Int'l Lawyers' Group condemns attack against local pro-people lawyers' group

The International Association of People's Lawyers (IAPL) condemns in the strongest possible terms the failed abduction and/or asasination and continued attempts to pursue such criminal desgins against the lawyers of PRO-LABOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (PLACE) based in Quezon City.

THe failed attempt started on Thursday, October 5, 2006, when a team of the military led by a certain Corp. ROMMEL FELIPE SANTIAGO barged into the office of Pro-Labor and asked the identities and whereabouts of its lawyers. At about 1:30 PM on said date, two (2) motor-riding army officers chased the para-legal officer of PRO-LABOR whom the military mistakenly believed to be a lawyer until they reached Taguig City prompting said para-legal officer and his clients to report the matter to the police and the latter apprehended the said Army officers, one of whom managed to escape. However, the PNP of Taguig released the Philippine Army officer because the army operation allegedly directed by an unnamed general from Malacañang against the PRO-LABOR lawyers is a "legitimate military" operation.

On October 6, 2006, and the following days, surveillance operations against PRO-LABOR lawyers continued. Yesterday, October 12, 2006, the same Philippine Army officer who barged in the office of PRO-LABOR last October 6, 2006, attempted once again to force himself to get inside PRO-LABOR Office looking for the said lawyers. When reported to the police in the vicinity, it was confirmed that the operation of the said military officers have been coordinated with them and the police considered the operation legitimate.

Sources from the PNP Police of FTI Taguig CIty who requested anonimity revealed that the PRO-LABOR lawyers have been surveilled by the military "for being lawyers of the workers and other poor sectors who are activists."

These brazen attacks ironically happen while PRO-LABOR lawyers are attending the IAPL 3rd Congress in Davao CIty as part of the Philippine Delegation.

The IAPL views the attack against PRO-LABOR lawyers as a means to stop them from exercising their profesion especially in the defense of the people's right in the search for truth, justice, freedom and sovereignity.

For this reason the IAPL commits itself to bring the matter to the attention of UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Dutch Lawyers without Borders, International Association of Democratic Lawyers, Integrated Bar of the Philippines and other bodies and campaign to stop the Arroyo Government from persecuting Filipino lawyers in lawyering for the people's rights.

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EDRE OLALIA
President

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JULIO MOREIRA
Vice-President

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RAF JESPERS
Secretary-General

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DUNDAR GURSES
Treasurer

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SAMINA KABIR
Board Member