Philippines Artists Demand Release of Political Prisoners

The Philippines government recently dismissed the case against prominent poet-activist Ericson Acosta.

He had been held for two years without trial, allegedly for the illegal possesion of explosives.

Despite the good news, human rights groups say that more than 300 artists and political prisoners are still in jail.
 
A group of concerned artists held a concert to call for their freedom at the Freedom Bar in Quezon City.
 
Similar events are also being held in other places across the world.
 
Renan Ortiz, spokesperson for the organizing group, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, says,”The event is to commemorate the illegal arrests of several artists who became political prisoners.” He adds that it’s part of the global movement of the International Conference on Progressive Culture – a network of  artists from around the word to address the different socio-political issues that are happening in their respective countries.
 
They’re here for Ericson Acosta who was released earlier this month.

”I was arrested by a platoon from the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Ericson recalls.

He was conducting a research on the human rights situation in the interior barrios of Samar. He was trying to sum up the experience of the peasants in that area, with the decades of military atrocities and human rights violations. 

“I think the main reason why I was arrested. They only found laptop in my possession but I was charged with illegal possession of explosives.”

Since then “Free Ericson Acosta” campaigns have been organised by local artists and international groups.

Ericson is not only a poet, but he’s also a political songwriter, activist and journalist.

With his famous poem “And So Your Poetry Must”, he weaves together politics and literature.
 
In 2011, Acosta was named finalist of the ‘Freedom to Create Imprisoned Artist Prize’, along with other nominees from Burma and Tibet.
 
While in prisone, he continued composing songs about the plight of political detainees.
 
”I’ve been tortured while I was in the hands of the military.”

He was interrogated and tortured for the first three days and not allowed to sleep during that time. The military also held him for three days incognito.

“This is a violation of my human rights.”
 
According to Concerned Artists of the Philippines, there are more than 400 artists and political prisoners unjustly detained by the government. Many of them are imprisoned on fabricated charges, like the case filed against Ericson Acosta.

Some of the artists and political activists are consultants for the communist-led National Democratic Front who are in peace talks with the government.

On stage, 68-year-old Pete Lacaba, an award-winning journalist and a poet, is reading his poem.

In 1974 he was arrested by the military for writing against President Marcos, but two years later he was pardoned by the President himself.

He’s getting old now. “We grew up, you want things to change. I’ve gotten to the age where I’m not as active as I used to be. I don’t join rallies anymore.”

And he’s here to support artists who are still behind bars – by writing poems about  rallies, demonstrations, strikes.
 
But according to the group of Concerned Artists of the Philippines, there’s still more work to be done. What’s important is, says Renan Ortiz, is raising people’s awareness of politics through art.

”We refer to culture that talks about the society’s problem like poverty, class war, discrimination, the environment,” he says. “The audience are entitled to be given a more sensible explanation and alternative to their lifestyle and to what’s happening around them.”

Ericson Acosta says that he will continue the fight.
 
”I will make sure that I’ll be active in campaigning for the release of all political prisoners in the country. There are more than 400 right now.”

He, together with human rights NGOs, other political prisoners and their familie and militant groups are asking the President to declare general Omnibus Amnesty to release all political prisoners.