Militant members of Kilusan (KPD), clad in black, chained, and with placards bearing HR issues, march along Session Road and major thoroughfares in Baguio City to commemorate Human Rights Day and to dramatize its demand: “No to mining and militarization, yes to life and to a humane society.” “We demand justice for all HR victims. Maguindanao massacre is just the tip of the iceberg.” This was the statement of Kilusan North Luzon’s Secretary General Jim Pag-a. After President Aquino’s first 100 days in Malacanang and up to the present, Pi-noy did not mention any concrete plan to help stop and end human rights violations in the country. Instead, Aquino even extended Oplan Bantay Laya, the counter insurgency program of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that resulted in extra-judicial killings and more than 200 enforced disappearances. Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) is still operational. The government pursues its anti-people policies: demolition of vendors and urban poor, LGU-backed illegal fishing, contractualization of labor, pro-mining stance of the Aquino regime displacing peasants and indigenous peoples on their own homeland, political killings and torture – resulting in environmental destruction and violation of human rights. “This is a total sellout; the Private Partnership Program of Aquino is nothing but a scheme to serve foreign interest, investors are tax exempt passing this burden to workers and the general public “ Jim Pag-a lamented. Northern Luzon remains a place of injustices brought about by capitalist plunder and exploitation. We demand our government officials to stand with the people calling for the termination of all unequal ties we have with the US. Kilusan demands the government to uphold and live by the real definition of human rights and serve its cause: to guard the civil and political rights of the people. Kilusan also demands a government free from slavery – US slavery, and a society with a just, humane and pro-people policies.
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Clad in black and red, with lighted candles and placards demanding for the termination of VFA, members of Kilusan march along Session Road to commemorate today’s National Hero’s Day. “We can not compromise sovereignty and national patrimony in exchange for few goodies. It’s a shame to serve US war of aggressions in exchange for few dollars.” This was the statement of Kilusan North Luzon’s Secretary General Jim Pag-a. The VFA already resulted to series of violations and abuses to Filipinos, including the rape of Filipino women. There have been recorded cases of injuries and death caused by live munitions during war exercises since 2000. “In the light of the intensifying conflict between North Korea and South Korea, the United States could obligate the Philippines to support US troops and South Korean troops in its looming war against North Korea,” Jim Pag-a adds. This is made possible by the Mutual Defense Treaty we have with the US. MDT and VFA are unequal treaties that put the Philippines in a very disadvantaged and precarious situation. We demand the Aquino government to prove its pro-people stance and terminate the VFA and end all unequal ties between the US and the Philippines. Since the signing of the VFA, the Philippine ports were opened to US troops, visiting or otherwise. This affront to our sovereignty is accepted by the Philippine government in exchange for a few military aids like obsolete choppers and C-120 planes, civic projects like road construction, school buildings and medical missions. In 1992, due to the sustained and intensified people’s protest, the Philippine legislators were forced to terminate the US military bases agreement. In 2000, the Estrada regime signed the VFA. Kilusan considers the VFA as instrument of US neocolonialism and to maintain its control in the Pacific. Kilusan lauds Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago’s determination in her call to terminate the RP – US Visiting Forces Agreement. Likewise, we call on our legislators to take the same stand.### |
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