PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

AFP campaigns for Akbayan, harasses Bayan Muna
April 28, 2004

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today slammed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for claiming neutrality in the polls even as it openly campaigns for the pseudo-reformist and anti-communist Akbayan party-list group and harasses and inflicts violence on progressive party-list groups like Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Anak ng Bayan.

CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said that there were widespread reports of AFP soldiers actively campaigning for Akbayan in Bayan Muna bailiwicks in Samar and elsewhere.

"Obviously, the AFP finds Akbayan's pseudo-reformism a most agreeable tool in its 'counter-insurgency'campaign," said Rosal. "The extent to which Akbayan officers Etta Rosales and Joel Rocamora flirt with the ruling system's fascist core is utterly reprehensible."

Rosal said that Rocamora recently issued press statements and authored articles repeating the very same slander and lies spewed by Arroyo's National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales against Bayan Muna and other progressive parties. Gonzales had earlier called for the disqualification of Bayan Muna and other progressive parties after accusing Bayan Muna of channeling government funds to the New People's Army. He has so far failed to present evidence to back up his claims.

"It is utterly hypocritical for Rosales and Rocamora to claim that Akbayan is a progressive party. They have in fact been conniving with the Marcoses to block efforts of martial law victims to win justice against the Marcoses. With their active campaign against the progressive parties, Rosales, Rocamora and their ilk have moved further to fuse and work hand in glove with the current perpetrators of human rights violations in the country," Rosal said.

Rosal added that the AFP is applying a two-pronged approach to prevent the popular Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and other progressive parties from winning: "One approach is to lure votes from these progressive parties using Akbayan and other pseudo-reformist parties. The other is to mount direct assaults and harassment against these progressive parties."

Rosal cited a "proliferation of reports" of violence and harassment against Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Anak ng Bayan perpetrated by the AFP's 204th Brigade in Mindoro, the 78th IB in Cebu, the 47th IB in Iloilo, the 42nd IB in Camarines Sur and the 39th IB in North Cotabato, among others.

Rosal denounced the abduction last Sunday of two Anak ng Bayan members in Candelaria, Quezon. He added that in Camarines Sur, around 24 activists have been illegally abducted by the AFP since March. He also disclosed that on April 20, government forces ransacked the Bayan Muna office in Catarman, Northern Samar. Local warlords like Isabela Governor Faustino Dy and North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pi�ol have also been actively cooperating with the AFP in their campaign against progressive party-list organizations, Rosal added. #

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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