News Release
December 10, 2007
References: Ka Willy Marbella , internal deputy secretary general, KMP
Donato Continente, spokesperson, SELDA
 
Militant peasants and former detainees doubt Gloria’s peace overtures!
 
            The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and SELDA, a group of former political detainees expressed their doubts of the so-called peace overtures of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime especially now that we are commemorating International Human Rights Day.
 
            In the protest rally calling for justice for victims of human rights violations by the regime, Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP said, “ Gloria’s ploy now to over amnesty to communist rebels seems half-baked considering that she has not even done any confidence building measure to show her sincerity. A good example of which is the immediate release of all political prisoners,”
 
            “By SELDA’s count there are 235 political prisoners languishing in jail, 44% of whom are peasants and innocent of the crimes being hurled against them. The most controversial of which are the Tagaytay 5, the Mamburao 7 and the Antipolo 4, all of whom were imprisoned and tagged as New People’s Army (NPA) members but are only farmers fighting for their right to their lands,” added Marbella.
 
            Meanwhile according to Donato Continente, spokesperson of SELDA, “if Gloria is serious in talking peace then she must demonstrate it and not just talk about it. We want all political prisoners to be freed, aside from the 235 known political prisoners, we want the government forces to release all those that they have abducted,”
 
            “We will continue to demand justice and will not stop until we attain it. Gloria’s rhetoric now is just part of her act to the international community. We will only believe it when we see it,” ended Continente,. # # #