18 December 2020
H.E. JOKO WIDODO
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta Pusat 10110, Indonesia
H.E. RODRIGO R. DUTERTE
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Complex
J.P. Laurel Street
San Miguel, Manila 1005, NCR, Philippines
Sub: Bring Mary Jane Home NOW: Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
Your Excellencies,
We, the undersigned, demand justice for Mary Jane Veloso and stand in solidarity with her and her family. Mary Jane, a human trafficking victim, has been imprisoned in Indonesia for 10 years on death row since 2010. We urge that both the governments of Indonesia and of the Philippines coordinate and guarantee Mary Jane a fair and due legal process, including her right to testify through deposition, and immediately release Mary Jane.
In October 2019, the Philippine Supreme Court granted Mary Jane Veloso the right to testify against her recruiters through deposition in Indonesia. On receiving this favourable decision, Mary Jane’s supporters and family members expected justice would prevail and that Mary Jane would be soon freed.
However, over one year has passed since that Supreme Court’s decision, and Mary Jane’s hearing remains unscheduled. Mary Jane still remains detained in Indonesia, waiting for her chance to testify without any concrete timeline.
Justice delayed is justice denied. Mary Jane’s endless waiting amounts to torture not only to herself but also to her two children and her elderly parents. While there is no clear information on her trial and submission of her deposition, the Indonesian authorities have imposed onerous conditions on Mary Jane’s testimony, including the conditions of detention in Yogyakarta, a ban on cameras and legal representation, and submission of questions in writing.
After 10 years of imprisonment despite her innocence, it is time for Mary Jane Veloso to freely walk out of the prison gates and start her long-stolen life again. It must be recognised that Mary Jane’s experience is not an isolated case and indeed shared by many migrant women who are victims of discriminatory laws, policies and inaccessible justice systems.
We strongly urge the governments of Indonesia and of the Philippines to:
- Guarantee Mary Jane a timely, fair and impartial legal proceedings without any undue delay.
- Remove any existing barriers to Mary Jane Veloso’s full exercise of her legal rights, including her right to testify not only through deposition but also through video recording or real time trial participation and her right to legal representatives during trials.
- Release Mary Jane Veloso following her deposition and fully support subsequent procedures for her return to the Philippines.
Organisation | Type of Organisation |
Country
|
|
1 | Freedom United | International | United States |
2 | INFORM (Interfaith Network for the Rights of Migrants) | Regional | Hong Kong |
3 | Filipino Friends Hong Kong | Regional | Hong Kong |
4 | Incheon Migrant Worker’s Center | Regional | Republic of Korea |
5 | MIGRANTE Central Visayas | Regional | Philippines |
6 | Public Services International-SEA | Regional | Philippines |
7 | Central Negros Associate Conference | Regional | Negros Oriental |
8 | Karmojibi Nari | Grassroot/National | Bangladesh |
9 | KASIMBAYAN | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
10 | Filipino Lesbians Organizations | Grassroot/National | Hong Kong |
11 | UCCP Pateros Bible Church | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
12 | United Church Men – UCCP | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
13 | National Council of Churches in Australia | Grassroot/National | Australia |
14 | UNLAD KABAYAN | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
15 | Migrant Health Association in Korea WeFriends | Grassroot/National |
Republic of Korea
|
16 | 1218ForAll | Grassroot/National | Korea |
17 | Supporters group for migrant workers movement | Grassroot/National | South Korea |
18 | Joint Committee with Migrant workers in Korea(JCMK) | Grassroot/National | Korea |
19 | Indonesian Migrant Workers Union | Grassroot/National | Hong Kong |
20 | Gabriela Hongkong Bank Chapter | Grassroot/National | Hong Kong |
21 | Public Association Women’s organization Alga | Grassroot/National | Kyrgyzstan |
Individual Sign-ons | ||
Name | Country | |
1 | Dafer Sief | Syria |
2 | Springer-Fijal | France |
3 | Moulis | France |
4 | Lau Ka Mei | Hong Kong |
5 | FARIBEL MAGLIN FERNANDEZ | Malaysia |
6 | Lo King Wah | Hong Kong SAR |
7 | Sharry Morshidi | Malaysia |
8 | Sunzida Sultana | Bangladesh |
9 | HOMAR RUBERT DISTAJO | Philippines |
10 | marofel distajo | Philippines |
11 | Thomas Mäueler | Germany |
12 | Juan Lopez | Philippines |
13 | Guillermic | France |
14 | Elena Mirano | Philippines |
15 | Andrea Abraham | Malaysia |
16 | Claude Bardin | France |
17 | Manuel Michael Z. Rivera | Philippines |
18 | Carl Sarinas | Philippines |
19 | Magi Ali | Hong Kong |
20 | Mikael Fellman | Finland |
21 | Rev. Joram Calimutan | Hong Kong |
22 | Melissa Santi Itimura Vitorasso | Brazil |
23 | Rev. Arnie Q. Tejo | Philippines |
24 | Lyn Danzalan | Hong Kong |
25 | elma balos | Philippines |
26 | Alexi KOBISCH-MIANA | France |
27 | norma dollaga | Philippines |
28 | Dalia Kellou | Germany |
29 | Isagani Deslate | Philippines |
30 | Rod Hungerford | Austraila |
31 | reja barona | Philippines |
32 | Eric Zamule | United States |
33 | Annabelle Maregmen | Philippines |
34 | rosalie r marquez | Philippines |
35 | Nick | Hong Kong |
36 | Ian Mariano | Philippines |
37 | Ivo | Hong Kong |
38 | mylene collado | Hong Kong |
39 | bhei mhine | Philippines |
40 | Ivy | Hong Kong |
41 | Eunice Ngooi | Malaysia |
42 | Robert Lewis | England |
43 | Henderika | Indonesia |
44 | James Mante | Philippines |
45 | Rosanna Palm | Philippines |
46 | WILLY M. PULIA | Philippines |
47 | Mimi Azmin | Malaysia |
48 | Samuel Santiago | Philippines |
49 | Francisco S. Aviso Jr. | Philippines |
50 | Bishop Jessie S. Suarez | Philippines |
51 | Dwight Zabala | Philippines |
52 | Edgar A. Masorong | Philippines |
53 | Lynn | Philippines |
54 | Dana Cacha | Philippines |
55 | Joy Prim | Hong Kong |
56 | Medita Benas | Hong Kong |
57 | M Foster | United States |
58 | Liezel Cabintoy | Hong Kong |
59 | Fajar santoadi | Malaysia |
60 | Ken Lethaby | New Zealand |
61 | Khoo Hsen Han | Malaysia |
62 | Vicky Rose | Australia |
63 | Carl Jerome Ching | Philippines |
64 | Melvin Jacinto | Philippines |
65 | MARLYN CORPUZ | Philippines |
66 | Zenaida D. Deslate | Philippines |
67 | Stephen Hooker | United States |
68 | Loree | Philippines |
69 | Bezalie Bautista Uc-kung | Philippines |
70 | Al-Rahjam Uc-Kung | Philippines |
71 | Ana Marie Borja | Philippines |
72 | Michael Jacinto | Philippines |
73 | Amado | Philippines |
74 | Hani Kristy | Indonesia |
75 | Mary Rose Capuno | Philippines |
76 | Rex A. Capuno | Philippines |
77 | Sheila Julis | Malaysia |
78 | matilde g. diestro | Philippines |
79 | Aida Rodriguez | Philippines |
80 | Amelia Robles | Philippines |
81 | Wong Yew Lee | Malaysia |
82 | Zoe | Malaysia |
83 | Marlon Capuno | Philippines |
84 | Benjemar Flores | Philippines |
85 | Jeremae Flores | Philippines |
86 | Bernard Lim | Canada |
87 | Angela Varon | United States |
88 | Grace Kuh | Philippines |
89 | Roel Lebios | Philippines |
90 | Catherine Chang | Philippines |
91 | Rosiana Purnomo | Thailand |
92 | Tessie Vertucio | Philippines |
93 | Rev. Dr. Cheni Khonje | United States |
94 | Judith Ehrman | United States |
95 | Carol K BROWN | United States |
96 | Catherine Suh | United States |
97 | Jimmy Chapman | United States |
98 | Courtenay Willcox | United States |
99 | Rev. Janet DeVries | United States |
100 | Andrea Abraham | Malaysia |
101 | Phil Dougherty | United States |
102 | Earline Jane Williams | United States |
103 | Jimmy Chapman | United States |
104 | Peter Bratt | United States |
105 | Robert A Butterfield | United States |
106 | Juanita Doromal Paniamogan | Philippines / United States |
107 | Linda Adair | United States |
108 | Mienda Uriarte | United States |
109 | Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow | United States |
110 | Rev. Mary Kuhns | United States |
111 | Mary Jeanne Lemm Davis | United States |
112 | Joanne Dolotallas | Philippines |
113 | Ita Fatia Nadia | Indonesia |
114 | Sri Candra | Indonesia |
115 | Samsidar | Indonesia |
116 | Tammy Warren | United States |
117 | barbara easton | United States |
118 | Tika | Indonesia |
119 | The Rev. Lawrence S. Moir | United States |
120 | Miriam Manatse | Zimbabwe |
121 | Gemma Labagan | Philippines |
122 | Chirabhon Som-at | Thailand |
123 | Melly | Indonesia |
124 | maharani | Indonesia |
125 | Carole DeYoung | United States |
126 | Darwita Purba | Indonesia |
127 | Seth Ogeto | United States |
128 | Koucouai Raphael Ebenezer | Côte d’Ivoire |
129 | Sylevester Momanyi | Kenya |
130 | Tamarisco Bangoro | Indonesia |
131 | Maureen Balaba | Philippines |
132 | Evalyn G. Ursua | Philippines |
133 | JungHee, GOO | Republic of Korea |
134 | JiEun Lee | South Korea |
135 | Vanessa McCulloch | Belgium |
136 | Adriana S.Thiago | Belgium |
137 | Mariske | The Netherlands |
138 | Avinda Kusuma Wardhani | Indonesia |
139 | Lucy Wainwright | Great Britain |
140 | Joanne Bruce | UK |
141 | Rut Arsari | Indonesia |
142 | youngsoon choe | Korea |
143 | Nadia Dwi L | Indonesia |
144 | Dan Park | U.K. |
145 | Lynne Simpson | United States |
146 | Iris Rico | United States |
147 | Susan and Martin Bruegel | United States |
148 | Gail Harano Cunningham | United States |
149 | Lynne Simpson | United States |
150 | Thomas (Tom) Laney | United States |
151 | Vincy How | Malaysia |
152 | Whitney | Myanmar (Burma) |
153 | Choo Chon Kai | Malaysia |
154 | Dr. Mya Moe Khaing | Myanmar |
155 | Dwitiya | Indonesia |
156 | Lia Marpaung | Indonesia |
157 | Lal MC | Myanmar |
158 | Caro Urquhart | England |
159 | Edwin Thoms Haney | United States |
160 | Mervin H. Toquero | Philippines |
161 | Lizette Tapia | Philippines |
162 | Eunice De Vera | Philippines |
163 | Maria Renee Masaganda | Philippines |
164 | Mark Dignadice | Philippines |
165 | Mary Chrismina Galera | Philippines |
166 | Lisa B | Belgium |
167 | Rachel Li | Hong Kong |
This post will be updated as more sign-ons are received.
Click here to sign on to the letter by 31st December, 2020.