ERICSON ACOSTA IS ON HUNGER STRIKE!

SUPPORT!

Through your help, we can see to it that Ericson will be reunited with his family and the people he serves.

You may donate through the account:

Isaias Acosta
BDO The Block SM City North branch
Savings Account # 0251065464

For international donations:

Isaias Acosta

BDO The Block SM City North branch
Savings Account: 00-0251065464
Routing #: 021000089
Swiftcode: BNORPHMM

Detained artist Ericson Acosta begins his hunger strike today, December 3, 2011, as part of the campaign to free all political prisoners in the country. Acosta’s hunger strike intends to expose the particular circumstances of his arrest and continued unjust detention.

Acosta’s supporters have called on authorities, particularly the DOJ, to immediately withdraw the fabricated illegal possession of explosive complaint lodged by the military against the poet. Acosta stresses that it utterly baseless for him to undergo a full-blown trial for this trumped-up charge. Instead, he says it is he who should have the right to charge the state elements responsible for violations of his human rights.

One of his particular demands is to pull out the highly irregular if not illegal presence of a squad of military men near his place of detention. A platoon of soldiers from the 87^th IB were first deployed in the nearby barrio since July in the pretext of military operations, but it has become apparent that the soldiers are there to “guard” Acosta. Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano in his recent visit to the Calbayog jail directly witnessed how soldiers listen in to Acosta’s conversations with visitors.

It is necessary to maintain the civilian nature of the Samar sub-provincial jail. It is also a challenge for civilian authorities to assert their power over these military “invaders.” This troop deployment, and the overkill security arrangement during Acosta’s first court appearance where he was made to ride the jail vehicle as a lone detainee in the midst of soldiers in full battle gear “(these) are symptoms of one affliction of paranoia named Fascism.”

“Fascism is the most dangerous type of paranoia,” Acosta said.

­ C A S E T I M E L I N E

February 13, 2011 – While on his way to San Jorge town from Barangay Bay-ang proper around 10 am, Acosta was arrested without warrant by elements of the 34^th IBPA led by 2^nd Lt. Jacob Madarang. Acosta was accompanied by a barangay official and was carrying only a laptop and some personal belongings at the time of his arrest. With threats, soldiers instructed Acosta’s companions from the barrio to carry on, as they were only interested with the “Tagalog” whom they suspected of being a high-ranking NPA rebel. Acosta was conducting human rights research in the militarized barrio for Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Weste han Samar (KAPAWA – Small Peasants Association of Western Samar) and the Alliance of Concerned Samarenos (ACOS).

Acosta was brought to the 34^th IB Charlie detachment in Brgy. Blanca Aurora, San Jorge. They arrive at about 9pm. Acosta was interrogated, coerced and tortured for 44 hours straight with only 2 hours of sleep. He was denied communication to his family as well as access to a lawyer, despite his repeated assertion of his rights. Arresting military officers file a report on Acosta’s arrest on the same day.

February 15 – Around 7pm, Acosta was brought to the PNP Municipal Headquarters in San Jorge. While Acosta was still in the vehicle with military escorts, a grenade was presented by the military to the police. Inside the building, Acosta was later told by police officers that he was being charged with illegal possession of explosive. He was brought to a hospital for medico-legal procedure and was detained overnight at the PNP San Jorge.

February 16 – Police completes the blotter procedure against Acosta. He was brought to the Calbayog Hall of Justice around 9am by military escorts in civilian clothes. Acosta was finally able to call his family when he asserted his rights in front of civilian employees in the building. A complaint of illegal possession of explosive signed by the San Jorge PNP Chief Oscar Pagulayan was directly filed to the Regional Trial Court of Gandara, Samar, Branch 41 at 10:30 am, or seventy two (72) hours and thirty (30) minutes after Acosta’s arrest on February 13, 10 am. Acosta was then remitted to the Calbayog sub-provincial jail around 1:30 pm.

February 17 – The AFP publicizes the capture of a “top ranking CPP personality,” Ericson Acosta aka “August Lim.” The AFP releases state that “..troops recovered from Acosta one (1) laptop notebook with complete accessories and spare battery, an external hard drive, Globe tattoo (USB globe broadband), one (1) unit Nokia 3530, 6 pcs SIM cards, a cash amounting to Four Thousand Eight Hundred pesos (P4, 800.00) only and his personal belongings.” As for the grenade subject of the illegal possession complaint, reports said that “(Acosta) … attempted to draw a hand grenade from his pocket.”

March 1 –The Acting Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Gandara, Samar, Branch 41, Hon. Subanah E. Usman, instead of issuing a Commitment Order, issues an Order referring the case to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Calbayog City for Preliminary Investigation.

April 11 – Acosta through his counsel, a legal team from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) led by Atty. Jun Oliva, files his counter-affidavit, which states: "a. He was arrested without warrant while not committing any crime or doing anything illegal; b. He was not informed of the reason for his arrest at the time of his arrest; c. He was denied the right to counsel; d. He was denied a phone call and prevented from contacting his family or his lawyer; e. He was subjected to prolonged interrogation for 44 hours; f. During tactical interrogation, he was physically and psychologically tortured; g. He was deprived of sleep, threatened, intimidated, coerced and forced to admit membership in the NPA; h. The grenade subject of the case was planted; i. The complaint against him was filed in court only after 72 hours and 30 minutes; j. He was detained in a military camp, which is not of civilian jurisdiction."

April 15 – The Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC) is launched in Quezon City. A statement calling for his immediate release is signed by hundreds of artists, journalists, human rights advocates and other supporters.

June 7 – Acosta receives Prosecutor Agustin Avalon’s resolution dated April 20, recommending the filing of the illegal possession of explosive case in court.

June 21 – NUPL files a motion for reconsideration before the prosecutor.

July – Delegates to the International Conference on Progressive Culture held in the Philippines sign the support statement calling for Acosta’s immediate release. Signatories include prominent artists and cultural groups from the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe. Troops from the 8^th ID begin to station near Acosta’s place of detention.

August 12 – Amnesty International calls for the end of Acosta’s detention and cites rights violations.

August 17 – NUPL receives Prosecutor Avalon’s resolution dated July 12, denying the motion for reconsideration.

September 1 – NUPL files a Petition for Review before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

September 21 – Acosta is brought to court for a scheduled arraignment. Court grants his counsel's motion to defer proceedings pending the DOJ’s decision on the review petition. Acosta is again harassed by the military when made to ride the jail vehicle as a lone detainee along with military escorts in full battle gear.

October 14 - The state’s National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) ties up with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (DOJ), in a gathering of artists calling on the DOJ to promptly review Acosta's case.

November 19 - Acosta is named finalist of 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, along with filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen of Tibet. Musician Win Maw of Burma wins the Prize.

ARTISTS SUPPORT CALL TO FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS WITH “POLDET” SHOW

­­­­­ON DEC. 3, 2011: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF POLITICAL PRISONERS

ARTISTS, CULTURAL WORKERS SUPPORT CALL

TO FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS WITH “POLDET” SHOW

click to watch e.g.yolk production's coverage of POLDET

“Mr. President, we are not criminals.”

Former “poldets” (political detainees) Bonifacio Ilagan, Judy Taguiwalo, Angie Ipong, Axel Pinpin and health workers of the Morong 43 joined artists and cultural workers in a multi-media show calling for the release of all political prisoners in the country, in commemoration of International Day of Political Prisoners today.

“POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal,” a play first staged by the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign and Alay Sining last September in UP Diliman is adapted for the performance space at the Access Point Bar in Quezon City by director Donna Dacuno.

The show highlighted the plight of currently detained artists – songwriter Ericson Acosta, UP film student Maricon Montajes, and poet Alan Jazmines.

“POLDET introduces audiences to the wealth of prison literature since Martial Law until the present, and hopes to make the public aware of the plight of its incarcerated authors,” said Dacuno. Like Acosta, Dacuno was once chairperson of the youth cultural group Alay Sining in UP Diliman.

“There are more than 350 political prisoners languishing in different detention centers in the country today – at least 78 of them, Acosta and Jazmines included, were in fact arrested under President Aquino’s watch,” according to Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) Sec-Gen Angie Ipong.

Acosta’s songs and poetry, which earned him a nomination as finalist in the prestigious 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize at the Freedom to Create Awards Festival in Cape Town, South Africa last November, is featured in POLDET.

Artists and cultural workers from the Anino Shadowplay Collective, Karatula, Los Indios Bravos, UP Silip, e.g. yolk productions, Sinagbayan, Nuno ni Nena and KM64 Poetry Collective, have pooled their talents in this PinoyMedia Center production of “POLDET.”

Human rights watchdog KARAPATAN defines political prisoners as those who were arrested, detained and imprisoned for acts that further their political beliefs. They are arbitrarily denied their liberty and due process of law. They are charged with political offenses such as rebellion and sedition. More often, they are charged with criminal offenses like murder, arson, kidnapping, robbery-in-band and illegal possession of firearms to deny the political nature of their alleged offenses and to reduce them into plain criminals. President Aquino’s own father Ninoy was martyred during the Marcos dictatorship as an exiled political prisoner.

Acosta and other political prisoners in Southern Tagalog and Compostela Valley are currently staging hunger strikes to demand their immediate release. Human rights groups call on President Aquino to free political prisoners before Christmas. POLDET will have another show at the Access Point Bar on Dec 10, International Human Rights Day.

POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal

POLDET

PANATA SA KALAYAAN NG MGA DETENIDO POLITIKAL

December 3 and 10, 2011 / 7pm

Access Point Bar and Resto, Sct. Borromeo St., Timog Area, Quezon City

POLDET is a cultural presentation on the nation’s struggle for artistic and political freedom as reflected in the works of artists behind bars featuring performances from Jess Santiago, Bobby Balingit of Wuds, Chickoy Pura of The Jerks, Cabring Cabrera of Datu's Tribe, Pochoy Labog of Dicta License, art groups Anino Shadow Play Collective, UP Sining at Lipunan, Bersus, Nuno ni Nena, BLKD, Sinagbayan and other artists.

Highlights include testimonial monologues from former political detainees like poets Bonifacio Ilagan, Judy Taguiwalo, and Axel Pinpin, SELDA Secretary-General Angelina Ipong, and health workers of the Morong 43. The show will also highlight the plight of current political prisoners including poet Alan Jazmines, film student Maricon Montajes and cultural worker Ericson Acosta.

Acosta’s songs and poetry, which earned him a nomination as finalist in the prestigious 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize of international group Freedom to Create, will be featured in POLDET.

Petition-signing will be held at the KARAPATAN information booth. You may also send a petition-postcard to Philippine authorities. Human rights campaign merchandise such as shirts, pins, bookmarks and stickers will also be available at the booth. Proceeds will go to legal defense and campaign fund of political prisoners.

For inquiries and donations, please contact

­Cynthia (0915-4872495) or Sarah (0921-7417469)

Detained artist is finalist in int’l art award

Artist and political detainee Ericson Acosta is one of the three finalists in the prestigious 2011 Imprisoned Artist Prize.

The other two finalists are musician Win Maw of Burma and filmmaker Dhondup Wanchen of Tibet.

The Imprisoned Artist Prize is one of the awards given by Freedom to Create, an international award-giving body launched in 2008 aimed to “celebrate the courage and creativity of artists and the positive influence of their work to promote social justice and inspire the human spirit”.

Acosta is the sole Filipino finalist in the Freedom to Create Awards.

The Imprisoned Artist Prize is presented to artists who are incarcerated “because of their courage and creativity in pursuing their art, and the role of their work in highlighting injustice”. One winner will be awarded USD$25,000, which will then be utilized in securing the artist’s release, and advocacies and campaigns for his or her freedom.

“In 2011, we have received over 2000 prize entries from more than 145 countries around the globe. A total prize fund of US$100,000 will be awarded to the winning artists and their nominated advocacy organisations to further the cause their artwork has highlighted,” the group’s website said.

Among the judges for the Prize are actress Daryl Hannah, novelist Salman Rushdie and danseur Mikhail Baryshnikov. Winners will be announced on the Freedom to Create Award Festival on November 19 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Acosta is an artist, journalist and cultural worker who was illegally arrested by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on February 13, 2011 in Barangay Bay-ang, 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. Acosta's counsel filed a Petition for Review of his case before the Department of Justice (DOJ) last September 1.

Even in jail, Acosta continues to make his art and music heard despite and in spite of the most pressing of circumstances. A raw recording dubbed “Prison Sessions” featuring Acosta singing his original compositions in jail instantly enjoyed thousands of hits and followers online. He also maintains an online journal, Jailhouse Blog.

Acosta’s supporters call on DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima to immediately withdraw fabricated complaints against him. Among his supporters are officials of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), National Artists for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and F. Sionil Jose, Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists), Concerned Artists of the Philippines, University of the Philippines National Writers’ Workshop fellows and panel, and artists from the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia who attended the International Conference on Progressive Culture last July. ###

Pambihira

Ericson Acosta sings his song "Pambihira" with his son on guitar at the Samar sub-provincial jail in Calbayog City.

Pambihira
Written by E. Acosta

Intro: G

I
G
Kung sakali mang mapagpasyahan kong D Em C
Di na muna tumanda, pwede kaya?
G
Kung sakali mang mapaglibangang D Em Bm
Humugis ng paso sa pusod ng dagat

Chorus
Bm C Bm
Magtagumpay kaya ako C G
Sa mga pambihirang panukala kong ito?
G C G
Hmmmmm...
G C
Malamang ay hindi
G C G
Hmmmmm...
G
Malamang ay hindi

II
Kung sakali mang ang kahilingan ko'y
Maisilang na muli, ano nga bang mali?
Kung sakali mang mangailangan
Ng yelong galing sa bunganga ng bulkan

Repeat Chorus

Ad lib
G --, E -- E7

III
A F#m
At kung sakaling aking masuri
A
Mga utos ng hari F#m
Kailangang mabali na ngayon

Chorus 2
C#m D C#m
Magtagumpay kaya ako D A
Sa mga pambihirang panukala kong ito?
A D A
Hmmmm
A D
Di pwedeng hindi
A D A
Hmmmm
A D
Di pwedeng hindi


Peculiar

If I ever decide to stop growing old / Could it happen? / If I ever fancy making pottery in the depths of the sea / Could I pull off these peculiar schemes? / Perhaps not / Perhaps not

If I ever ask to be reborn / What could be wrong? / If I ever require ice from a volcano's mouth / Could I pull off these peculiar schemes? / Perhaps not / Perhaps not

And suppose I conclude / We must now break a tyrant's wishes and whims / Can I pull off these peculiar schemes?

There's no way I can't / There's no way I can't

Higanteng Nahihimbing

ni Omeng Rodriguez

Ilang taon ko na rin hindi nakikita si Ericson. Bukod sa pagbasa sa kanyang mga blog entry, mga interbyu na mapapanood sa youtube at pakikinig sa kanyang mga orihinal na awitin sa soundcloud, mas ninais kong makita at makamusta siya ng personal. Nang magkaroon ng pagkakataong maapruba ang paggawa ng isang proyekto para sa mga bilanggong politikal, alam kong magiging makabuluhan ang dalawang araw na pananatili sa syudad ng Calabayog sa isla ng Samar upang dalawin doon ang hinahangaang alagad ng sining.

Matapos ang lampas tatlong oras na biyahe mula Tacloban, kasama sina Wena, Sinag at Eman, ang nag-iisang anak nina Ericson at Kerima, at sa tulong na rin ni Gerry na ka-henerasyong aktibista sa UP na nakabase na sa Tacloban, bagaman pagod sa biyahe, maluwalhati naming narating ang Calbayog sub-provincial jail. Ilang metro lamang ang layo nito sa highway. Tila isa itong pinaglumaang warehouse ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan na ginawang kulungan ng mga presong nahuli sa sinasakupang lugar. Sa pagsilip sa siwang ng tarangkahan ng guwardiya at tuluyan nitong pagbukas, bumungad sa amin ang mga taong nakasibilyan. Bagaman may pagtataka sa kanilang mukha sa aming pagdating, naroon din naman ang kanilang magiliw na pagtanggap sa amin bilang mga dalaw.

Ipinahiram ng warden ang kanyang mesa upang may mapatungan kami ng gamit. Dinala ito sa kuwartong itinalaga na lugar ng pagbisita sa mga nakapiit doon na preso. Ang mga sumunod na kuwarto nama'y nagsisilbing mga selda at tarima. Sa isang gilid may maliit na tindahan ng tsitirya, tinapay at softdrinks. Parang itong isang maliit na komunidad; may mga kubo, may mga batang naglalaro, may mga buntis na asawa ng ilang preso, at may inaalagaang mga hayop sa likurang bakuran. Ilang minuto lamang, dumating si Ericson. Magiliw niya kaming niyakap. Bagaman aminado na hindi siya gaanong nakatulog dahil sa antisipasyon sa pagdalaw ng mga kaibigan, nananatili ang palabiro niyang katangian na sinamahan ng ngiting tatak na niya noong magkakasama pa kami sa kolehiyo.

Sa kamustahan namin nalaman ang ilan sa kanyang kalagayan sa loob ng piitan; kung papano niya ginawang silid-aralan ang piitan upang matutong magsulat at magbasa ang kanyang mga kasama sa selda, ang pagpapalalim ng talakayan sa pagitan ng mga preso sa mga lokal at pambansang usapin, at ang pagdiin sa mga protesta sa loob mismo ng piitan dahil sa pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan ng ilan sa mga namamahala doon. Habang nagkukwentuhan, makikita naman sa labas ang palakad-lakad na nakasibilyang kalalakihan na binanggit ni Ericson na kasapi ng mga militar na nagtayo ng kampo sa likuran ng piitan simula ng siya'y mahuli. Ikinuwento niya ang kalagayan ng ilan sa mga preso; ang mga kinasadlakan ng mga goons ng mga natalong politiko, ang aleng sa halip na ikulong ang anak na maysala ay siya ang ikinulong, at ang mga karaniwang kuwento ng mga presong biktima ng inhustisya sa lugar.

Kahit kami'y nasa lugar ng piitan, para na kaming iniligid ni Ericson sa buong probinsiya ng Samar gamit ang kanyang mga salita, galaw at tila pag-awit ng kasaysayan ng islang pinili niyang maging lunan ng tunggalian. Isinalaysay niya ang kanyang naging karanasan sa paglingkod sa kanayunan; kung paano siya dinakip at pinaratangan ng mga militar, ang ginawang pagsuporta at pagtanggol sa kanya ng masa upang siya'y bawiin, at ang nakaukit ng kamalayan sa diwa ng himagsikan na nananahan sa buong isla ng Samar na walang ipinagkaiba sa iba pang probinsya at isla sa Pilipinas.

"Isang higanteng nahihimbing ang isla ng Samar, isang higanteng marapat gisingin" sabi ni Ericson.