News
Proposed media gag assailed
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) strongly assailed plans by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to penalize journalists for interviewing anyone perceived as terrorist. The AFP wants to include such a provision in the proposed anti-terrorism law being pushed by Malaca�ang.
In a statement, CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said that the regime wants to prevent revolutionaries from airing their ideas which are far superior to, and more truthful than, the lies and disinformation being spread by Arroyo and her spokesmen in the AFP and Malaca�ang. "Ultimately," he said, "the Arroyo regime will use this law to suppress anyone opposing the government 's pro-imperialist and antipeople policies. They include workers struggling for wage increases and peasants demanding genuine land reform."
Ka Roger called on the people to strongly oppose the Anti-Terrorism Bill by launching militant struggles.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and human rights advocates also assailed the proposal. The NUJP said that "it is not for the AFP, or any other government agency to curtail a (constitutional) right on the basis of its oftentimes flawed logic."
Meanwhile, Katungod-Eastern Visayas compared the media gag to martial law, "because only one side will be allowed to be heard by the people."
Opposition to widespread mining intensifies
Various groups and organizations are waging broader and stronger resistance to large-scale mining that will be carried out consequent to the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. They have put up Defend Patrimony!, an alliance composed of militant organizations, progressive parties, institutions and environmental groups that have pledged to resist the operations of mining companies. Among those strongly opposed to large-scale mining are church groups like the Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) and the Catholic Church's National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)-Justice and Peace.
In congress, seven representatives have filed a bill calling for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995. They joined national protests carried out on the 10th anniversary of the Mining Act's passage last March 6.
In related news, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has also declared that it would not allow foreign mining companies to freely enter its areas. The MILF has demanded that the matter be made part of the agenda of peace negotiations scheduled this March, along with attendant issues such as their ancestral rights which would surely be trampled on by foreign mining companies.
Massive displacement, attacks continue in Sulu
Despite strong calls from various organizations for a cessation of attacks against the Moro National Liberation Front in Sulu, the Arroyo government ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on March 5 to intensify its military operations in the area.
Up to a hundred thousand people have been displaced by the AFP attacks and cases of violence against civilians in Sulu continue to mount.
Many homes have also been destroyed by the AFP onslaught. A mosque was reportedly destroyed. The plight of the people in Sulu runs counter to Arroyo's claims that she would ensure the people's safety and security in ongoing military operations.
Like the promises earlier made by the regime to the Moro people during previous attacks by the AFP, nothing will come out of the Arroyo government's assurances that the Moros can safely return to their areas and that they would be given assistance in resuming their normal lives.
In the face of the Moro people's intensifying struggle, the regime claims that the Abu Sayyaf is involved in the armed resistance in Sulu. It is the AFP that planned the terrorist bombings in February in Makati, Davao and General Santos City, making them out as the handiwork of Moros in Sulu and using them as pretext to brand as "terrorists"the Moro people who are now up in arms.
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