New Zealand Philippine Solidarity groups are distressed by the death of baby Diona Andrea Rosal, the daughter of political prisoner Andrea Rosal. Baby Diona died of hypoxemia, a deficiency of oxygen in the blood, two days after she was born.
The inhuman conditions Andrea was subjected to while in detention most likely contributed to this tragedy. At the time of her arrest, Andrea was due for prenatal checkup, yet she was not granted adequate medical or prenatal care while in custody. This was in direct violation of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which states that for pregnant prisoners, “[T]here shall be special accommodation for all necessary prenatal and postnatal care and treatment.”
Rosal was held with 31 other inmates in a 5×10-meter cell at the Philippine National Police’s Camp Bagong Diwa in Manila, under conditions hardly suitable for an expectant mother.
Two months ago Andrea lost her freedom and now she lost her baby. It would be a travesty of justice to keep Andrea in detention on trumped-up charges. Which is simply illegal.
We call on President Aquino to heed the appeal for the immediate release of Andrea Rosal and of over 400 political prisoners unjustly detained on trumped-up criminal charges. The deplorable conditions under which Rosal was detained and the tragic death of baby Diona strengthen our resolve to support the international campaign for an unconditional amnesty for all political prisoners in the Philippines.
—CAMERON WALKER,
spokesperson, Auckland Philippines Solidarity,
ph.solidarity@gmail.com