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PICKET-DELEGATION
AT DOJ SET FOR RELEASE OF ABRA CHURCH WORKER AND WOMEN POLITICAL PRISONERS
NEWS RELEASE
15 April 2001
Simultaneous pickets will be conducted tomorrow, April 16 at the Department of Justice in Manila as well as the Regional Trial Court in Abra to demand the immediate release of Abra church worker, Lorna Rivera Baba. Lorna Baba is also set to be tried tomorrow for the alleged murder of rebel priest Conrado Balweg.
“Lorna Baba is accused of an act that the New People’s Army has admitted to have done as a punishment for Balweg’s alleged crimes to the people. We hope that after tomorrow’s dialogue, Secretary Perez will realize that keeping her incarcerated is an injustice and a violation of her rights, and facilitate her immediate release.” This was according to Liza Maza, BAYAN MUNA Partylist nominee and GABRIELA Secretary General.
Albert Baba, Lorna’s eldest son will be joining the dialogue and is appealing to the Arroyo administration to help bring their family together. “President Arroyo should understand the pain that our family has endured for over a year now. She is a mother herself. We hope she listens to her maternal instincts and not to the military men that appears to dominate her government,” he said.
There have been reports that Secretary Renato De Villa and Gen. Jose Calimlim have been blocking Lorna Baba’s release.
Maza also warned Arroyo that the influence that the military wields in her administration could imperil the peace talks. “These are men who resist peace. And the military’s defiant stand towards the peace talks set with the NDFP is clearly manifested in their moves to block the release of political prisoners, including Lorna Baba.”
With peace talks set to begin on April 27, Maza said it is an opportune time
for the Arroyo administration to implement confidence-building measures and
show its sincerity. “President Arroyo can begin working towards a just
and lasting peace by releasing all its political prisoners, especially the women
and minors.” ###
