Statement - RP NGOs demand release of detained ASEAN Summit activists in Cebu

We, civil society participants to the Philippine Process of 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC2) held on 13-14 October 2006 in Quezon City collectively express our indignation over the illegal demolition of an urban poor community and the subsequent arrest and detention of 12 activists from the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) on September 29 in front of Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Mactan Island, Cebu.

Such actions - targeted at urban poor communities within the area - are seen as part of the preparations for the 12th ASEAN Summit this December to be hosted by the Philippines in Cebu City.

We deplore such action by the police and the demolition crew as an affront to civil rights which sharply contrasts with the ASEAN's declaration to promote a "caring and sharing" community.

We abhor and condemn the outrageous cases filed against them and the excessive bail recommended for their temporary liberty, which compounded the injustice that had been perpetrated.

We declare that the demolition, arrest and detention put into focus the social costs of the ASEAN Summit preparations. What is appalling is that the City Council of Lapu-Lapu City, where Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort and Spa is located, declared the city under an imminent state of calamity so that the local government unit can utilize P10 million from its calamity fund for the summit preparations.

We view this event as a prelude to a systematic and repressive government campaign to muffle the voices of civil society, not only in the Philippines, but also those from other ASEAN countries who will be participating in the forthcoming peoples' conference and related events in parallel with the scheduled 12TH ASEAN Summit in Cebu City this December.

We demand the immediate dismissal of the cases and the urgent release of our colleagues from the harsh realities of crowded and inhumane conditions of detention cells.

We call on the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to show its sincerity in putting peoples' interests at the center of development by releasing unconditionally the detained Filipino activists.

Lastly we call on all governments of the ASEAN to uphold democracy, human rights and social justice in their respective countries, and respect the Southeast Asian peoples' struggle for self determination and authentic sustainable development.

The ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC)-Philippine Process was convened on October 13-14 at the

SEAMEO-INNOTECH, Quezon City by the following organizations: Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), Centro Saka Inc. (CSI), Focus on the Global South (FOCUS)-Philippines, Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)-Philippines, Institute for International Dialogue (IID), Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD), Kanlungan Center Foundation Inc. (KCFI), Philippine NGO Coalition on Food Sovereignty and Fair Trade (PNLC), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Stop the New Round! Coalition (SNR!), Stop the War! Coalition (StW!), Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS), Third World Network (TWN)-Philippine Associates, Women and Gender Institute (WAGI)-Miriam College

Lito Vasquez
Secretary-General,
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)-Cebu