International Association of Democratic Lawyers hopeful about quick release of Morong 43 after meeting with Sec. of Justice De Lima

A delegation of the bureau of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers met on 15 September 2010 in Manila in the office of the Department of Justice with Secretary of Justice Ms. Leila de Lima to express concern about the situation of the Morong 43 health workers.

The delegation was composed of Jeanne Mirer (US), president, Osamu Niikura (Japan), secretary general, Jitendra Sharma (India) , president emeritus, Justice Vijender Jain (India), vice-president, Jan Fermon (Belgium), deputy secretary general, Edre Olalia (Philippines), bureau member, Jun Sasamoto (Japan), Russel Fraser (UK) and Michael Goold (UK), observers to the bureau.

The delegation had a frank and fruitful discussion with the Secretary of Justice.

The delegation was pleased to hear Secretary De Lima express her intention to request her department to submit the Morong 43 case with great priority to a review which would go into the question of the basis of the arrest of the Morong 43. She expressed also her concern about the abuse to which they have been submitted during their detention.

Sec. De Lima said also that she acknowledged the existence of a practice of legal harassment to which progressive activists were submitted as a result of a policy introduced by the previous administration and expressed the intent of the present administration to put an end to it.

In the light of these important statements made and commitments taken by the Sec. of Justice the IADL delegation expressed its firm hope that the situation of the Morong 43 would expeditiously be reviewed and that this would pave the way to the release of the Morong 43 and the dropping of all charges against them. The IADL delegation expressed its firm intention to follow up the situation and to continue its international campaign in favour of the Morong 43 until they are effectively released and all charges against them are dropped.

Manila, Philippines 17 September 2010

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Reference:
Jeanne Mirer (001313 515 2046)
Jan Fermon (003247 544 1896)