Good News For Ka Bel Movement

Dear Comrades, friends and allies,

Great news! Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran will very soon walk free from unjust detention! Various people's organizations immediately gathered and rejoiced this afternoon over the Supreme Court's decision to junk the trumped up rebellion cases against Ka Bel, the Batasan 5 and other progressive leaders. (Along with a couple of articles below are our wholehearted thanks for your solidarity.)

We owe this not to the Supreme Court but to the local and international mass movement that caught the world's attention and created overwhelming international pressure on the Philippine government to free Ka Bel. We thank the hundreds of organizations in at least 33 countries that have thrown their support for Ka Bel in various ways - solidarity messages to Ka Bel, protest letters to the government, picket protests in Philippine embassies, fact-finding missions and solidarity visits - all these have sustained and even heightened Ka Bel's morale all throughout his 15 years of incarceration.

But the fight for freedom and justice isn't over yet - the real criminals must be made pay for the 15 months of injustice on Ka Bel and the toiling masses that he represents; for arresting Rep. Ka Satur Ocampo, and attempting to arrest Representatives Ka Paeng Mariano, Liza Maza, Teddy Casino, Joel Virador and several other leaders of the progressive people's movement; for the continuing political repression and extra-judicial killings that had claimed lives of hundreds of labor and peasant activists and human rights fighters. Also, we must ensure that comrade Dennis Maga, spokesperson for the Free Ka Bel Movement, is not arrested or worse when he returns home to the Philippines after exposing Pres. Arroyo's human rights violations in New Zealand.

Let us press the Philippine government to immediately, without any delay, implement the Supreme Court Order to Free Ka Bel. Let us continue calling on Pres. Arroyo to Stop Political Persecution, Harrasment and Extra-Judicial Killings and bring the perpetrators to justice.

This week, Pres. Arroyo's three consecutive state visits in Japan, New Zealand and Australia were all hounded by protests. We ask you to encourage your allies, friends and comrades in Italy, Germany, Portugal and China, where Mrs. Arroyo will next set foot on, to echo our calls for freedom and justice. On June 03, Pres. Arroyo will be in Rome, Italy for the canonization of the Blessed Marie Eugenie, from which she will fly to Lisbon, Germany to meet with Pres. Anibal Cavaco Silva, as well as to visit the Shrine of the Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. She will then proceed to Portugal to meet with the Filipino community, and later will head for China.

Through our solidarity, we regained Ka Bel's freedom.
Through our solidarity, we will find freedom and justice for all the oppressed.
LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

(copy and paste the following links to the navigation bar to watch the protest actions in New Zealand; videos available on www.youtube.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mumsQdn-TJU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkgVV3KIk7I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rFfzFVJ5gk

NZ Radio Coverage

http://www.radionz.co.nz/__data/assets/audio_item/0004/953608/ckpt-20070529-1707-Interfaith_Conference_Protest-wmbr.asx

Lyn Pano
International Officer
Free Ka Bel Movement

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Implement SC decision finding no probable cause in rebellion charges against progressive solons - Beltran

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that the High Court's decision to dismiss the rebellion charges against the prpgressive lawmakers of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Womens Party should be imemdiately implemented. Beltran said that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez should imediately expedite the decision and order his (Beltran's) release from the custody of the CIDG and the Philippine National Police.

"The Supreme Court has issued a most humane and just decision, and it is my hope that it will be immediately implemented. We hope that none of the concerned parties that filed the charges against us will not foot drag on this matter and take positive response by releasing me from police custody," said Beltran.

"The SC decision is an affirmation of our consistent and just assertions of innocence.Fifteen months is a long time to be detained on false charges and fabricated testimonies. Even one day is too long," he said. "While I thank the Supreme Court justices for this most laudable decision, inevitably I owe my release to the thousands of Filipinos and friends of the Filipino people who have supported me and the campaign for my freedom. It is their continued expressions of unflagging support that have sustained me and my family through this injustice. I am forever in their debt, and I vow to continue the work I was forced to leave behind when I was illegally arrested and detained."

Beltran said that he will not take any time for rest when he is released. "I spent 14 months cooped up in one room; the first two months in Camp Crame, and the rest at the Philippine Heart Center. I have had all the rest I could ever use or need. The weakening of my health and body has been directly related to the stress of being illegally arrested and unjustly detained. I expect to recover my full health as soon as I am outside these walls and free to once more participate in the parliament of the streets and in legislative arena," he said.

The veteran labor leader and activist lawmaker said that as Anakpawis' first nominee in the party-list elections, he will continue to press for the passage of a P125 across-the-board wage increase for workers, a P3,000 across-the-board salary hike for government employees; and press for the an end to the worsening civil, political and human rights situation.

The 74-year old Beltran said that there was still so much to be done. "My second stint as a political detainee has further driven home the realization that there is so much more work to be done by way of bringing genuine peace, justice and progress in the Philippines. I would like to think that somehow my incarceration has further exposed the necessity to assert for human and political rights against the face of intensifying political repression of the government. I am grateful to every single individual who supported my release; but I would still dare to be bold enough to ask for their continuing support when it comes to safeguarding the May 14 elections against fraud and violence," he said.

"I am hoping that with the dismissal of the rebellion charges filed against us February 25 last year, the attacks against the progressive lawmakers will also come to an end. I am looking forward to my release for detention. It's to be hoped that the Supreme Court's decision will not meet any more opposition from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other forces who continue to discredit, criminalize and demonize us," he said.

Beltran said that the Supreme Court's decision should be allowed to take effect at the soonest possible time.

As of this writing, Anakpawis, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and allied groups are preparing for a celebratory picket in front of the Philippine Heart Center where Beltran has been detained since April 2006. He was originally detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNP GH) inside Camp Crame.

The 74 year old veteran labor leader remains as the chairperson and first nominee of Anakpawis Party-List and is set to return for another term in Congress when Anakpawis' victory at the party-list polls is announced. Rep. Rafael Mariano is Anakpawis' second nominiee and stands as party president.

In the meantime, the New Zealand Government has been given an assurance by its Philippines counterpart that Free Ka Bel Movement spokesperson Dennis Maga will not be arrested on his return home.

A spokesperson for New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark told New Zealand media Scoop today that "The Prime Minister is aware of Mr Maga's claims that he believes he is likely to be arrested on his return to the Philippines.

New Zealand's Ambassador to the Philippines sought clarification from senior Philippines' officials and was told there are no charges pending against Mr Maga and no warrant has been issued for his arrest," the Prime Minister's spokesperson said.

Scoop understands a request was issued Friday from the Council of Trade Unions to the Prime Minister Helen Clark's office asking that diplomatic channels be used to seek assertions or clarification from its Philippines counterpart - that Dennis Maga does not face arrest.

Maga, however, has applied to remain in New Zealand for another month while he and his supporters seek assurances he will not face arrest nor death on his return home. Mr Maga had planned to return to the Philippines on June 2.

For the next month, Mr Maga will be a guest of both the National Distribution Union and Unite Union where he will continue to visit work sites, union meetings, and gatherings to educate New Zealanders about human rights abuses in the Philippines. #

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http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun02/news2.htm
SC junks rebellion raps vs Batasan 6
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THE Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the rebellion case against six party list representatives dubbed the "Batasan 6" and four militant leaders over charges that they conspired to topple the government in February last year.
In a 23-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the SC's Second Division granted the consolidated petition filed by Representatives Satur Ocampo, Ted Casiño, Joel Virador of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza of Gabriela and Rafael Mariano and Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis to set aside the Department of Justice's findings of probable cause against the petitioners for rebellion.
Other petitioners were militant leaders Vicente Ladlad, Nathaniel Santiago, Randall Echanis and Rey Claro Casambre.
The high court admonished Justice Sewtate Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, head of the DOJ's Task Force on Rebellion, for "trivializing" the preliminary investigation in filing the case despite their failure to establish probable cause.
The SC ruling enables Beltran, 74, to finally walk free after more than a year of incarceration. Beltran has been under "hospital arrest" for treatment of a heart condition.
The SC noted that Gonzalez exceeded his bounds when he stated in an interview on March 13, 2006, the day of the preliminary investigation, that "(the DOJ) will just declare probable cause."
"We find merit in petitioners' doubt on respondent prosecutors' impartiality... This clearly shows pre-judgment, a determination to file the Information even in the absence of probable cause," the Court said.
It further said prosecutors failed to sufficiently prove the requisites for rebellion charges to prosper, like the respondents rising publicly and taking up arms against government.
The SC said that the evidence used by prosecutors consisted of affidavits of witnesses or members of the military which are "far from the proof needed to indict Beltran for taking part in an armed public uprising against the government."
"None of the affidavits stated that Beltran committed specific acts of promoting, maintaining or heading a rebellion as found in the DOJ resolution of February 27, 2006. None of the affidavits alleged that Beltran is a leader of a rebellion," the SC said.
Assuming that the information against the solon was valid, the Court said Beltran was still entitled to bail as a matter of right since there was no allegation that he was a leader or promoter of the rebellion.
The tribunal further said that prosecutors also failed to prove that petitioners conspired with rebel-soldiers to topple the government.
Citing an earlier case, the SC said prosecutors did not help themselves in aiding public perception that they were prejudiced against the left-leaning party list congressmen.
"'We cannot emphasize too strongly that prosecutors should not allow, and should avoid, giving the impression that their noble office is being used or prostituted, wittingly or unwittingly, for political ends, or other purposes alien to, or subversive of, the basic and fundamental objective of observing the interest of justice evenhandedly, without fear or favor, powerless or mighty. Only by strict adherence to the established procedure may be public's perception of the impartiality of the prosecutor be enhanced,'" the Court stated.
Gonzalez said he expected the high court to rule in favor of the petitioner following its grant of bail to Ocampo last April 3.
"The SC's allegations are based on surmises. Every prosecution will be under the DOJ, all preliminary investigations must be brought here. How do we know if (cases) are used for political purposes? Who will determine if there's political motive? Carpio?" he said.
Gonzalez said that he will no longer order prosecutors to appeal the SC's decision as it would just be "a waste of time."
"Nobody will be charged anymore, even if we find 1,000 graves, because then, that would just be an imagination of the DOJ," he said.
Beltran was arrested without warrant last Feb. 25, 2006 while en route to Marilao, Bulacan and detained at Camp Crame.
That evening, he was subjected to an inquest at the Quezon City Hall for inciting to sedition based on a speech he allegedly gave during a rally in Quezon City on Feb. 24, 2006, the eve of the 20th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution.
A second inquest was conducted the next day against Beltran for allegedly conspiring with 1st Lt. Lawrence San Juan and several others to commit rebellion, supposedly to be carried out by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the Makabayang Kawal ng Pilipinas, which allegedly had formed a "tactical alliance" to oust Arroyo.
On Feb. 27, 2006, the DOJ prosecutors issued a resolution finding probable cause to indict Beltran and San Juan as "leaders/promoters" of rebellion.

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"If helping the poor is a crime, and fighting for freedom is rebellion, then I plead guilty as charged."

Ends

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