ICHRP statement - ICHRP condemns detention of Canadian student in Manila, demands her immediate release

PRESS STATEMENT

International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines
14 September 2013

ICHRP condemns detention of Canadian student in Manila, demands her immediate release

We, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, express outrage at the government of President Benigno S. Aquino III for not allowing Kim Chatillon-Meunier to board her plane in Manila bound for Hong Kong last night, 13 September, and worse, for putting her in jail based on spurious charges. Kim was reportedly barred from taking her flight by officials of the Bureau of Immigration, claiming that her name is on a so-called "watchlist" and that she participated in a protest rally against the 21 July State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President BS Aquino. We are deeply alarmed that a certain Commissioner Siegfred Mison allegedly ordered her detention in Bicutan, Taguig, to face "intelligence personnel".


Kim is a student of the University of Montreal doing internship work with a Philippine-based NGO, joining in the research of the reproductive health conditions of women in communities in Tondo, Manila. Our members in Canada inform us that her program at the university is supported by no less than the Canadian government. She also participated in the recently-concluded International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines in July, and joined the international solidarity and humanitarian mission in Quezon Province prior to the conference. She was able to observe the program of the rally during the SONA speech of Philippine President Aquino.
We, in the ICHRP are gravely concerned about the growing repression of the Aquino government being committed against its own citizens, and now increasingly against friends of the Filipino people around the world. We call on officials of the Bureau of Immigration to respect the rights of Kim Chatillon-Meunier. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Kim Chatillon-Meunier and call on the Aquino government to allow her to leave the Philippines.
We call on our member organizations and friends in Canada to communicate our concerns with the Canadian government and request support for Kim's immediate release. We call on our member organizations around the world to contact Philippine embassies in their respective countries, calling for the immediate release of Kim from detention and for her safe departure from Manila.#

References:

Canon Barry Naylor
Chairperson, Global Council, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)
Office: +44 (0) 116 261 5371
Mobile: +44 (0) 775 785 3621

Kelti Cameron
Member, Global Council, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)
Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (OCHRP)
Email: ochrp.ottawa@gmail.com  
mobile: +1 (0)6132527170