ON THE TRANSFER OF ALAN JAZMINES FROM CAMP CRAME TO CAMP BAGONG DIWA

PRESS RELEASE

Today, January 5, 2012, political prisoner Alan Jazmines, a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and artist incarcerated at the Camp Crame PNP Custodial Center in Quezon City, is scheduled to be transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.  According to the letter of PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome recommending the transfer of Jazmines to DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, the following are among the reasons cited for his transfer:

1.       The authorities at Camp Crame are not pleased with the fact that “several rallies staged by leftist groups in front of the Camp Crame gates demanding for his release;” and

2.       His ”perceived unfavorable behavior inside jail.”

This shows how repressive and violative of the rights of political prisoners and regular detainees the jail authorities are when in fact Jazmines is simply exercising his right and compassion in asserting the rights of inmates against arbitrary and illegal detention and repressive jail policies. Jazmines also led political prisoners and regular inmates alike in upholding the welfare and humane treatment of all inmates in the said facility, such as the expose of incidents of sexual harassment of the female inmates by the jail guards. He has also assisted other inmates in their legal cases, especially those whose cases have taken a long time in court, and has sought the support of lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers and the Public Attorney’s Office.

To Pres. Noynoy Aquino and the GPH Panel for the peace negotiations between the GPH and the NDFP, we continue to call for the immediate release of Alan Jazmines and all political prisoners. We decry the continuing persecution and detention of the thirteen peace consultants and staff who, per the agreement of both panels, should be immediately released. We call on the Aquino administration to stop the practice of filing trumped up criminal charges against activists and human rights defenders to hide the political nature of the charges against them. We demand for the immediate release of all political prisoners.

For details, please contact SELDA: Fr. Diony Cabillas (09152407039) and Angie Ipong (09499587373).