This is an unofficial website presented by Jon Katz, (301) 495-4300, jon[at]katzjustice[dot]com.

PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND EVERYWHERE ELSE

UPDATE - MARCH 18, 2007

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND - On February 26, 2006, past PABA Vice President (1997-2001) Jon Katz informed the membership that he will resign from the PABA effective March 1, 2006 unless he sees sufficient progress on his proposal for PABA publicly to insist that the Philippine government protect everyone's human rights there in the aftermath of President Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency. Jon's resignation took effect on March 1, 2006, and remains in effect to date. See more details in the March 19, 2007, Underdog Blog. 

Following is Jon Katz's February 26, 2006, demand for the protection of human rights in the Philippines:

From: Jon Katz [mailto:jon[at]katzjustice[dot]com] 
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 1:42 PM
To: 'osec@ops.gov.ph'; 'corres@op.gov.ph'; 'gma@macapagal.com'
Subject: Former Philippine American Bar Association VP Urges Protection of
Human Rights

Dear President Arroyo- As a former vice president of the Philippine American
Bar Association of the Washingon, DC, area and as a person who stands up for
everyone's human rights (and writing in my individual capacity), I express
my strong opposition to the Philippine government's trampling on human
rights after your recent declaration of a state of emergency. 
As just one example of recent human rights violations, the Associated Press
today reported that: "On Saturday, police arrested at least three vocal
critics of Arroyo and raided a small newspaper critical of the president.
Local and international journalists expressed alarm over the raid on offices
of The Daily Tribune. Police seized editorial materials and threatened to
take over the paper. Officers were posted at the Tribune's door."
I have already informed the Philippine American Bar Association that I will
resign from the PABA if it does not publicly insist to your government that
human rights violations stop in the Philippines in the aftermath of your
declaration of emergency. 
Sincerely,
Jonathan L. Katz
-- 
Jon Katz (Appearing in courts throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington,
DC)
Defending criminal suspects, the Constitution, and the underdog
AV-rated
Top-rated by Washingtonian Magazine (December 2004)
JON KATZ, P.C.
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
(301) 495-7755
http://www.katzjustice.com/criminallawyers.htm

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