Filipino women’s groups lighted lanterns as a symbolic act to call for “justice for all women human rights defenders in Southeast Asia”.

The activity was initiated by an international network women’s rights advocates, JASS (Just Associates) in the Philippines, who said that it would like to make a statement against militarism that thrives in Southeast Asia.

“Every traditional and pro-capitalist government in the region sees opposition to its policies and programs as subversion and threats to its power. People who assert their rights are considered as enemies of the state. Southeast Asian governments, as if in one stroke wreak havoc against their people through massive militarization and human rights violations,” Jass stated.

The lanterns bore their calls for justice as well as names of women human rights defenders in the Philippines as well as in Southeast Asia.

The group also calls for the immediate release of political prisoners Marcion Montajes, Andrea Rosal, Miradel Torres, Wilma Tiamzon among others. They also call for the release of women political prisoners Kong Channtha in Cambodia and Eva Susanti Bande in Indonesia.