Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest and detention of seven human rights defenders during a peaceful protest outside the Department of Labour and Employment in Manila on 10 October 2007.
Further Information
Posted 15/10/2007 Those arrested include Pete Pinlac, President of Manggagawa sa Komunikasyon ng Pilipinas, MKP (The Telecommunications Workers of the Philippines); Arturo Castillo and John Beato, First and Second Vice-Presidents of MKP respectively; Aurelio Veloso, of Manggagawa para sa Kalayaan ng Bayan, MAKABAYAN (Workers for People's Liberation); Atty. Virgie Suarez Pinlac, Vice-Chairperson of Kaisa Ka and member of Board of Directors of Legal Alliance for Workers' Struggles (LAWS); Mitzi Chan, Chairperson of the People's Struggle Commission of Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD); and Roy Fernandez, MKP Representative.
On 10 October 2007, the above-mentioned human rights defenders were arrested during the reportedly violent dispersal of protesters who had gathered outside the government department for the second consecutive day to protest against the labour policies of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company. Agents of the Western Police District of the Philippine National Police intercepted the peaceful protest and arrested the seven human rights defenders, who were reportedly injured during their arrest and have suffered from serious bruising. Mitzi Chan had her nose broken when she was allegedly hit by a member of the police.
The seven named individuals have been released on bail and have been charged with violation of Batasang Pambansa 880 (relating to permits for rallies), obstruction of traffic and disturbance of the peace.
Front Line is concerned that the arrest of Pete Pinlac, Arturo Castillo, John Beato, Aurelio Veloso, Virgie Suarez Pinlac, Mitzi Chan and Roy Fernandez, forms part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders, particularly labour rights campaigners and members of the trade union movement in the Philippines.
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
arrest of trade unionists in Manila