NEWS RELEASE
June 22, 2006
From the Office of Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
"Socio-economic development' component of AFP's all-out war is only a deodorizer for bloodbath."
Anakpawis Congressman Crispin Beltran today challenged the Palace and the AFP "to prove their sincerity in achieving a just and lasting peace by rechannelling the controversial P1 billion counter-insurgency fund to basic social services, such as education and health, and to the peace talks with the CPP-NPA".
"The government should be channeling such funds to augmenting grossly inadequate basic social services, instead of funding murderous counter-insurgency campaigns in the countryside. The Arroyo administration should be castigated by all societal sectors for splurging on the military allotments while chronically neglecting and scrimping on the budget for health and education. This shows that the President is only interested in protecting herself rather than the nation's interest and welfare," Beltran said while confined at the Philippine Heart Center.
"The people's money would be better spent on laying the groundwork for the resumption of peace talks with the CPP-NPA rather than an all-out counter-insurgency bid. Yet the Arroyo administration seems to favor wielding the bloody sword of war over going back to the negotiating table," Beltran said.
Beltran also criticized AFP Chief Generoso Senga's claim that criticisms of the counter-insurgency fund were "unfair".
"Senga should quit denying the obvious and call a spade a spade. He is evading well-founded and historical observations that the military counter-insurgency fund will only increase the number of civilians killed, tortured, and harassed and the extra-judicial killings of activists who are operating well within the law. He is lamely and illogically trying to justify a bloodbath by saying that the AFP will be having all these small livelihood projects anyway," Beltran said.
"The 'socio-economic development' component of this counter-insurgency campaign is only a deodorizer for the stench of blood and tears that is sure to come if the military war dogs go on such a killing spree in the provinces. These small-scale projects will not fundamentally alter the causes of widespread poverty, and can never compensate for the human rights violations by the military," Beltran said.
Beltran said he was wary of such "socio-economic development projects, especially those bearing the seal of approval from the Palace".
"Frankly speaking, we have witnessed how the Arroyo administration has only used such Palace-approved allotments as a convenient piggybank for Pres. Arroyo's campaigns at shameless self-promotion. The 2007 elections are nearing, and President Arroyo will be needing subtle and not-so-subtle ways to promote herself, her allies and her cohorts in their bid to extend their abominable presence in governance," Beltran said.
"This socio-economic development component of the P1 bilion military allocation might only end up as another Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) fertilizer fund scam or another OWWA Philhealth fund anomaly," Beltran said. ###
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Itchy Trigger Fingers or Itchy Palms?
Editorial
People's Independent Media
THURSDAY JUNE 22, 2006
'The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure each member has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.'
The Philippine National Police is itching to get its licks in at the communist rebels following Gloria Arroyo's declaration of "all-outwar."
"We want an active role, like conducting offensives," PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Samuel Pagdilao said.
According to Pagdilao, the PNP has always been on a "defensive mode" toward the communist rebels. The police can act only when attacked. As a result, they have been relatively easy targets for raids which usually result in firearms being carted off by the rebels.
The zeal of the PNP is commendable. But why can't it devote its attention to maintenance of peace and order first?
Criminality is rampant. The PNP admits as much by saying it could not perform its job well because it is undermanned and inadequately equipped. The PNP has 118,000 members securing 80 million people, for a policeman-to-population ratio of around 1:700, well below the 1:500minimum.
The PNP even lacks basic firearms, let alone prowl cars, ships and planes to carry out its mission. Of hand guns, the PNP has 100,500 in its inventory, leaving 14 percent of its men without this basic equipment.
So why should the police look for a new fight when it cannot even lick the enemy at hand?
Perhaps, it's not a case of itchy trigger fingers, but of itchy palms?
This is probably unfair to the PNP leadership but, let's face it, themilitary and the police have not exactly been known for, ah, scrupulous financial accounting.
Gloria has ordered the release of P1 billion to bankroll her all-out war against the communist rebels. A total of P400 million is earmarked for the Armed Forces, P300 million for the PNP and P300 million for unspecified "developmental" projects.
We are not begrudging the PNP for seeking a fair share of the P1billion funding. It certainly needs the money. Let's go back to the handgun shortage. Let's place the shortage at an even 18,000. AtP30,000 a piece, the price the PNP is paying for it latest negotiated purchase, 18,000 guns already cost P540 million. (Of long firearms, the PNP has 60,000, including those on the pipeline. That's a shortage of 58,000. But Gloria says 100,500 handguns plus 60,000 long firearms gives a total 160,000 firearms. There is, therefore, no shortage by Gloria's kind of arithmetic.)
Our suggestion to the PNP is to use all P300 million to buy 10,000 hand guns. That still leaves an 8,000 shortage. But it has to start somewhere. The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure eachmember has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.
COPYRIGHT 2004 (c) People's Independent Media Inc.
People's Independent Media
THURSDAY JUNE 22, 2006
'The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure each member has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.'
The Philippine National Police is itching to get its licks in at the communist rebels following Gloria Arroyo's declaration of "all-outwar."
"We want an active role, like conducting offensives," PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Samuel Pagdilao said.
According to Pagdilao, the PNP has always been on a "defensive mode" toward the communist rebels. The police can act only when attacked. As a result, they have been relatively easy targets for raids which usually result in firearms being carted off by the rebels.
The zeal of the PNP is commendable. But why can't it devote its attention to maintenance of peace and order first?
Criminality is rampant. The PNP admits as much by saying it could not perform its job well because it is undermanned and inadequately equipped. The PNP has 118,000 members securing 80 million people, for a policeman-to-population ratio of around 1:700, well below the 1:500minimum.
The PNP even lacks basic firearms, let alone prowl cars, ships and planes to carry out its mission. Of hand guns, the PNP has 100,500 in its inventory, leaving 14 percent of its men without this basic equipment.
So why should the police look for a new fight when it cannot even lick the enemy at hand?
Perhaps, it's not a case of itchy trigger fingers, but of itchy palms?
This is probably unfair to the PNP leadership but, let's face it, themilitary and the police have not exactly been known for, ah, scrupulous financial accounting.
Gloria has ordered the release of P1 billion to bankroll her all-out war against the communist rebels. A total of P400 million is earmarked for the Armed Forces, P300 million for the PNP and P300 million for unspecified "developmental" projects.
We are not begrudging the PNP for seeking a fair share of the P1billion funding. It certainly needs the money. Let's go back to the handgun shortage. Let's place the shortage at an even 18,000. AtP30,000 a piece, the price the PNP is paying for it latest negotiated purchase, 18,000 guns already cost P540 million. (Of long firearms, the PNP has 60,000, including those on the pipeline. That's a shortage of 58,000. But Gloria says 100,500 handguns plus 60,000 long firearms gives a total 160,000 firearms. There is, therefore, no shortage by Gloria's kind of arithmetic.)
Our suggestion to the PNP is to use all P300 million to buy 10,000 hand guns. That still leaves an 8,000 shortage. But it has to start somewhere. The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure eachmember has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.
COPYRIGHT 2004 (c) People's Independent Media Inc.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
'Low-level' Bombings
Editorial
People's Independent Media
SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2006
Palace officials have denied any plan to impose martial law. The denials, however, have come from congenital liars…'
The recent spate of "low-level" bombings, which has been owned by the newly emerged group Tabak (Taong Bayan at Kawal), has so far been purely for show. The bombers appear to have no intention of harming people and destroying property. But how long will this state of affairs last?
The military and the police said they have already identified the people behind the attacks. They said the perpetrators do not belong to the political opposition. They have also not tagged the usual suspects, the communist rebels. So by a process of elimination, that leaves rightist groups seeking to overthrow the Arroyo administration as the suspects.
If indeed the rightists are behind the attacks, the speculation is that these bombings are an exercise meant to expose the government's vulnerability. These are also likely meant as a subtle warning to the AFP and the PNP that two can play the game, that they are open to retaliation over the crackdown on rightist groups and their leaders.
The PNP and the AFP have said they have launched a manhunt against the perpetrators. Let's see how this new war conducted in the shadows plays out.
The fear is that if the PNP and the AFP succeed in taking out the bombers, those who succeed in evading arrest will launch a wave of attacks that will be for real this time around.
The alternative scenario is that agents of the Arroyo administration are themselves responsible for the bombing wave to justify the declaration of a state of national emergency or even martial law.
There has been credible information coming from friends of the Palace that the hawks who now surround Gloria Arroyo are seriously entertaining the possibility of martial law. The administration's recent efforts to suppress dissent – the calibrated preemptive response to protest rallies, Executive Order 464 and Proclamation 1017– have all been thwarted by the Supreme Court's striking down of their repressive provisions.
The administration, in effect, has shot all its arrows, save for the declaration of martial law.
Palace officials have denied any plan to impose martial law. The denials, however, have come from congenital liars like national security adviser Norberto Gonzales. They are, thus, less than reassuring.
Maj. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado, spokesman of the AFP, has also scoffed at the reported plan to impose martial law. He said there is no anarchy in the streets as was the case in the months leading to the imposition of martial law in 1972. Right on cue after Honrado's statement, the bombs started exploding.
Coincidence or design? It's probably the latter given this administration's desperation to stay in power.
COPYRIGHT 2004 (c) People's Independent Media Inc.
People's Independent Media
SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2006
Palace officials have denied any plan to impose martial law. The denials, however, have come from congenital liars…'
The recent spate of "low-level" bombings, which has been owned by the newly emerged group Tabak (Taong Bayan at Kawal), has so far been purely for show. The bombers appear to have no intention of harming people and destroying property. But how long will this state of affairs last?
The military and the police said they have already identified the people behind the attacks. They said the perpetrators do not belong to the political opposition. They have also not tagged the usual suspects, the communist rebels. So by a process of elimination, that leaves rightist groups seeking to overthrow the Arroyo administration as the suspects.
If indeed the rightists are behind the attacks, the speculation is that these bombings are an exercise meant to expose the government's vulnerability. These are also likely meant as a subtle warning to the AFP and the PNP that two can play the game, that they are open to retaliation over the crackdown on rightist groups and their leaders.
The PNP and the AFP have said they have launched a manhunt against the perpetrators. Let's see how this new war conducted in the shadows plays out.
The fear is that if the PNP and the AFP succeed in taking out the bombers, those who succeed in evading arrest will launch a wave of attacks that will be for real this time around.
The alternative scenario is that agents of the Arroyo administration are themselves responsible for the bombing wave to justify the declaration of a state of national emergency or even martial law.
There has been credible information coming from friends of the Palace that the hawks who now surround Gloria Arroyo are seriously entertaining the possibility of martial law. The administration's recent efforts to suppress dissent – the calibrated preemptive response to protest rallies, Executive Order 464 and Proclamation 1017– have all been thwarted by the Supreme Court's striking down of their repressive provisions.
The administration, in effect, has shot all its arrows, save for the declaration of martial law.
Palace officials have denied any plan to impose martial law. The denials, however, have come from congenital liars like national security adviser Norberto Gonzales. They are, thus, less than reassuring.
Maj. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado, spokesman of the AFP, has also scoffed at the reported plan to impose martial law. He said there is no anarchy in the streets as was the case in the months leading to the imposition of martial law in 1972. Right on cue after Honrado's statement, the bombs started exploding.
Coincidence or design? It's probably the latter given this administration's desperation to stay in power.
COPYRIGHT 2004 (c) People's Independent Media Inc.
Friday, June 16, 2006
PALAYAIN SINA ELY ESTROPIGAN AT DALAWANG ESTUDYANTE: MARIING TUTULAN ANG LUMALALANG PAGYURAK SA KARAPATAN NG MAMAMAYAN NG ADMINISTRASYONG ARROYO
Pahayag ng All-UP Workers Union at
All-UP Academic Employees Union
Hunyo 16, 2006
Mariing kinokondena ng All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union, ang mga unyon ng mga kawani, faculty at REPS ng UP System, ang pag-aresto at pagkulong kay Ely Estropigan, Pambansang Ingat-Yaman at kagawad ng National Executive Board ng All-UP Workers Union at mga kabataang – estudyante na sina Oyo Agustin at Mark Singuenza. Ang tatlo ay bahagi ng mga estudyante, kawani at mga guro na nagdaos ng protesta laban kay Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa bakuran ng UP Philippine General Hospital kahapon, Hunyo 15, 2006.
Inihayag ng mga nagprotesta ang pagtutol sa mga patakaran ng administrasyong Arroyo kaugnay sa patuloy na pagbabawas sa badyet para sa kalusugan at edukasyon, ang pagtaas ng tuition sa UP College of Medicine. Iginiit din ang matagal nang panawagan ng All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union sa P3,000 across-the-board salary increase at pagbayad sa back-Cola sa mga kawani ng pamahalaan.
Marahas na binuwag ng mga pulis at Presidential Security Guard ang kilos protesta at inaresto ang tatlo. Ayon sa mga pahayag ng pulis, kakasuhan ng “sedition” ang mga hinuli! Kailan pa naging krimen ang mapayapang pagprotesta laban sa mga anti-mamamayan, anti-kawani at anti-estudyante na mga patakaran ng pamahalaan? Matagal na tradisyon na sa UP ang palabang tindig sa mga pambansa at lokal na mga isyu bilang pagsabuhay ng papel ng pamantasan na ”kritik ng lipunan”.
Sa bahagi ng All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union, naninindigan ito sa unyonismo na militante, progresibo at makabayan bilang katiyakan sa paggigiit sa pang-ekonomiyang kagalingan at demokratikong karapatan ng mga kawani sa UP. Ang naging partisipasyon ni Ely Estropigan at iba pang kasapi ng unyon sa UP Manila sa kilos protesta kahapon ay pagsasabuhay sa ganitong tindig ng unyon at sa balangkas ng paggigiit sa mga demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan.
Ang pagbuwag sa kilos protesta sa UP PGH at pag-aresto sa tatlo sa mga kalahok dito ay pinakahuling ebidensya ng patuloy na panunupil ng administrasyong Arroyo sa mga demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan. Hindi masarhan-sarhan ang usapin ng pagiging lehitimo niyang halal na Pangulo bunga ng ”Hello Garci” tapes at patuloy ang oposisyon sa kanya at sa kanyang mga patakaran mula sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan kabilang na ang mga obispo at iba pang taong simbahan. Patuloy ang panawagan ng mamamayan na bumaba na siya sa pwesto. Sa ganitong kalagayan, walang pakundangan ang paglabag sa ating mga karapatang sibil kabilang na ang karapatan sa mapayapang pagtitipon at pamamahayag na ginagarantiya ng Konstitusyon na nais ng administrasyong baguhin. Dumaan na tayo sa 14 na taong diktadurya at hindi tutugot ang All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union sa walang pakundangang pagyurak sa ating mga demokratikong karapatan.
Palayain sina Ely Estropigan, Oyo Agustin at Mark Singuenza!Ipaglaban ang P3,000 across the board salary increase at ang ating back-COLA!
Ipaglaban ang mas mataas na badyet sa edukasyon at kalusugan!
Mariing tutulan ang pagyurak ng administrasyon Arroyo sa ating mga demokratikong karapatan!
Gloria, bumaba ka na!
All-UP Academic Employees Union
Hunyo 16, 2006
Mariing kinokondena ng All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union, ang mga unyon ng mga kawani, faculty at REPS ng UP System, ang pag-aresto at pagkulong kay Ely Estropigan, Pambansang Ingat-Yaman at kagawad ng National Executive Board ng All-UP Workers Union at mga kabataang – estudyante na sina Oyo Agustin at Mark Singuenza. Ang tatlo ay bahagi ng mga estudyante, kawani at mga guro na nagdaos ng protesta laban kay Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa bakuran ng UP Philippine General Hospital kahapon, Hunyo 15, 2006.
Inihayag ng mga nagprotesta ang pagtutol sa mga patakaran ng administrasyong Arroyo kaugnay sa patuloy na pagbabawas sa badyet para sa kalusugan at edukasyon, ang pagtaas ng tuition sa UP College of Medicine. Iginiit din ang matagal nang panawagan ng All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union sa P3,000 across-the-board salary increase at pagbayad sa back-Cola sa mga kawani ng pamahalaan.
Marahas na binuwag ng mga pulis at Presidential Security Guard ang kilos protesta at inaresto ang tatlo. Ayon sa mga pahayag ng pulis, kakasuhan ng “sedition” ang mga hinuli! Kailan pa naging krimen ang mapayapang pagprotesta laban sa mga anti-mamamayan, anti-kawani at anti-estudyante na mga patakaran ng pamahalaan? Matagal na tradisyon na sa UP ang palabang tindig sa mga pambansa at lokal na mga isyu bilang pagsabuhay ng papel ng pamantasan na ”kritik ng lipunan”.
Sa bahagi ng All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union, naninindigan ito sa unyonismo na militante, progresibo at makabayan bilang katiyakan sa paggigiit sa pang-ekonomiyang kagalingan at demokratikong karapatan ng mga kawani sa UP. Ang naging partisipasyon ni Ely Estropigan at iba pang kasapi ng unyon sa UP Manila sa kilos protesta kahapon ay pagsasabuhay sa ganitong tindig ng unyon at sa balangkas ng paggigiit sa mga demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan.
Ang pagbuwag sa kilos protesta sa UP PGH at pag-aresto sa tatlo sa mga kalahok dito ay pinakahuling ebidensya ng patuloy na panunupil ng administrasyong Arroyo sa mga demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan. Hindi masarhan-sarhan ang usapin ng pagiging lehitimo niyang halal na Pangulo bunga ng ”Hello Garci” tapes at patuloy ang oposisyon sa kanya at sa kanyang mga patakaran mula sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan kabilang na ang mga obispo at iba pang taong simbahan. Patuloy ang panawagan ng mamamayan na bumaba na siya sa pwesto. Sa ganitong kalagayan, walang pakundangan ang paglabag sa ating mga karapatang sibil kabilang na ang karapatan sa mapayapang pagtitipon at pamamahayag na ginagarantiya ng Konstitusyon na nais ng administrasyong baguhin. Dumaan na tayo sa 14 na taong diktadurya at hindi tutugot ang All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union sa walang pakundangang pagyurak sa ating mga demokratikong karapatan.
Palayain sina Ely Estropigan, Oyo Agustin at Mark Singuenza!Ipaglaban ang P3,000 across the board salary increase at ang ating back-COLA!
Ipaglaban ang mas mataas na badyet sa edukasyon at kalusugan!
Mariing tutulan ang pagyurak ng administrasyon Arroyo sa ating mga demokratikong karapatan!
Gloria, bumaba ka na!
PRESS STATEMENT
June 16, 2006
Hunyo 15, 2006 ay isang makasaysayang araw para sa komunidad ng UP-PGH. Sa araw na ito nasaksihan kung paano supilin ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan na magpahayag ng kanilang saloobin. Isang opisyal ng All-UP Workers Union, si Ely Estropigan at 2 estudyante ang biglang hinuli ng mga naka-sibilyang PSG. Ang mapayapang pagkilos ay ginanap pagkatapos ng ekslusibong seremonya ng turn over ng Sentro Oftalmologico sa PGH at sa labas ng gusaling ito. Sila ay sinaktan, sinalya sa rehas, tinadyakan at dinampot papuntang WPD HQ at agad ikinulong. Ang ginawang pag-aresto na ito ay nagpapatunay ng kawalang respeto ng administrasyong Arroyo sa demokratikong karapatan ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan, kawani, at estudyante ng UP Manila, kung saan dapat ay malakas ang academic freedom.
MARIING KONOKONDENA NG ALL U.P. WORKERS UNION MANILA ANG HINDI MAKATARUNGANG PAGHULI KAY ELY AT DALAWANG ESTUDYANTE AT ANG TAHASANG PANUNUPIL NG BATAYANG KARAPATANG PANTAO!
Naniniwala ang AUPWU Manila na legal at lehitimo ang mga isyung inihayag sa pagkilos na ito, tulad paggiit sa P 3,000.00 across-the-board salary increase at ang pagtaas ng badyet ng UP at PGH, gayundin ang pagtutol sa pakanang Charter Change. Ang kasong inciting to sedition ay malinaw na walang basihan. Ito ay paninindak sa mamamayan upang patahimikin at pigilan ang paggiit ng mga lehitimong karapatan.
References:
JOSSEL EBESATE, President, AUPWU Manila 09189276381
AMOND OLIVAR, Secretary, AUPWU Manila 09155735312BENJIE SANTOS, PRO, AUPWU Manila 09275584221
June 16, 2006
Hunyo 15, 2006 ay isang makasaysayang araw para sa komunidad ng UP-PGH. Sa araw na ito nasaksihan kung paano supilin ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan na magpahayag ng kanilang saloobin. Isang opisyal ng All-UP Workers Union, si Ely Estropigan at 2 estudyante ang biglang hinuli ng mga naka-sibilyang PSG. Ang mapayapang pagkilos ay ginanap pagkatapos ng ekslusibong seremonya ng turn over ng Sentro Oftalmologico sa PGH at sa labas ng gusaling ito. Sila ay sinaktan, sinalya sa rehas, tinadyakan at dinampot papuntang WPD HQ at agad ikinulong. Ang ginawang pag-aresto na ito ay nagpapatunay ng kawalang respeto ng administrasyong Arroyo sa demokratikong karapatan ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan, kawani, at estudyante ng UP Manila, kung saan dapat ay malakas ang academic freedom.
MARIING KONOKONDENA NG ALL U.P. WORKERS UNION MANILA ANG HINDI MAKATARUNGANG PAGHULI KAY ELY AT DALAWANG ESTUDYANTE AT ANG TAHASANG PANUNUPIL NG BATAYANG KARAPATANG PANTAO!
Naniniwala ang AUPWU Manila na legal at lehitimo ang mga isyung inihayag sa pagkilos na ito, tulad paggiit sa P 3,000.00 across-the-board salary increase at ang pagtaas ng badyet ng UP at PGH, gayundin ang pagtutol sa pakanang Charter Change. Ang kasong inciting to sedition ay malinaw na walang basihan. Ito ay paninindak sa mamamayan upang patahimikin at pigilan ang paggiit ng mga lehitimong karapatan.
References:
JOSSEL EBESATE, President, AUPWU Manila 09189276381
AMOND OLIVAR, Secretary, AUPWU Manila 09155735312BENJIE SANTOS, PRO, AUPWU Manila 09275584221
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Filipino Advocates Now an Endangered Species
by: Roland G. Simbulan
Professor and Faculty Regent
May 30, 2006
State Terrorism is now a fact of life in our country. Since Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed power in 2001, no less than 224 Filipino advocates journalists, and activists have been assassinated by motorcycle-riding death squads in various parts of the country. The pattern of the killings is starkly clear: critics of the government who are lawyers, journalists, priests and ministers, labor leaders, peasant organizers, teachers and student leaders are being liquidated by professional hitmen. All the victims are legal opposition personalities who have been branded or tagged as "leftists" or members of what certain government, the military and police officials call "legal fronts of the CPP/NPA".
The pattern of killings is remarkably similar to "Operation Phoenix", launched by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in South Vietnam in the late 60s. Lists of suspected Communists or Communist sympathizers were given by the CIA to professional hit men, thugs and even criminals serving sentences who were released to do the dirty jobs for the military and police. As many as 40,000 suspected members or sympathizers of the South Vietnam National Liberation Front (SV-NLF) were abducted and assassinated in an attempt to physically wipe out the "political infrastructure" of the Vietnamese "insurgency".
Similar patterns of counter-insurgency and "anti-terror" tactics were also replicated in Latin America in the 60s and 70s by the CIA. The murderous rampage in Vietnam by the CIA and its local puppets was one of the most violent episodes of the Vietnam War. But it failed to accomplish its objectives. In 1975, the Vietnamese people finally defeated the U.S. military aggressors and their South Vietnamese puppets and finally liberated South Vietnam to establish the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Given the closer covert and overt coordination and cooperation of the U.S. special operations forces and Philippine military and police agencies in the "anti-terror" campaign as never seen before, it is impossible for them not to have a hand in this. The manner and pattern of killings today are even worse than the vigilante killings in the country that occurred in the late 80s against members and leaders of people's organizations and NGOs. They are meant to silence legal critics and the open opposition to the creeping dictatorship and the "Cha-Cha "locomotive train". The killings are a threat to the very existence of democracy which should guarantee freedom of speech, assembly and the right to freely organize for grievances and social change. Political killings of legal personalities will not only permanently sabotage the peace process, but well further fuel the armed insurgency as the legal option diminishes.
Advocates and social reformers are now an endangered species in this country. If the government is not really a party to this state of terror as it claims, then it should put a stop to these killings and assassinations of its citizens. The government must enforce law and order and provide protection to all its citizens, including its staunchest critics and those in the opposition. Government has no right to exist if it is inutile in carrying out the most basic duties of a state.
Professor and Faculty Regent
May 30, 2006
State Terrorism is now a fact of life in our country. Since Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed power in 2001, no less than 224 Filipino advocates journalists, and activists have been assassinated by motorcycle-riding death squads in various parts of the country. The pattern of the killings is starkly clear: critics of the government who are lawyers, journalists, priests and ministers, labor leaders, peasant organizers, teachers and student leaders are being liquidated by professional hitmen. All the victims are legal opposition personalities who have been branded or tagged as "leftists" or members of what certain government, the military and police officials call "legal fronts of the CPP/NPA".
The pattern of killings is remarkably similar to "Operation Phoenix", launched by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in South Vietnam in the late 60s. Lists of suspected Communists or Communist sympathizers were given by the CIA to professional hit men, thugs and even criminals serving sentences who were released to do the dirty jobs for the military and police. As many as 40,000 suspected members or sympathizers of the South Vietnam National Liberation Front (SV-NLF) were abducted and assassinated in an attempt to physically wipe out the "political infrastructure" of the Vietnamese "insurgency".
Similar patterns of counter-insurgency and "anti-terror" tactics were also replicated in Latin America in the 60s and 70s by the CIA. The murderous rampage in Vietnam by the CIA and its local puppets was one of the most violent episodes of the Vietnam War. But it failed to accomplish its objectives. In 1975, the Vietnamese people finally defeated the U.S. military aggressors and their South Vietnamese puppets and finally liberated South Vietnam to establish the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Given the closer covert and overt coordination and cooperation of the U.S. special operations forces and Philippine military and police agencies in the "anti-terror" campaign as never seen before, it is impossible for them not to have a hand in this. The manner and pattern of killings today are even worse than the vigilante killings in the country that occurred in the late 80s against members and leaders of people's organizations and NGOs. They are meant to silence legal critics and the open opposition to the creeping dictatorship and the "Cha-Cha "locomotive train". The killings are a threat to the very existence of democracy which should guarantee freedom of speech, assembly and the right to freely organize for grievances and social change. Political killings of legal personalities will not only permanently sabotage the peace process, but well further fuel the armed insurgency as the legal option diminishes.
Advocates and social reformers are now an endangered species in this country. If the government is not really a party to this state of terror as it claims, then it should put a stop to these killings and assassinations of its citizens. The government must enforce law and order and provide protection to all its citizens, including its staunchest critics and those in the opposition. Government has no right to exist if it is inutile in carrying out the most basic duties of a state.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Rep. Beltran to Sto. Tomas: Resign Now and Good Riddance
NEWS RELEASE
May 30, 2006
From the Office of Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran
For Reference: Rep. Crispin Beltran/Lisa C. Ito
Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006Tel. # (+632) 931-6615
Email: crispinbeltran@gmail.com URL: http://www.geocities.com/ap_news
"If she think she's stressed out, we can only imagine the state of health, mind and welfare of the workers whose rights she has violated by signing all those various memoranda, department orders and case decisions. How many workers have lost not only their jobs but their very lives because of her?"
This was the reaction of activist legislator Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran to reports that labor and employment secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas is mulling over resignation for health reasons.
"She should resign now, and good riddance," said Beltran. "Under her administration, the labor department has become even more anti-worker and anti-poor. She shouldn't expect any compassion from the workers, neither is there anyone willing to step forward and stop her from resigning. To leave the public service would be Sto. Tomas' gift to the hundreds of thousands of workers she helped employers and capitalists abuse, exploit, and kick out of employment."
"Actually, her exit is long overdue. Government employees, labor unions, and private sector workers have long been appealing for her resignation and the rejection of her appointment," Beltran said.
"Pat Sto. Tomas will not be missed even if she leaves the DOLE. How can one miss a labor Secretary who herself has been accused of committing unfair labor practice, violating the Constitutional rights of government employees to self-organization by directly intervening in the affairs of DOLE employees, union-busting, and grave abuse of authority?" Beltran said.
Though still incarcerated, Beltran said that he still closely monitors the developments in the labor front. "The situation of our workers is deplorable. And things keep getting worse. Sto. Tomas has done essentially nothing to help improve the lives and welfare of Filipino workers. Because of her, human rights violations against workers have shot clear through the roof, and the country's unemployment rate has remained at alarming levels. The brutal massacre of the workers and farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita is also something she remains and will always remain partly responsible for," he insisted.
Still, Beltran said that Sto. Tomas' impending resignation would not absolve her of her injustices against Filipino workers. "Sto. Tomas will still be held accountable for the various labor rights violations committed under her term, particularly the Hacienda Luisita massacre," Beltran said.
###
May 30, 2006
From the Office of Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran
For Reference: Rep. Crispin Beltran/Lisa C. Ito
Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006Tel. # (+632) 931-6615
Email: crispinbeltran@gmail.com URL: http://www.geocities.com/ap_news
"If she think she's stressed out, we can only imagine the state of health, mind and welfare of the workers whose rights she has violated by signing all those various memoranda, department orders and case decisions. How many workers have lost not only their jobs but their very lives because of her?"
This was the reaction of activist legislator Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran to reports that labor and employment secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas is mulling over resignation for health reasons.
"She should resign now, and good riddance," said Beltran. "Under her administration, the labor department has become even more anti-worker and anti-poor. She shouldn't expect any compassion from the workers, neither is there anyone willing to step forward and stop her from resigning. To leave the public service would be Sto. Tomas' gift to the hundreds of thousands of workers she helped employers and capitalists abuse, exploit, and kick out of employment."
"Actually, her exit is long overdue. Government employees, labor unions, and private sector workers have long been appealing for her resignation and the rejection of her appointment," Beltran said.
"Pat Sto. Tomas will not be missed even if she leaves the DOLE. How can one miss a labor Secretary who herself has been accused of committing unfair labor practice, violating the Constitutional rights of government employees to self-organization by directly intervening in the affairs of DOLE employees, union-busting, and grave abuse of authority?" Beltran said.
Though still incarcerated, Beltran said that he still closely monitors the developments in the labor front. "The situation of our workers is deplorable. And things keep getting worse. Sto. Tomas has done essentially nothing to help improve the lives and welfare of Filipino workers. Because of her, human rights violations against workers have shot clear through the roof, and the country's unemployment rate has remained at alarming levels. The brutal massacre of the workers and farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita is also something she remains and will always remain partly responsible for," he insisted.
Still, Beltran said that Sto. Tomas' impending resignation would not absolve her of her injustices against Filipino workers. "Sto. Tomas will still be held accountable for the various labor rights violations committed under her term, particularly the Hacienda Luisita massacre," Beltran said.
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