/s1600/amado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiOkPRYxOhRMBTdWRoo6sdnB9kbRi33NrhDseSdgk_7yhVksGCISBqZ7NaT1kD5WwjfIbjo6Ww2JI7xT4bwAGyoFcvwmr3kHg1S9o_N6C0Nzkt55fsiuVzrA4AXEAkonceuSlj76Tv7o/s320/amado.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><i>by Sarah Raymundo </i></b><br />
<br />
Perhaps one of the unexpected things that have come out of Ericson
Acosta’s political prisoner status is the fact that Emani Cricket -his
only son- has learned to play the guitar so well. Someone or else
something must return what this boy has lost to the fascistic ways of
the U.S. Aquino regime. This for Eman has turned out to be the guitar
chords of songs that Eric had written singlehandedly or with the radical
cultural crew. It was perhaps his means of finding a better way with
Eric who has ceased to return to Manila since he was captured in Samar
in February 2011. Since then, not a single hearing of his case, no word
from the Department of Justice, nothing at all from the state that took
him away from his wife, son, friends, and the movement that he continues
to serve.<br />
<br />
<br />
But one Saturday afternoon before the
end of June I wed my time with Kerima’s, and found ourselves with the
Cricket in his room, on a double-decker. While the mother was hell bent
on finishing an important piece, Emani and I got busy with the junior
guitar which Eric bought years ago out of his savings from a small
stipend that full-time activists receive on a regular basis. Not the
best guitar I’ve laid my eyes on. But Emani’s hands on the digital
tuning machine from Tito Ruel is a magical clincher. I played the
monumental intro to Blur’s Tender, claiming it to be one of Eric’s
favorite songs even when I wasn’t sure that he shared my obsessive
liking for it. After playing the first stanza, I gave the guitar back to
Eman. He then played from the top, and no other piece had any edge or
significance, for me anyway, and at least for that moment.<br />
<br />
<br />
Fast
forward to Sunday, July 22, 2011, Ericson told me that Tender is one of
his favorite songs, and that he and Eman should jam sometime. I
hurriedly marked Calbayog Subprovincial Jail as one of the places where
we loved like children, a place much like the University of the
Philippines back in the 90s when it felt like we knew each other
completely before even beginning. Around half an hour before that, I
sent Raia a message and told her how this short travel with Bomen from
the hostelry to the jailhouse was making me so anxious; I wished this
transportation they call the multicab will fail to give me a chance at
this vicinity. It was like travelling to the edge where emotions might
go haywire and irretrievable.<br />
<br />
<br />
But the entrance to
the jailhouse was smooth. We were welcomed with courtesy upon our
mention of “Ericson Acosta.” “Are you his sister? No.” I thought Eric
and all the other prisoners are in another building other than the one
which housed us for a while, and which reminded me so well of the fact
that we have had left the sovereignty of ivory. I must have been swaying
from side to side carrying two backpacks, and a shoulder bag which
contained Judy’s surprises for Eric (copies of the Philippine Collegian
and other relevant university papers, Yes Magazine, Starstudio, a book, a
note, and a few things that I had put in, stuff from me and from other
friends). Bomen brought Eric a copy of Jun Cruz Reyes’ newest book,
Amado, to be launched on Friday (yes, the one from Calbayog gets to read
it first), and of Omeng’s Lagalag.<br />
<br />
<br />
Eric suddenly
appeared like some sailor landing from a cruise--poised, genteel, and
with the swagger that is unmistakably his. Part of the reason why I was
apprehensive in seeing him that morning around 8 o’clock was that our
coordinator failed to disclose the identities of his visitors for the
day. He doesn’t like that. In prison, he says, he completely has no
control over anything about his life. If there are matters or affairs
that would affect him for the day, and if these are very well within the
friendly radar of the movement, then it should be something that will
commit him and his visitors. He wants to know when to wear his best
shirt, when to use conditioner for his long hair, and for whom is he
making all that fuss.<br />
<br />
<br />
That circular darkness of
the void was not in view. In no uncertain colors did he paint his
stories but red. How will I ever catch up in years to discover the pride
that Eric has lived through in being with the people of Samar? But he
tells of many wonderful stories in a tone so generous, it was almost an
assurance that they are ours, too.<br />
<br />
<br />
Of course there
were tears that flowed from his eyes as I was holding the camera that
recorded his thoughts on the week-long hunger strike of political
prisoners nationwide. Each time I see a dear one in tears, I become a
very old woman whose tear glands have all dried up. That is my body
welcoming Stalin and begging him to stay. And I don’t think I owe anyone
a fucking liberal irony when it all comes down to some kind of an
anti-Wall Street Corporeal Occupy. Eric requested another recording of
his message of gratitude and solidarity to those who have supported the
cause to free all political prisoners in the country. Tears were shed
(his very own, one more time), and I almost hated him for my
awkwardness that smelled like macho shit. He could only say “Close kasi
tayo kaya naiiyak ako eh.”<br />
<br />
<br />
Eric for me is
definitely one of those significant Moseses who have led me to the
promise land. But unlike Moses, Eric gets into it himself. Eric has his
own Moses in prison. Moises is an old man who has become one of Eric’s
students in a literacy program that’s been running since he got into the
jailhouse. Moises loves to read English pieces, he would askcEric to
translate every single word he struggles to read. He never had visits
from family. He was always out of money. This had been the reason for
his low status in prison as he would be the one begging for food,
smokes, and what not from the other prisoners. When Eric came into the
jailhouse, he offered himself to be his sidekick. He pledged his loyalty
and services in exchange for food and some money. He was baffled when
Eric told him that they will share money and food minus his personal
services.<br />
<br />
<br />
One day, Moises son visited him to ask
for his blessings. He was about to marry this girl. The son left with
the promise of coming back with his fiancée, and a feast that will feed
all the prisoners and the jailguards. For the first time, Moises will
have an advantage, he will not to beg for food but will be the reason
why there is good food. And just because he is a father despite himself.
Here is a son, suddenly all grown up, a most welcome stranger to
Moises’ life, the same person who asked him to be a part of a very
important decision he is about to undertake. All dressed up for the
occasion every day for a week, Moises quietly waited to give away his
fatherly blessings. That could have spelled endless banter and tough
teasing. To Eric’s surprise, the usual badgering among prisoners never
took place.<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally and independent of him, Moises
has gained the respect of his fellow inmates through the stories of
fatherhood and the beginnings of family life he shared while waiting for
his son to come back. His lessons were too precious to be mocked at a
time when his greatest expectations failed, and were to mean nothing if
amnesty were to mean anything at all to the imprisoned.<br />
<br />
<br />
I
am completely secure about my friendship with Eric. But I do get
jealous when friends tell me about new people they have met, people who
amuse them lately. I am certain that Moises is now one of Eric’s best
buddies. To Moises’ amazement and confusion, a portrait of him with all
his tattoos has been sketched by Eric. It was something that Moises
could not explain. Nobody had ever looked at him in ways so faithful ,
so painstaking, so folksy... it kept his mouth ajar for a while. But
Eric revised the tattoos, and turned them into images of Mao Zedong and
some political slogans. Moises confirmed recognition understanding of
these revisions on account of his political discussions with Eric. But
he strongly asserted that such revised portrait is somebody else. He
did not speak to Eric for a short while. That is how I know they are
equals.<br />
<br />
<br />
I did not know whether to tell Eric that
Bomen and I will be back for a radical chit-chat sometime soon.
"Sometime soon" has always been our deadline for his release. With us
when we got there was a motion from Eric’s lawyer to have him undergo a
medical check up for his failing kidneys. The hearing for this urgent
matter is supposed to happen in Calbayog this coming Friday. I need to
tame the wildness of it all: minding deteriorating organs, racing with
and against time, dressing up for freedom, gearing up for stalemate,
being there. Steady and steadfast, like always, like Eric.Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-86759521011279491412012-07-21T20:39:00.000-07:002012-07-21T20:39:53.518-07:00SONA 2012 HUNGER STRIKE STATEMENT<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://freeallpps.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">More statements by political prisoners on the nationally-coordinated fasting / hunger strike here</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Last September, just as a week-long hunger strike of political
prisoners was nearing yet another frustrating ending, some unconfirmed
and cryptic piece of news had filtered out of the Palace, alleging to the
effect that Philippine jails were now being divested of political prisoners.
But the President had not in fact made any announcement acceding finally to the
strikers’ call for a general, unconditional and omnibus declaration of amnesty
to free all political prisoners in the country – it turned out that it was just
the Presidential Spokesperson giving official word that in the first place, as
far as the administration was concerned, political prisoners simply did not exist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was not however your usual fare of Malacanang farce; Edwin Lacierda
this time was not at all the stammering, choking bureaucrat screwing up on an
otherwise perfect lie. It was, rather, a highly ingenious and studied
performance which, for all its supposed terseness and indifference, still
managed to come across as a perversely powerful warning – that as a matter of
state principle, political dissenters shall invariably treated in no other
context except in relation to common, even heinous crimes. Instead of general
amnesty, what government had in essence declared was general policy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The unabated incidence over the last couple of years of government
critics, activists and revolutionaries being arbitrarily arrested or abducted,
tortured and slapped with fantastic non-bailable criminal charges, attest to how
seriously such policy of political persecution has so far been put to actual
practice by the present dispensation. Indeed with the full repressive force of
existing laws and state machinery thoroughly committed to the purposes and
methods of the current Pentagon-designed counter-insurgency program Oplan
Bayanihan, the US-Aquino regime is building its own legacy of human rights
violations and state terror – now with a record 99 documented cases of extra-judicial
killings, 10 enforced disappearances, and 107 political prisoners arrested
under its watch. The military, police and prison systems have likewise recently
conspired in a number of separate attempts to carry out the transfer of certain
political prisoners from civilian jails to military camps to further punish and
break their militant response to the debilitating conditions of their
incarceration. <span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hundreds of political prisoners nationwide including myself, are once
again on a hunger strike to condemn the continued prevalence of illegal arrests
and detention, and the heightened repression and “custodial militarization” of
political prisoners. Under the US-Aquino regime, general,
unconditional and omnibus amnesty for political prisoners can be granted
only through the strength of people’s clamor and widespread support. Freedom can only be achieved through unrelenting struggle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Ericson L. Acosta</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Political Prisoner</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Calbayog City </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sub-provincial jail</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Western Samar</div>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-89534182745460745482012-07-03T16:22:00.000-07:002012-07-03T16:23:51.711-07:00INTAL and BAYAN-Europe Solidarity Jam in BelgiumSolidarity jam for detained Filipino poet Ericson Acosta and all political prisoners in the Philippines, held by INTAL and BAYAN-Europe in Brussels, Belgium.<br />
<br />
Free the artist!<br />
Free all political prisoners in the Philippines now!<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/45071934?autoplay=1" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="450"></iframe>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411473531387608500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-53925004614420788672012-06-10T18:14:00.000-07:002012-06-10T18:14:19.863-07:00Belgian group INTAL interview on Ericson AcostaInterview with BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr by<a href="http://www.intal.be/nl/blogs/johan-dem/interview-met-bayan-voorzitter-renato-reyes-over-ericson-acosta-politieke-gevangene" target="_blank"> Belgian solidarity group INTAL.</a><br />
<br />
On June 22, INTAL will hold an action calling for the release of Ericson Acosta in front of the Philippine embassy in Brussels. They will also have a
solidarity jam after.
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aLOdUOH_MUA" width="560"></iframe>Free Ericson Acostahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09649419525098034978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322248881624526865.post-58769034444414194852012-05-30T00:16:00.004-07:002012-05-30T00:16:55.024-07:00FREE THE ARTIST! (Pagbati at Pagpupugay kay Kasamang Ericson Acosta)Reference: Ted Tuvera, Secretary General<br />
SILANGAN Cultural Collective <br />
<br /><br />
Nais
pong iparating ng kakatatag lamang na SILANGAN Cultural Collective ang
kanilang pagbati at pagpugay kay Kasamang Ericson Acosta, sa kaniyang
ika-40 na taong kaarawan, na isang aktibistang makata, musikero,
cultural worker at dating patnugot ng Philippine Collegian na
kasalukuyang nakakulong buhat nang siya’y dinampot sa isang hindi
makatarungang paraan noong Pebrero ng 2011 sa Samar at dinagdagan ito ng
mga gawa-gawang kaso.<br />
<br />
<br />
Isang biktima si Ericson ng
matinding panggigipit ng huwad nating pamahalaan upang patahimikin at
tigilan ang mga makabayan na nakikibaka para sa malawak na masa upang
kanilang ganap na makamit ang tagumpay na dala ng pambansang demokrasya.
Subalit, katulad nina Pablo Neruda, Ho Chi Min, Jose Rizal, atbp., si
Ericson ay hindi nagpadaig sa mga gahaman, bagkus, mas lumiyab ang
halaga ng kaniyang mga obra na naging instrumento ng pagmulat sa diwang,
“paglingkuran ang sambayanan”.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ang sining na
binigyang kabuluhan ni Ericson Acosta sa sadyang napaka-dakilang paraan
ay patunay na ang sining ay isang sandata na may angking kapangyarihan.
Ang panunupil sa sining at sa mga alagad nito na may diwang makabayan ay
isang repleksyon ng katotohanang inutil at manhid ang pamahalaan sa
pagsusumamo ng sambayanan. Kung baga’y pilit tayong pinipiringan ng
dilaw na laso ng pamahalaan upang tayo’y bulagin sa tunay na kalagayan
ng ating lipunan at upang lihisin ang kaisipang paglaban sa bulok na
sistema sa ating lipunan na tangan-tangan ng naghaharing-uri na iilan at
isulong ang bagong sistema sa lipunan na kung saan mananaig ang pasya
ng malawak na masa.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ang kaso ni Ericson Acosta ay
isang patunay na walang pakialam ang pamahalaang Noynoy Aquino sa
pagpapahalaga sa karapatang pantao (human rights), dahil sa loob ng
isang taon na’y hindi pa rin nabibigyan ng nararapat na katarungan ang
kaso ni Ericson. Katulad na lamang ng pagkawala ng mga decaperadidos na
sina Karen Empeno, Sherlyn Cadapan, Jonas Burgos, at iba pa, at ng
kamatayan nina Benjaline Hernandez ng CEGP (College Editors Guild of the
Philippines), Rolando Olalia at Leonor Alay-ay ng KMU (Kilusang Mayo
Uno), at ng marami pang ibang biktima ng kawalan ng katarungan,
pinalilitaw talaga ng ating huwad na pamahalaan na ang aktibismo ay
isang krimen. Naninindigan po kami na ang aktibismo ay hindi krimen,
bagkus, ito ay karapatan ng mamamayan at kapag ito ay inapakan, tiyak na
mayuyurakan na ang kalayaan ng pambansang soberanya.<br />
<br />
<br />
Maituturing
natin na isang halimbawa ng kabayanihan ang halimbawa ni Ericson
Acosta, ang pag-alay niya palang ng sarili para sa malawak na masa at
ang dakilang kahandaang ialay ang buhay para sa pambansang demokrasya.
Inaantay na ng sambayanang nakikibaka ang paglaya ni Ericson.<br />
<br />
<br />
Nakikiisa ang SILANGAN sa pag-kondena sa panlulupig kay Ericson Acosta. sa kalayaan ng sining at sa karapatang pantao.<br />
<br />
FREE ERICSON ACOSTA! FREE THE ARTIST! FREE ALL POLITICAL DETAINEES!### <br />
<br />adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11411473531387608500noreply@blogger.com0