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<font size=3><br>
</font><h2><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3><b>For Immediate
Release
Contact: Doris Mendoza, Secretary
General,</b></font></h2><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>9
August
2007
</font><a href="mailto:secgen@gabnet.org">
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3 color="#333333">
secgen@gabnet.org</a>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>; (212) 592-
3507, (718) 753-0257;<br>
Milady Quito,
<a href="mailto:GABNet3OffTheList@gabnet.org">
GABNet3OffTheList@gabnet.org</a><br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2> <br>
</font><font face="Times, Times" size=3><b>US-BASED WOMENS ORGANIZATION
DEMANDS RELEASE OF THE GABNET 3. DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS
DEFENDERS! NO TO POLITICAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION,
REPRESSION!<br>
</b> <br>
The Philippine Government, headed by de facto President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, has once again brandished an undemocratic, unjust and
cruel rule. She has placed three GABRIELA Network (GABNet) leaders on a
“watch list” and has already prohibited GABNet Chair Dr. Annalisa Enrile
from returning home to Los Angeles.<br>
On August 5<sup>th, </sup>2007, Dr. Enrile was barred from boarding her
return flight home from Manila, Philippines. Dr. Enrile was informed that
she was on the “hold” list of the Phil Department of Justice. Two
other GABNet leaders Ninotchka Rosca and Judith Mirkinson are reportedly
on the same hold list and are likely to face the same restriction of
movement. The GABNet 3 had attended the 10<sup>th</sup> bi-annual Women’s
International Solidarity Affair in the Philippines (July 29-August 5
2007). Dr. Enrile also led a delegation of USC Social Work Masters
students on a Philippine summer immersion program.<br>
<br>
It is no coincidence that the GABNet 3 have been targeted by the
Philippine Department of Justice. They have been instrumental and most
vocal in the international campaign to defend GABRIELA Women’s Partylist
Representative Liza Largoza-Maza who has suffered and continues to suffer
intense political persecution, including baseless charges of murder and
sedition. They also led last year’s all-women human rights legal mission
to the Philippines, a report from which points to the Armed Forces of the
Philippines and other military elements as perpetrators of the
murders/assassinations of close to nine hundred activists, ninety of whom
were women who worked closely with GABRIELA. <br>
<br>
The scheme is obvious: harass, intimidate all the dissenters, all those
who criticize Macapagal-Arroyo’s regime. The GABNet 3 are virtually
being held hostage by the Philippine Government. The ransom:
silence from all critics – Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike. For
GABNet though, such inhumane tactics leads only to heightened vigilance
and determination. <br>
We demand that the Philippine Government release the GABNet 3 so that
they may return to their homes and their lives in the US. We demand
that the US Embassy in the Philippines and the US Ambassador to the
Philippines act on behalf of the three U.S. citizens/permanent resident
and demand that the Philippine Government release them at once.<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>We call on our friends
and allies to defend the GABNet 3. Help us get them safely
home. </font><tt><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>Contact
your Congressional and Senate representatives to urge their safe
return. </font></tt><font size=3>Contact via fax the
</font><tt><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>US Embassy,
American Citizen Service, at 011-632-522-3242 or fax the US Embassy,
Ambassador Kenney, at 011-632-522-4361. <br>
</font></tt><font face="Times, Times" size=2> <br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>###<br>
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