[APWSLMembers 185] The arrest of Crispin Beltran

[apwsl_nz at slingshot.co.nz]

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: corres at op.gov.ph, opnet at ops.gov.ph

27th February 2005

Dear Sir/Madam;

We strongly protest the unjustified arrest and detention of Parliament member
Crispin Beltran.  Mr Beltran came to New Zealand on a trade union speaking
tour in 1999, he is a internationally respected trade union leader and a voice
for workers within the Filipino parliament. We are shocked and dismayed by his
arrest and the blatant violation of Mr. Beltran’s human and democratic rights
and of Filipino and international law.

This action violates the right to legitimate dissent and his immunity to
arrest as a member of Congress while this is in session. We urge you to
immediately release him and to desist from further carrying out measures that
restrict the democratic rights of the people.

We are aware that the constitutionality and legality of Proclamation 1017 are
being challenged by members of the Philippine Senate, who have cited non-
compliance with the limits and restraints on the use of extraordinary powers.

We remind you that the Philippine Government is a signatory to the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human
Rights instruments. Thus it is bound to observe all provisions of the said
instruments.

Respectfully yours,

Luke Coxon
Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links New Zealand
National Distribution Union (New Zealand)

CC:

Hon. Avelino J. Cruz, Jr.
Secretary of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue
Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
<mailto:osnd at philonline.com>osnd at philonline.com

Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: <mailto:drpvq at chr.gov.ph>drpvq at chr.gov.ph