Editorial:
Resist the intensifying oppression of the Moro people

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

The Arroyo regime is further intensifying the oppression of the Moro people. The Moro people are today gripped by intense fear as a result of saturation drives against their communities, raids on their houses, and arbitrary arrests and torture of supposed terrorists among their ranks. The scheme of the Philippine National Police to implement a "Muslim ID" system will only curtail their civil liberties.

The Communist Party of the Philippines and the entire revolutionary movement roundly condemn the Arroyo regime's unbridled attacks on the Moro people's human rights. The reactionary regime's measures exacerbate the national oppression and prejudicial treatment of Moros and portray them as criminals, bandits and anti-social elements. As a result of such measures by the Arroyo regime, they are forthwith labeled as "terrorists." The Arroyo regime exploits and worsens prevailing erroneous anti-Moro ideas and culture, the better to carry out anti-Moro policies.

The Arroyo regime sacrifices the rights and welfare of the Moro people in the name of anti-terrorism. It repeatedly uses the pretext of supposed "intelligence reports" stating that the Abu Sayyaf plans to follow the March 11 terrorist bombing in Madrid, Spain with a similar bombing in Metro Manila.

The Arroyo regime's insidious objective is to maintain fear and hysteria among the Filipino people to justify and generate sympathy for fascist measures against the Moros. Through them, the Arroyo clique seeks to get the additional votes it desperately needs in the coming election.

The Arroyo regime further worsens the national oppression of the Moro people. It is imperative for the Moro people to resist such measures by the Arroyo regime and defend their democratic and national rights and welfare. The Moro people must make the Arroyo regime feel the anger of a people suffering national oppression and demand respect for themselves and their rights.

The Moro people also need to enjoy the support of the entire Filipino people for their struggle. To extend such support is to take a stand against the national oppression of the Moro people.

The Arroyo regime's attempts to repress and brutalize the Moros is an initial step by the reactionary state to eventually impose fascist repression on the entire Filipino people.

We must also guard against the Arroyo regime's sinister plans to use "terrorist" threats as a ruse for steps it might undertake in the face of its probable defeat or, in anticipation of the people's intense resistance to massive and widespread electoral fraud, should it win "miraculously."

We must forge the broad unity of the Filipino people to frustrate the Arroyo regime's evil plans not only against the Moro people but against the entire Filipino people as well. The solidarity and cooperation of Moro organizations with various progressive and democratic organizations of the Filipino people is of profound importance.

The Communist Party and the revolutionary movement fully support the forging of unity between Moro and non-Moro peoples. It fully supports the Moro people's struggle against the attacks of the Arroyo regime.

07 April 2004
English Edition

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