Languages
Free Jonas!
By: KODAOProductions
Posted: Feb 5 10
Witnessed: 1081 times
Regions: Philippines
Issues: Forced disappearances, Justice, Torture
Tags: arrest, Edith Burgos, enforced disappearances, Free Jonas, Free Jonas Movement, Jonas Burgos, justice, Karapatan, Philippines, torture
April 28, 2007, Jonas Burgos, the son of the late newspaper editor and press freedom writer Joe Burgos, was abducted by unidentified men at Ever Gotesco in Commonwealth Quezon City. He is the third among the 5 children.
Kindhearted, generous, thoughtful and humble, is how his family, friends and colleagues describe Jonas. His mother, Edith Burgos, also remembers her son, who, everytime he leaves the house to help the farmers, brought with him a couple of pairs of shirts and pants and footwear—that she buys for him—would end up coming home with one pair each. And everytime she would ask him where his things are, he would gladly answer he gave them away because they need it more than him and that he does not need too much for himself.
Jonas loves farming and because of this he took up BS in Agriculture at the Benguet State University. While managing their farm in Bulacan, Jonas also helped the farmers of Bulacan. He shared his knowlege to his barrio mates and introduced organic farming.
His love for farming also translated in his love for the poor farmers in our society. By then, Jonas had been sharing his knowledge to his barrio mates and introduced organic farming to peasants in their town and other surrounding areas and became a member of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB or Alliance of Concerned Peasants in Bulacan), a provincial chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines).
Two years has passed since Jonas’ abduction and there is still no sign of him. The Burgos family, who filed a Writ of Amparo for Jonas, is still awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court.
To this date, according to Karapatan’s documentation, there are 202 victims of enforced disappearance since 2001, when Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed the Presidency. Desaparecidos estimates that there are 2000 victims of enforced disappearance since Marcos’ Martial Law.
The United Nations Convention on the Protection of All persons against enforced disappearance defines "enforced disappearance" as “the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person outside the protection of the law.”
Actions
In celebration of Valentines day and in commemoration of the anniversary of the opening for signature of UN member states of the Convention in Feb 2007, Desaparecidos, The Free Jonas Burgos Movement and the Concerned Arists of the Philippines bring to stage the play Mrs. B. See a different kind of love, a love of a mother for her child, an unconditional love. The play is being produced by no less than Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature. It was conceptualized and directed by Soc Jose of the tele-novela Mulawin, Zorro, Darna and Full House and was written by award winning playwright Joi Barrios together with Rowena Festin and Grundy Constantino of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines. “Mrs. B” will run on February 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 3 pm and 6 pm at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani auditorium, Quezon Ave. corner EDSA, Quezon City. The auditorium’s seating capacity is 72 so better get tickets as early as possible. For tickets, contact Lorena Santos of Desaparecidos at 09294414270 or Peachy at 09167826374
Resources
Events
Related Media
Melissa Roxas tells her story of abduction and torture (Second Part)
This is the second of a two part video of Melissa Roxas' press conference where she told the story of her abduction and torture by alleged members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last May 19-25...
Regions: Philippines
Issues: Arbitrary arrest, Forced disappearances, Justice
Philippines: American Activist 'Abducted, Tortured' by Military
In this Bulatlat.com video report, human-rights advocates narrate the ordeal of Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas and her two companions. ...
Regions: Philippines
Issues: Arbitrary arrest, Forced disappearances, Justice
Melissa Roxas tells her tale of abduction and torture
Melissa Roxas, a poet and human rights defender of Filipino ancestry, is the first known American citizen to have become a victim of abduction and torture in the Philippines, a country which has drawn...
Regions: Philippines
Issues: Forced disappearances, Torture, Violence against women
Philippines: Taken -- A Mother's Journey in Search of the Truth About Her Missing Son
In this mini-documentary, Bulatlat.com presents the story of Edita Burgos and how the disappearance of her son Jonas changed her and her family.
Regions: Philippines
Issues: Forced disappearances, Justice
Filipino Lawyer Recalls Illegal Arrest, Detention
Remigio Saladero Jr., a labor lawyer in the Philippines and a columnist of Pinoy Weekly, was arrested and detained in October last year based on what he called as "baseless charges," among t...
Regions: Philippines
Issues: Forced disappearances, Justice, Labor
Related Groups
Bulatlat
Bulatlat is the Philippines's top alternative online publication....
Regions: Philippines
Issues: Armed conflict, Child labor, Children's rights
REDRESS
REDRESS is a human rights organisation that assists individuals and communities who have suffered torture....
Regions: Great Britain
Issues: Justice, Torture, War crimes
Egyptians against Violations of Human Rights
It is a non-professional group interested in implementing human rights in Egypt. ...
Regions: Egypt, Middle East and Caucasus
Issues: Arbitrary arrest, Justice, Torture
Alive in Mexico
Alive in Mexico was formed to counter the sound-bite driven, “Live From” news model....
Regions: Mexico
Issues: Indigenous peoples, Justice, Poverty
International Campaign for Tibet
The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) works to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet. ICT does the following: ...