GABnet 3

*Open Statement from the GABNet 3 *

*August 12, 2007*


On August 5, 2007, agents of the Philippine government prevented one of us
from boarding her return flight to the United States. The reason given was
that she was on a nebulous "watchlist" and needed clearance from various and
diverse Philippine government agencies. We would learn, subsequently, that
two of the GABNet members visiting the Philippines – International Relations
Officer Judith Mirkinson and International Spokesperson of the GABRIELA
Purple Rose Campaign Against Sex Trafficking of Filipinas Ninotchka Rosca --
were also on the watchlist, which contained over 500 names.


Considering the surrealistic situation we find ourselves in, where no one
seems to be able to explain the nature of this "watchlist," the basis for
being included in the "watchlist," and what the process is for getting
"cleared" and off the list, even of who is actually responsible for the
list, we would not be surprised if the list included imaginary men and
women.


We would probably have looked at this experience as some kind of Harry
Potter adventure, were it not for the perilous state of human rights in the
Philippines, where some 90 women activists, organizers and leaders have been
assassinated out of a total of nearly a thousand murdered, and where the
second highest number of writers and media people have been killed in the
world today. We are constrained to view with deep alarm the impunity with
which the Philippine government has violated Dr. Enrile's civil and human
rights, and the naked shamelessness with which it threatens to violate the
civil and human rights of Ms. Mirkinson and Ms. Rosca, as well as various
and diverse people on the so-called "watchlist," "blacklist" and "holdlist."



We are absolutely sure we are under attack because of our work as members of
the US-Philippine women's solidarity mass organization GABRIELA Network
which has consistently upheld militant sisterhood with GABRIELA Philippines
for 18 years and with the Gabriela Women's Party since the latter's
formation. We are absolutely certain that this violation of our civil and
political rights is occasioned by our work in organizing women and women of
Philippine ancestry; by our decade-long work against the traffic of
Filipinas; and by our commitment to the securing of basic rights and the
expansion of freedoms for all women, especially the women of the
Philippines, as well as for the nation as a whole.


Because of this track record, certain personalities in the Philippine
government have chosen to express their hatred of women and of freedom by
violating and seeking to violate our human rights. We say to them, as well
as pledge to those who support and continue to support us, that harassment
and intimidation will fail. For far too long have working women been
disempowered, dispossessed and reified. Not even by a single second will
intimidation, harassment and human rights violations cause us to cease our
work on behalf of the emancipation of womankind.



Governments of countries like the Philippines which survive on selling women
in the international labor and sex trade markets absolutely hate and wish to
destroy women like us, who insist on respect, dignity and equality for
womankind. Governments of countries like the Philippines which consider
women to be a disposable and surplus population absolutely hate and wish to
destroy women like us who insist on an equal share of social, political and
economic power for womankind. The violation of our rights as women and as
human beings is therefore simply a small part of a general state of
disrespect for human rights and women's rights prevalent in countries under
governments like that of the Philippines.


We are deeply moved that our particular case has found resonance among
peoples and organizations the world over. We thank GABRIELA Philippines,
Gabriela Women's Party and most of all, our heart-sisters in GABRIELA
Network for the support, outrage and clamor on our behalf. We thank ANSWER,
friends in the National Lawyers Guild, the National Alliance of Philippine
Women in Canada, Justice for Filipino-American Veterans, BAYAN Philippines,
Pacific-Asian and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry, and
others too numerous to name, for their support. Our most profound gratitude
goes to individuals and organizations who approached this issue with respect
for our persons, our situation and our work.


We wish to assure everyone we will continue to seek redress of our grievance
and to assert our civil, political, human and women's rights. --###


Signed:


Annalisa Enrile

National Chairperson

GABRIELA Network


Ninotchka Rosca

International Spokesperon

GABRIELA Purple Rose Campaign


Judith Mirkinson

International Relations

GABRIELA Network