here or here. SPREAD THE WORD!--
this got my attention:
French mime Marcel Marceau dies."Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us without words?" he once said.
read on.
while the influx of bad news is enough to render one speechless:
we haven't even stopped rejoicing in the suspension of the ZTE deal and already Palace execs are saying that it
may be revived. Estrada may walk free
as per an absolute pardon. Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. is seriously pushing for the
re-imposition of the ROTC on college students. Oil firms are
jacking up their prices.
crap, crap a
nd more crap. at least there's good news from overseas. what say you of the
CBCP taking its cue from
myanmar's monks? ###
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luli arroyo, daughter of FG Mike a
nd Prez Gloria, today likened jose 'joey' de venecia III's (jdv3) expose on the controversial ZTE national broadband deal to the thinning hair on his head. before luli and other apologists for the First Couple water down the issue with more name-calling and trivialities, let's make sense out of the whole hullabaloo for what it really is.
first off, some very helpful reads:
studentstrike prepared a primer detailing the chain of events and rendezvous surrounding the ZTE deal. Agham (Advocates of Science and Technology for the People), meanwhile, highlights the need for a genuine national information network, not a network of lies, corruption and kickbacks. read also jdv3's opening statement at the Senate and his sworn affidavit submitted to the Senate; and how Arroyo's foes and allies are reacting to it.
why are we not surprised? while jdv3's testimony is agreeably explosive enough, especially (and ironically) so for sectors with broadband access, the masa has long regarded graft and corruption within the Arroyo administration as a 'given,' a constant in the configuration of the present government. had we not figured in the list of the 'most corrupt' in Asia? we have so gotten used to FG Mike's name being dragged into numerous controversies that even the Arroyo administration evades accountability by letting FG fend for himself, as if he and his business concerns only him as a 'private citizen.' this time around is different though.
this, perhaps, is what makes the ZTE deal stand out from the rest. this time, jdv3, though obviously loathe to admit it, declared under sworn oath that Prez Gloria knows about the whole deal. that she, in fact, was present when they were discussing the proposal with ZTE execs in China. jdv3 had no qualms, despite his theatrics ('it is with a heavy heart...'), to identify FG as the mystery man but his account falls short when asked of the involvement of Prez Gloria herself.
another significance is the involvement and exposure of what seems to be Arroyo's very own Cabinet of Cons, reminiscent of Erap's Midnight Cabinet of yore. it should be questioned why Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos fits in the whole brouhaha, when his agency has no reason to meddle in matters of such. so they were golf partners, so what? why has he suddenly emerged as the 'powerful broker' influencing government contracts? quite i
nterestingly, Speaker de Venecia, jdv3's father a
nd Arroyo's k
nown political ally, has remained 'silent' through the unfolding of events. isn't he part of the so-called Malacanang 'inner circle'? why not speak out and divulge what he knows instead of just saying that his so
n is 'his own person'?
what is unfolding really is a power play, and a dangerous one for the First Couple, betwee
n pawns of the same color. the continuing Senate inquiry is a very crucial venue to squeeze out juicier details of the co
ntroversy. Se
nator Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee and known foe of FG, may not show it but he is sure to be beside himself with glee. finally, here comes a person who is willing to talk about government anomalies and not be hindered by Palace tactics and threats. a
nd why not? jdv3 IS after all the Speaker of the House's son.but more importa
ntly, the clamor for truth and transparency should come from the public. corruption of government officials is an accountability not only to the Supreme Court, a diversion from public dissent that Prez Gloria is trying to put forth, but to taxpayers, the Filipino people.
jdv3's bombshell also reminds us of how chronic corruption has narrowed down potential kickbacks for those in the ruling clique that they are now resorting to fighting among themselves. the Arroyo administration is currently experiencing a political crisis, one that it cannot just as easily brush off as the ones before it. indicator: as of press time, she has allowed all involved Cabinet members to attend the following ZTE inquiries.
heads will roll and something's gotta give. ###
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The Dutch gover
nment had no choice but to order Prof. Jose Maria Sison's release from detention after it could not find 'sufficient indications' of his involvement in 'inciting murders in the Philippines.' Read the statement of the Dutch Ministry of Justice.
The Dutch court said that while the N
ew People's Army owned up to the punishment of former Communist Party members Arturo Tabara and Romulo Kintanar, it said that it found no proof directly linking Sison to the killing.
Malacanang, meanwhile, seems to be caught off guard by this development. A prelude of strained relations, perhaps, between the Dutch and RP governments? Did Malacanang really think it could get away with something as blatantly unjust as this? I agree with
tonyo,
National Security Adviser
Norby Gonzales should resign and he and his principal, Arroyo, should be held accountable for the injustice against Sison's person.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) described Sison's release as a
small victory and warned of more political persecution ahead against the people's movement. While I agree that we should be more vigilant against further political attacks, I have to disagree with how Bayan described Sison's release. It is none other than a BIG victory for the national democratic movement and is cause for celebration.
Everyone is invited to join the victory rally to celebrate Sison's release tomorrow, September 14, 12nn at UST Espana. ###
___(('Read the whole text of this entry >>'))
Full text of the SandiganBayan verdict
here.
Bayan accepts decision, says significance of the verdict will be greatly diminished if same standards of justice will not be applied to Arroyo. Read Bayan's initial statement
here.
Joint statement of the progressive partylist groups point out the same and that the verdict must serve as a warning to the Arroyo government. Whole text of the joint statements of Rep. Ocampo, Rep. Maza, Rep. Beltran, Rep. Casino, and Rep. Ilagan reposted here from email:
Joint Statement on Former President Estrada’s Conviction for Plunder
The Sandiganbayan verdict of guilty on two of four counts of plunder on former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada affirms our stand when we supported and endorsed the plunder complaint filed by Plunder Watch in 2001.
However, we respect Mr. Estrada’s right to file a motion for reconsideration and to appeal the verdict up to the Supreme Court.
The significance of the verdict is that it sets a precedence for the future prosecution of high government officials for similar or related cases with reasonable prospects of success.
The verdict serves as a fair warning to President Gloria M. Arroyo, who by using the awesome powers and influence of the presidency has succeeded in frustrating two impeachment proceedings against her that entailed numerous complaints of plunder, election fraud, corruption, gross human rights violations and other high crimes, that she cannot forever escape public accountability for such acts.
In this regard, the verdict on Estrada will not in any way efface the crisis of legitimacy hounding the Arroyo presidency.#
Rep. Satur C. Ocampo, Bayan Muna Party-List
Rep. Liza L. Maza, Gabriela Women’s Party
Rep. Crispin B. Beltran, Anakpawis Party-List
Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño, Bayan Muna Party-List
Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan, Gabriela Women’s Party
___(('Read the whole text of this entry >>'))
Ipagbunyi ang ika-30 taong anibersaryo ng LFS!Pahayag ng LFS-PKT sa ika-30 taong anibersaryo ng LFS
September 11, 2007
Binabati natin ang lahat ng ating mga kasapi at lider mula sa iba’t ibang mga balangay sa buong bansa sa okasyong ito ng ating ika-30 taong anibersaryo. Nagdiriwang ang lahat ng ating mga kasapi, mga balangay sa buong bansa at maging sa ibang bansa, mga kaibigan, masang mag-aaral at buong sambayanan sa araw na ito sapagkat tatlong dekada ang nakalilipas, itinatag ang isang organisasyong masikhay na magpupukaw, mag-oorganisa at magpapakilos sa kabataang mag-aaral para sa pagkilos para sa kanilang interes at para sa paglilingkod at pakikibaka para sa mamamayang api.
Pinagpupugayan natin ang mga kasamang martir na nagbuwis ng buhay sa ngalan ng paglilingkod sa bayan at pagtahak ng landas ng paglaban.
Sa ika-30 taong anibersaryo, pinili natin ang temang: “Bringing forth the Best and the Brightest: 30 years of dedicated service and determined struggle.” Sa pinakapayak, inilalarawan nito ang ating tinanganang tungkulin sa loob ng 30 taon --- paglikha ng pinakamagiting at pinakamaningning na mga kabataang mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng taimtim na paglilingkod at magiting at militanteng paglaban.
Simula nang itatag ang LFS noong 1977, pinanday na nito sa unos ng paglaban ang maraming mga kabataan at ginampanan ang makasaysayang papel ng kabataan sa pagbabagong panlipunan. Pinangunahan ng LFS ang panawagang mag-aral ng labas sa apat na sulok ng paaaralan, maglingkod sa sambayanan, at tanganan ng kabataan ang militanteng landas ng paglaban.
Maningning na kasaysayan
Naging susi ang papel ng LFS, pangunguna nito sa mga boykoteo at mga protesta sa kampus, sa muling pagpapalakas ng kilusang masa ng mamamayan sa panahong ng diktaduryang US-Marcos. Dumagundong sa buong bansa ang panawagan para itigal ang pagtaas ng matrikula at ibalik ang demokratikong karapatan sa loob ng kampus.
Mahalagang tungtungan ang mga aksyong masang pinangunahan ng LFS, bilang isang alyansa noong 1977, at bilang organisasyong masa pagdating ng 1982, sa pagdudulot ng malakihang kilusan ng mamamayan para sa pagpapatalsik kay Marcos simula ng paslangin si Ninoy hanggang sa pagsiklab ng People Power.
Sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Aquino, nagpatuloy sa pagmumulat at pag-oorganisa ang LFS. Libo-libo ang pinangunahan nito sa pagkilos para sa pagbabasura ng baseng militar ng US sa Pilipinas, bagay na nagtatak sa LFS bilang organisasyong may matalas na anti-imperyalistang pagsusuri at linya.
Gayunpaman, sa huling bahagi ng dekada ’80, niligaw ng mga pagkakamali gaya ng insureksyunismo, repormismo, at putsismo ang organisasyon na nagdulot ng pagbagsak ng kalidad at kantidad ng mga kasapi nito. Sinalanta ng mga maling pagsusuri sa lipunan at pagtataksil sa batayang mga prinsipyo at pagsusuring pambansa demokratiko ang organisasyon.
Ngunit mawawakasan ang kasaysayang ito ng mga oportunista at mga repormista sa paglulunsad ng LFS ng malawakang panawagan para sa pagwawasto sa hanay nito at sa kilusang pambansa demokratiko noong maagang dekada ‘90. Determinadong muling palakasin ang organisasyon, nagbalik-aral ang mga kasapi ng LFS sa Lipunan at Rebolusyong Pilipino at mga batayang pagsusuri at prinsipyong pambansa demokratiko. Matalas na inilantad ang mga kamalian at kahungkagan ng linya ng mga oportunista at repormista, at binandila ang landas ng pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka na may sosyalistang perspektiba.
Muling lumakas at lumawak ang LFS at nanguna muli sa laksang bilang ng mga mag-aaral sa militanteng paglaban. Noong 1998, kasama ang Student Christian Mov’t of te Phils (SCMP) at ng iba pang mga organisasyon ng kabataan, itinatag ng LFS ang Anakbayan, isang organisasyong aabot sa mas masaklaw na hanay ng mga kabataan sa paaralan, komunidad, pagawaan at sakahan.
Ang muling pagpapalakas ng organisasyon at saklaw ng LFS ay magiging isang mahalagang salik sa pamumuno nito sa kabataan sa mga pagkilos laban sa rehimeng US-Estrada hanggang sa tuluyang pagbagsak nito noong 2001.
Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, patuloy na lumalakas at lumalawak ang LFS at patuloy na tumatatak sa paninindigan nito para sa mga batayang interes ng mag-aaral at mamamayan. Sa kabila ng matinding hagupit ng pasistang atake ng rehimeng US-Arroyo, nanatiling matatag ang organisasyon at matalas ang paninindigan nito.
Dapat lamang ipagdiwang ang mayamang kasaysayan ng LFS at pagpugayan ang organisasyong walang kasingtindi ang determinasyong baguhin ang lipunan at paglingkuran ang sambayanan.
Matalas na pagsusuri at makabayang oryentasyon
Nananatiling wasto ang pagsusuri at paninindigan ng LFS sa kasalukuyang kalagayang panlipunan. Mahusay na inilalantad ng LFS ang mala-kolonyal at mala-pyudal na katangian ng lipunang Pilipino, ipinauunawa sa mamamayan na hindi tunay na malaya ang bayan mula sa kuko ng dayuhang imperyalismo kung ang iilan at dayuhan ang patuloy na kokontrol sa yaman ng bansa.
Wastong tinutukoy ng LFS ang Imperyalismo, Burukrata Kapitalismo at Pyudalismo bilang pangunahing mga salot sa lipunan at siyang sanhi ng malawakang kahirapan at kagutuman ng mamamayan.
Ihinahayag ng LFS ang landas ng pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka na may sosyalistang perspektiba bilang tanging landas upang makamit ang tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya ng sambayanan. Iminumulat ng LFS ang mamamayan sa pangangailangang kagyat na agawin ang pampulitikang kapangyarihan mula sa iilang naghahari at dayuhan at itindig ang kapangyarihan ng mamamayan sa pagtatadhana ng kinabukasang malaya, demokratiko at masagana.
Pinangungunahan ng LFS ang pagtangan sa oryentasyon ng kilusang kabataan na pukawin, organisahin at pakilusan ang kabataan para sa kanilang interes at mahigpit na isanib ito sa pambansa demokratikong paglaban. Mag-aral, maglingkod, mangahas na makibaka: ito ang ibinanderang islogan ng LFS na umalingawngaw sa buong bayan.
Kalagayan sa ilalm ng rehimeng US-Arroyo
Sa kasalukyan, higit na papatindi ang atake ng imperyalismo at ng rehimeng Arroyo sa mga batayang karapatan at kabuhayan ng mamamayan kasabay ng kampanya ng pasistang panunupil at pamamaslang.
Walang kasingtindi ang pagsalanta ng mga neoliberal na pakana ng imperyalista sa karapatan ng kabataan sa edukasyon na nagbubunsod ng higit na pagtindi ng kolonyal, komersyalisado at represibong katangian nito. Sunod-sunod ngayon ang pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga state at college university gaya ng UP at Earist, habang patuloy namang nagbabanta ang administrasyon ng PUP na itaas din ang matrikula.
Higit na itinutulak ang pagliit ng badyet at pag-abandona ng responsibilidad ng gubyerno sa edukasyon at mga pakana para kumalap ang mga paaralan ng sariling pondo. Sa kabila pa nito, higit namang sinusuhayan ang walang ampat na pagtataas ng matrikula ng mga pribadong paaralan ---kumbinasyong tiyak na dudulo sa mas maraming bilang ng kabataang hindi makakapag-aral ang mga pakanang ito.
Kasabay ng kumersyalisasyon, higit naman ang bulag na pagsunod ng gubyerno sa mga pakana ng dayuhang monopolyo kapitalismo upang higit na gamitin ang edukasyon para sa pagsasamantala. Patunay nyan ang proyektong NCAE o National Career Assessment Exam na walang ibang layon kundi higit na lumikha ng murang lakas paggawa para sa dayuhan.
Sa kabila nito, sumsisigabo ang kilusang protesta ng mga mag-aaral. Kamakailan lamang, sinagot ng isang malakihang walk-out sa klase ng mahigit 7,000 mag-aaral sa PUP ang panukalang pagtataas ng matrikula mula P12-P75. Patuloy din ang pagkakampanya sa UP Diliman, Earist at iba pang mga paaralan laban sa pagtaas ng mga bayarin.
Kaya naman pilit pinupuntirya ng estado ang kilusang kabataan-estudyante ng mga pakanang panunupil, harasment at pamamaslang. Nangangamba ang rehimeng US-Arroyo na higit na sumigabo ang kilusang kabataan na makapagtutulak ng higit na paglalantad at paglaban sa rehimen.
Nitong nakaraang pasukan, nagbanta ang militar na papasok sa mga paaralan. Nais din ng gubyerno na ibalik ang ROTC upang maging instrumento nito sa higit na panunupil. Todo-todo ang pakanang harasment, pagtarget sa mga lider, at iba’t ibang porma ng panunupil.
Higit na pinatitindi ng US at rehimen ang utak-giyera at teroristang mga pakana nito upang panatilihin ang sarili sa kapangyarihan. Nag-aastang Marcos ito sa ilusyong makokonsolida ang pamumuno ang mananatili pang pangulo hanggang 2010 at lagpas pa.
Ipinagpapatuloy sa balangkas ng Oplan Bantay Laya 2 ang duwag na digma ni Arroyo simula pa noong 2001. Bahagi ng mga atake sa progresibong kilusan ang pagpapakana ng hindi makatarungang panghuhuli kay Prop Jose Ma. Sison at pag-atake sa NDFP peace panel. Signal ito ng tuluyan nang pagbasura ng rehimen sa usapang pangkapayapaan at pagpapatindi lalo ng mga duwag na pakanang panunupil sa mga lider.
Higit na nadaragdagan ang kaso ng mga pagpaslang at pagdakip na pinapakana ng militar. Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, hindi pa rin inililitaw ng mga militar ang dalawang kasapi ng LFS, sina Karen Empeno at Sherlyn Cadapan.
Sa kasalukuyan, sinasalanta ng giyera ang Mindanao sa pagnunguna ng mga sundalong Amerikano upang higit na maitulak ang kanilang pampulitika, pang-ekonomiya, at pang-militar na adyenda sa Pilipinas at sa Asya.
Sa kabila ng mga ilusyon at kasinungalngan ng paglago ng ekonomiya, higit na krisis ang kinakaharap ng mamamayan. Hindi kailanman masosolusyunan ang tumitinding krisis hanggat malakolonyal at malapyudal ang sistemang panlipunan. Sa katunayan, nagbabadya ang higit na krisis ng Imperyalismong US sanhi ng mga artipisyal na ispekulasyon at overpricing ng lupa na tiyak na sasalanta din sa mga kolonya nito sa kasama ang Pilipinas.
Laksang kabataan, sa pangunguna ng LFS, sa buong bansa ang handang kumilos para sa pagwawakas ng bulok na sistemang panlipunan at para sa pagbigo sa higit na mga atake ng Imperyalismo at ng mga tuta nito sa interes ng mamamayan. Panata nating patindihin ang paninindigan at higit na itaas ang antas ng milanteng paglaban ng kabataan.
Mga tungkulin
Kailangan nating higit na palakasin at palawakin ang ating organisasyon. Dapat tuloy-tuloy na magsagawa ng pampulitikang edukasyon sa hanay ng mga kasapi at masa na magpapaliwanag sa pinakamarami sa katotohanan ng bulok na sistemang panlipunan at pangangailangan ng demokratikong paglaban.
Dapat nating tuloy-tuloy na pamunuan ang mga kampanyang masa ng mga mag-aaral sa buong bansa at matalas itong ikawing sa sektoral at pampulitikang mga usapin. Dapat din nating matalas na ilantad at labanan ang teroristang pakana ng US at ni Arroyo sa ating bayan.
Patuloy nating ibandera ang matalasa na anti-imperyalistang paninindigan at magsagawa ng maramihang mga pag-aaral hinggil sa pangunahing salot na ito ng daigdig. Dapat nating matalas na labanan ang teroritang digma na pinapakana ng imperyalismo sa daigdig.
Kailangang higit na mas marami ang ipaloob sa ating organisasyon. Mahusay na pagtambalin ang agresibong pagpapalawak at pagkokonsolida ng mga balangay. Mapapakilos lamang natin sa epektibong paraan ang laksang libong mag-aaral kung malaking bahagi nito ay organisado at nakapaloob sa ating mga balangay.
Sa paparating na ika-16 na Kongreso ng ating organisasyon sa Oktubre at pagkatapos, inaaasahang higit na mga maniningning na tagumpay pa at patuloy na paninidigan at pakikibaka ang ipapamalas ng LFS. Patuloy na papandayin ang best and brightest sa pamamagitan ng militanteng paglaban at pakikibaka para sa tunay na kalayaan.
Muli, pagbubunyi at pagpupugay sa 30 taon ng paglilingkod at pakikibaka ng LFS. Pinakamataas na pagpupugay kina Cris Hugo, Rie Mon Guran, Farley Alcantara, at iba pang mga kabataang martir na higit nating inspirasyon sa patuloy na pag-aaral, paglilingkod at pangangahas na makibaka.
Ipagbunyi ang ika-30 anibersaryo ng League of Filipino Students!
Mabuhay ang pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka!
Mabuhay ang kabataan at sambayanang lumalaban!
Mag-aral, maglingkod, mangahas na makibaka!
###
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"Everything is political and it has a lot to do with sex," - MLQ3
"Hindi totoong raket ang blogging. Enterpreneurship ito...something you build," - Abe Olandres
"Link-up. We should use blogging in order to represent the interests of our generation," -Bikoy Villanueva These are some memorable quotes from the discussions during first
Bloggers' Kapihan last Saturday at PSHS.
During the past months, I have been thinking of an analogy that could best explain the internet and the blogosphere. A description that, on one hand, would help people overcome the simplistic and self-centered "personal diary" or
"angas repository" thinking, on the other, would not tolerate the extreme "alternate reality" and "blogging-will-change-everything" beliefs.
What captured that thought was a simple image of a place where people could get regular updates and views from other people about their common interests, share their thoughts and stories, engage in fiery political and theoretical discussions, perhaps even plan courses of action and activities. A place of
chismis and
kwentuhan, where the
intrigeros, madaldal and the
ma-epal people are sikat: coffee shops or
kapihan.
The blogosphere is basically a supersized, borderless kapihan. An international coffee-table discussion group where people discuss fashion trends, politics, showbiz, gadgets, business, their personal lives, etc. Some are such good story-tellers that they get sponsors. During times of social crisis, this kapihan could also be the center for discussions and calls for action.
The irony is that now, we wanted to turn the virtual into life and organize a real kapihan. Which is tempting me into thinking that this meeting is, ultimately, all about the free, real (not virtual) coffee and donuts. Hehe.
Bloggers' Kapihan last Saturday in Pisay had a bunch of young people as audience. The crew and the speakers talked to mostly 14-16 year olds who are starting out as young bloggers.
The speakers were some of the best bloggers in town, and they really knew what they were talking about. But they didn't really get all geeky, technical, grand and theoretical in their presentations. The discussions were simple and personal, the gathering could have easily been mistaken for a storytelling session. The discussions ran like they were blogs.
Bikoy took-off by discussing how he started blogging as a personal journal whom he thought nobody would get to read. He ended encouraging the young people to "link-up," to blog not just for themselves but to appreciate blogging as a means for expression of collective interests.
Yuga showed the students that blogging was serious business, literally and/or otherwise. He discussed how people can earn big time using blogs. But what's more important was showing how this was possible: by using blogging as a means for effective communication and influence. Earning through blogs isn't a raket, it's really about talking to people and getting them the information they need. This thought opens up blogging not only as a tool for making money, but as a tool for education and providing relevant information.
While MLQ3 stressed that everything is really about politics, his discussion had more to do with sex. Engaging with the minds of the 14 year olds discussing how Internet is made for porn, and how you could either be a voyeur or an exhibitionist, he sets the stage to inspire young people to get into blogging, take it all out there, recognize the power of engaging in discussions, and not leave the opportunity of messing with people's lives in the hands of a few powerful and popular people.
After the discussions, a student asked the speakers: "if I wanted to start a blog critical of something, say the government, what advice can you give me? are there limits to what I can write?"
I was glad that there were people now asking these important questions. I hope to see new generation of bloggers who would want to blog not only out of desire to be popular or not just to have personal virtual spaces, but to realize the power of the blogosphere to change people, thinking, and society.
Good speakers, a bunch of great stories, young and idealistic audience; plus the free coffee, iced tea and donuts --- the BloggersKapihan was a success. The discussions went way Beyond the Basics, because it has introduced the youngsters to what blogging really means aside from changing your blog header and creating your profile. It welcomed them to the kapihan which is the blogosphere.
Congrats to the BK crew: Shari, Ederic, Bikoy, Sir Martz, Sarah, Mong, Jhay. Let's all look forward to Bloggers Kapihan 2.
--
Link to Jhay's round-up of entries on the BK. I'm posting photos and maybe even videos of the event in a day or two.
studentstrike.blogspot.com
___(('Read the whole text of this entry >>'))
Prof. Jose Maria Sison
(SPEECH DELIVERED BEFORE THE FOUNDING CONGRESS OF KABATAANG MAKABAYAN AT THE YMCA YOUTH FORUM HALL ON NOVEMBER 30, 1964)
Itinuturo ng katwiran ang tayo’y umasa sa ating sarili at huwag antayin sa iba ang ating kabuhayan. Itinuturo ng katwiran ang tayo’y maglakas na maihapag ang naghaharing kasamaan sa ating bayan.Panahon na ngayon, dapat nating ipakilala na tayo’y may sariling pagdaramdam, may puri, may hiya at pagdadamayan.
Ngayon ay panahong dapat simulan ang pagsisiwalat ng mga mahal atdakilang aral na magwawasak sa masinsing tabing na bumubulag sa ating kaisipan; panahon na ngayong dapat makilala ng mga Pilipino ang pinagbuhatan ng kanilang mga kahirapan.Kaya, mga kababayan, ating idilat ang bulag na kaisipan at kusang igugol sa kagalingan ang ating lakas sa tunay at lubos na pag-asa na magtagumpay sa nilalayong kaginhawahan ng bayang tinubuan.”
—- Andres Bonifacio
NO MORE PROPITIOUS day than this can be chosen to found Kabataang Makabayan. Today is the 101st birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, a great hero from the proletariat, who in the vigor of his youth led the secret society of Katipunan and mobilized the patriotic forces that generated the Philippine revolution of 1896 - the revolution which smashed Spanish colonialism throughout the archipelago.
Andres Bonifacio was the disciplined revolutionary activist who sought and found in revolution the only process that could give full expression to the national and social aspirations of our people which had so long been suppressed by a foreign power prettified by the soft and evasive terms of liberal reformers.
Andres Bonifacio was the uncompromising leader who was not only inspired by the cogitations and formulations of the Propaganda Movement but was also ready to act in concert with his people in armed struggle against tyranny the moment peaceful and legal struggle reached the white wall of futility.
Thus, Andres Bonifacio today stands as a model of revolutionary militance among the Filipino youth and among the advocates of national democracy. His revolutionary courage is a beacon to us all. If Kabataang Makabayan succeeds in its patriotic mission, one important requirement it shall have met is to be imbued with the revolutionary courage of Andres Bonifacio, the courage that gives life and force to the principles that we now uphold in this epoch.
We recall the memory of Andres Bonifacio not only because we happen to meet on this day but more because we understand his continuing historical relevance to our present situation and we perceive the leading role of his class in this epoch during which our national efforts at basic industrialization and overthrowing feudalism are constantly frustrated by U.S. imperialism and its local reactionary allies.
We remember that, after the death of Bonifacio, the revolutionary initiative of the peasants and the workers in the Katipunan and the anti-colonialist struggle in general was undermined and debilitated by the liberal compromises made by the ilustrado leadership. The compromises came one after the other: the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, Aguinaldo’s trust in Yankee confidence-men in Hongkong, the bourgeois landlord upper hand in the Malolos Congress, and the ultimate surrender of the ilustrados and collaboration with the U.S. imperialist regime.
Though we are aggrieved by the fact that the Philippine revolution has been interrupted and that U.S. imperialism has grabbed the triumph of revolution from our hands, we must take a scientific view of our national history. We recognize such objective historical conditions as that no matter how sharply anti-colonial and anti-clerical were the ilustrados they did not yet have the ability to comprehend fully modern imperialism; that the working class was still in the embryo stage of its development; that the peasants in the provinces were misled by the equivocating demagoguery of both native landlords and liberals; and that U.S. imperialism was not only superior in industrial might but also well-versed in a liberal jargon which could easily deceive the newly-emerged Filipino bourgeoisie.
U.S. imperialism came to the Philippines and succeeded in imposing its sovereignty upon our people by military violence and by liberal guile. Whereas our people were already capable of crushing Spanish colonialism within the archipelago, they were still incapable of crushing a new type of colonialism, the imperialism of the United States of America.
Dr. Jose Rizal himself in his essay, “The Philippines A Century Hence”, had predicted that the United States of America would come to conquer us. It was a necessity for a capitalist system, reaching its final stage of development - monopoly capital - to seek colonies for its sources of raw materials and a dumping ground for surplus products and surplus capital and to pass on to other peoples the exploitation and disequilibrium that would otherwise be suffered by its own people alone.
Rizal saw the United States of America as a covetous and expansionist power, no different from Great Britain, Germany, France, Czarist Russia and Japan. It was out to rob the world, especially the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. A newly-risen imperialist power with its ultra-national capitalist objectives, the Unites States would be determined to take over the colonial possessions of a decrepit Spanish power in Latin America, in the Pacific and in the Philippines.
The Philippines was specially important to the imperialist planners of the United States as it could very well serve as the staging area for the U.S. venture to participate with the other Western powers in the despoliation of China. Until now, the Philippines serves as a staging area for U.S. imperialism to attack and subvert Southeast Asia and the rest of Asia.
By all means, therefore, as a matter of “manifest destiny”, the United States would beguile the credulous Emilio Aguinaldo in a maneuver to capture Manila and arrange the Treaty of Paris whereby Spanish colonialism ceded the Philippines to U.S. imperialism upon the payment of $20 million, and thus provoked the Filipino people into a war where 250,000 Filipino lives were snuffed out as the cost of trusting imperialism.
U.S. imperialism is deceptive and violent. The violence it unleashed against our people was justified in terms of Christianity and democracy. U.S. imperialism wanted to “Christianize” the Philippines after 350 years of Spanish clerical rule and to teach us “democracy” even after it had crushed the national democratic movement tested in the fire of the revolution of 1896 and which bore the first Philippine republic.
After suppressing the first Philippine Republic through the most brutal military operations, the U.S. government started to employ a semantical cover for its scheme of domination and put up such hypocritical slogans as “benevolent assimilation” and “education for self government” to justify its unwanted presence. During a full decade of the most damnable suppression of any public expression of nationalism and bribery of the native bourgeoisie, U.S. imperialism started to glamorize certain political figures as “nationalists”. These were the nationalists who comprised and accepted the U.S.-imposed limitation that they go to Washington and beg for Philippine independence. The Americans conveniently used these figures to prove their self-proclaimed benevolence and to steal the fire from the revolutionary anti-imperialists who preferred to take to the hills and prepare for a more meaningful struggle for national independence.
Until now, the Americans try to misrepresent Filipino nationalism. They would rather have what they call “positive” nationalism - a positive force in the “special relationship” between the Philippines and the United States. Compromise with U.S. imperialism is what is called positive nationalism.
There is only one nationalism that we appreciate. It is that which refers to the national democratic revolution, the Philippine revolution, whose main tasks now are the liquidation of imperialism and feudalism in order to achieve full national freedom and democratic reforms.
The Filipino nation has been formed through struggle against Spanish colonialism and, soon after, U.S. imperialism. As U.S. imperialism triumphed by brute force in the Filipino-American War, it must be vanquished by the resumption of the Philippine revolution of 1896.
There can be no genuine national democracy in the Philippines without U.S. imperialism being done away with first.
There is a constant attempt of imperialist propaganda to impugn Filipino nationalism and communism together. The communist bogey has always been raised with the view of frightening our people. But, little do the reactionary propagandists realize that through their own efforts the people are getting to know that it is the imperialist strategy to destroy communists first to destroy the nationalists. In the strategic thinking of the U.S. imperialists which has been tested in their counter-revolutionary practices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, the most relentless anti-imperialists - whether communists or leftwing nationalists - must first be destroyed for any imperialist scheme of exploitation to succeed.
Thus, in the Philippines, we have seen the communists as the main target of massive attacks against civil liberties by the U.S. colonial government in 1931, by the Japanese after their successful landing in 1942, and again by the U.S. imperialists in their attempt after the Pacific War to recapture us. If we study closely the ratification of the Bell Trade Act and the Parity Amendment, we will discover that the communists had first to be harassed, imprisoned, assassinated and provoked before the bourgeois nationalist leaders in the Nacionalista Party and in the Democratic alliance could be discouraged and would compromise.
What the U.S. imperialists and their local cohorts, the compradors and big landlords, do not want to happen is the alliance of all antiimperialists as has oftentimes happened in many Asian countries with fatal effectiveness against imperialism.
With the continuing triumph of U.S. imperialism in the Philippines and the stability of its control, it is the chief task of the Filipino youth to resume and complete the unfinished revolution under the banner of national democracy, to expose and oppose the national and social iniquities caused by U.S. imperialism and its local reactionary allies.
If the Filipino youth should relent in this task, then their people shall continue to suffer the direct impositions of U.S. imperialism as well as feudalism which the former protects for its own selfish profit.
The youth today face two basic problems: U.S. imperialism and feudalism. These two are the principal causes of poverty, unemployment, inadequate education, ill-health, crime and immorality which afflict the entire nation and the youth. The youth do not only suffer with their people the iniquities of U.S. imperialism and feudalism but are also the first ones to suffer them.
It is the task of the Filipino youth to study carefully the large confrontation of forces between U.S. imperialism and feudalism on one side and national democracy on the other side. To know the nature of this contradiction of forces is to know the dynamism and internal motion of our semi-colonial and semi-feudal society.
For the youth to know so much as for them to act more effectively and cooperate more thoroughly on the side of progress in the historical process of change.
Kabataang Makabayan, in its historic role as the vanguard organization of Filipino youth, should know the balance of forces between imperialism and feudalism on the one hand and national democracy on the other. On the other side of U.S. imperialism are the compradors and the big landlords. On the side of national democracy are the broad masses of our people, composed of the working class and peasantry to which the vast majority of the Filipino youth today belong; the petty bourgeoisie, composed of small property-owners, students, intellectuals and professionals; and the national bourgeoisie, composed of Filipino entrepreneurs and traders.
From the present scheme of social classes in the Philippines today, we can easily observe that the forces of national democracy - the motive forces of the Philippine revolution - are now far stronger in the 1960’s than they were in 1899-1902 when U.S. imperialism first trampled upon our national freedom with the most brutal success.
From the same scheme of social classes, we can derive a new and powerful combination of youth - the students, young professionals, labor youth and the peasant youth. Above all, the Filipino youth should integrate themselves with the masses in order to achieve victory in the fight for national freedom and democracy.
Kabataang Makabayan, as the vanguard organization of the Filipino youth, should assist in the achievement of an invincible unity of all national classes and forces and to push further the struggle for napolitical, cultural and military - against the leading enemy, landlordism, both of which have frustrated the national democratic aspirations of the Philippine revolution of 1896 and have made the suffering and exploitation of our people more complex and more severe.
This generation of Filipino youth are lucky to be at this point of history when U.S. imperialism is fast weakening at all significant levels of conflict; that between capitalism and socialism: that between the capitalist class and the working class; and that between imperialism and national independence movements in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Even as the Philippines today is the scene of frantic U.S. imperialist re-adjustment and it appears that U.S. imperialism would succeed in controlling the country more thoroughly by destroying our national industrial base and by shifting it back to a plantation economy dominated by the U.S. agro-corporations, the Filipino youth would find it easier than they expect to overthrow U.S. imperialism provided they are inspired and guided by the new national democratic objectives of the Philippine revolution.
The October 2nd demonstrations against U.S.imperialism in front of the U.S. embassy and Malacanang Palace, whose participants and sympathizers Kabataang Makabayan should now consolidate, has already manifested the rising wave of national democracy among our people. Such a mass action has shown to us the changing balance of forces in our country.
The objective national and world-wide conditions favor a national democratic movement of the Filipino youth. It is high time for the Filipino youth to raise and carry forward the red banner of Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan, with the new emblem of the worker-peasant alliance. ###
for more speeches and other facts about Prof. Sison and his continuing detention, go here.
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Latest on Prof. Sison's arrest:
Dutch judge extends Sison detention for 14 more days.Joma is in solitary confinement and is being denied access to media and even his doctors. This is tantamount to torture according to Committee DEFEND.
They said Prof. Sison is being detained at the National Penitentiary in Scheveningen, a facility with was used by the Nazi’s during World War II to imprison and torture Dutch resistance fighters.
Meanwhile, support from all over the world pours in. See
ArkibongBayan for coverage of protest actions. Former US atty-general
Ramsey Clark also
calls for Sison's release.
Kapirasong Kritika, one of my favorite blogs, tackles the
lies being peddled by the government and the reactionaries on Joma and the implications of his arrest.
KR Guda posts
Jailing Joma, pointing out something that is being left out by the media and the column writers: that Kintanar and Tabara were military combatants at the time they were killed by the NPA.
Today, KR posts
his response to Conrado De Quiros' Inquirer
column hailing Joma's arrest:
He is entitled to his opinions. But to applaud the arrest and trampling of the rights of a man that he is not sure is guilty in the first place but nevertheless dislikes is a betrayal of the very thing he claims to fight for:
Justice.
Here is a Q&A on the basic questions concerning Prof. Sison's arrest prepared by ILPS-HongKong.
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Noong Agosto 28, 2007, nagulat ang buong mundo sa balitang inaresto si Prop. Jose Maria Sison ng Dutch police sa kanyang tirahan sa Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Kasabay nito ay ni-reyd ang kanyang bahay. Bandang 9:30 ng umaga, sinira ng mga hindi nakaunipormeng pulisya ang pintuan ng kanyang bahay at buong araw na hinalughog ang kanyang bahay. Pinagkukuha ang mga kompyuter, CD, mga dokumento at iba pa. Ni-reyd din ang opsina ng NDF at mga bahay ng mga opisyal nito sa Utrecht at pinagkukuha ang mga gamit. Walang ipinakitang search warrant sa ilang mga raid.
Ayon Atty. Michiel Pestman, legal counsel ni Prop. Sison, nagpresenta ang Dutch police ng ‘search warrant’ kay Prop. Sison sa kanyang tirahan. Inimbitahan siya ng mga ito na tumungo sa headquarters ng Dutch police para diumano magbigay ng mga update ukol sa mga death threats na natatanggap niya. Pagdating sa Dutch police station, ipinasok si Prop. Sison sa isang kwarto para diumano tanungin. Nang mahiwalay na sa kanyang abogado, agad nang tinangay si Prop. Sison tungo sa sentral na lunsod ng The Hague upang doon iditine.
Sa madaling salita, nilinlang siya ng Dutch police at dinakip siya sa ilalim ng mga iligal at kwestyunableng mga sirkumstansya.
Kinasuhan si Prop. Sison ng ‘inciting murder in the Philippines’ kaugnay sa pagparusa at pagpatay ng mga partisanong yunit ng New People’s Army (NPA) kina Arturo Tabara at Romulo Kintanar noong 2001. Ayon sa Dutch law, maaari nilang kasuhan ng kasong kriminal ang sinumang naakusahang gumawa, nagplano o nag-utos ng krimen kung ginawa ito sa kanilang bansa.
Kasalukuyan pa ring nakakulong si Prop. Sison sa The Hague at malala pa sa pinakamasahol na kriminal ang pagtrato sa kanya. Siya ay nasa solitary confinement, bawal bisitahin ng ninuman bukod sa kanyang abogado. Ni hindi siya pinayagang pumili ng doktor na magbibigay ng medical assistance sa kanya. Bawal ang TV, libro, o kahit man musika sa kanyang piitan.
Matapos ang kanyang initial hearing noong Agosto 31, dinagdagan pa ng Dutch judge ng 14 na araw ang kanyang pagkakakulong dahil mabibigat daw ang mga kasong isinampa sa kanya at baka raw siya tumakas. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, nananatiling mataas ang morale ni Prop. Sison ayon sa kanyang abogado at mga mahal sa buhay.
Sino ba si Prop. Jose Maria Sison?
Kung nananatiling matatag si Prop. Sison, ito ay dahil hindi na bago sa kanya ang masadlak sa sitwasyong tulad ng kanyang kinalalagyan sa kasalukuyan.
Mula pa noong itatag niya ang Kabataang Makabayan noong 1968, batid na ni Prop. Sison ang lahat ng panganib at paghihirap na maaari niyang danasin sa ngalan ng pagtataguyod ng pambansa demokratikong rebolusyon.
Maikling talambuhay
Ipinanganak si Prop. Sison sa pamilya ng mga panginoong maylupa noong Pebrero 8, 1939 sa Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Grumadwyet siya sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas noong 1959.
Naging panandang-bato sa kasaysayan ng kilusang kabataan-estudyante ang puspusang pagkawing ni Prop. Sison sa KM sa mga unyon ng mga manggawa, lalo na sa Lapiang Manggagawa kung saan tumayo rin siya bilang pangkalahatang kalihim. Noong 1966, naging tagapagtatag na pangkalahatang kalihim siya ng Movement for the Advancement of nationalism (Man), isang malawak na alyansa para sa pambansang soberanya at demokrasya. Mula 1963 hanggang 1968, naging editor din si Prop. Sison ng dyornal na Progressive Review.
Taong 1971 nang isulat at ilathala ni Prop. Sison ang Philippine Society and Revolution (Lipunan at Rebolusyong Pilipino) na siyang nagsilbing esensyal na gabay sa pagtalakay ng pambansa demokratikong kilusan sa pagsusuri at mga tungkulin nito sa lipunang Pilipino.
Si Prop. Sison rin ang naging tagapagtatag na tagapangulo ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas noong 1969 sa diwa at gabay ng Kaisipang Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo. Noong Marso 1969, pinangunahan niya ang pagtatatag ng NPA, ang armadong pwersa ng PKP. Mula noon ay naglunsad na ang NPA ang pakikidigmang gerilya na kumalat sa pambansang saklaw.
Bago maaresto si Prop. Sison noong Nobyembre 1977, siya ang tumayong pampulitikang lider ng PKP at nagpayaman sa mga ideolohikal na batayan ng PKP. Nang makalaya siya matapos ang unang People Power uprising noong 1986, pumasok si Prop. Sison bilang faculty sa Asian Studies Center sa UP.
Kinansela ng gobyernong Aquino ang kanyang passport nang magtungo siya sa Europa noong 1988 at mula noon ay naninirahan na sa Netherlands bilang political refugee at nagsilbing Chief Political Consultant ng NDFP; at nitong huli’y tagapangulo ng International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS), isang pandaigdigang organisasyong anti-imperyalista.
Listahan ng mga ni-recycle at gawa-gawang kaso
Sa lahat ng mga kasong isinampa kay Prop. Sison, wala ni isang napatunayan at naipanalo dahil na rin sa kawalan ng mga ligal na batayan.
Makailang-ulit nang nagsasampa ng mga gawa-gawang kaso at panggigipit kay Prop. Sison, mula pa ng panahon ni Marcos hanggang sa kasalukuyan, ngunit lahat ng mga ito ay ibinasura ng korte at napatunayang pakana lamang at gawa-gawa.
1977-1986 – Ikinulong at matinding tortyur sa ilalim ng diktaduryang Marcos, kinasuhan sa dalawang magkaibang komisyong militar ng rebellion at subversion. Ang mga kasong ito ay ibinasura matapos mapatalsik si Marcos. Lumaya si Prop. Sison noong Marso 5, 1986 at pumasok bilang faculty ng Asian Studies Center at University of the Philippines.
1988 – Nagsalita si Prop. Sison, mula Setyembre 1986, sa mga unibersidad sa iba’t ibang panig ng daigdig hinggil sa kalagayan ng Pilipinas. Inatake ng militar ang kanyang mga pahayag at pinressure ang gubyerno ni Aquino na ikansela ang kanyang passport. Kinasuhan siya muli ng gawa-gawang ng subversion at kinansela ang kanyang passport.
1988-1992 – Naghapag ng political asylum si Prop. Sison sa The Netherlands noong Oktubre 1988 dahil sa arbitraryong pagkansela sa kanyang pasaporte. Dahil sa matinding interbensyon ng gubyerno ng Pilipinas, hindi binigyan ng asylum si Prop. Sison ng Dutch Ministry of Justice noong July 1990.
Pero ang desisyong ito ay binaliktad ng mas mataas na Judicial Department of the Council of State noong 1992 na nagpapawalang-bisa sa desisyon. Kinilala si Prop. Sison bilang political refugee at tinuligsa ang panggigipit sa kanya.
1992-1994 – Sa kabila nang desisyong ito ng Council of State, hindi pa rin binigyan ng asylum si Prof. Sison. Nirepeal na ang Anti-Subversion law noong 1992 sa Pilipinas na siyang batayan ng mga kaso, at dinidmiss na ng Pasig city court ang kasong subersyon. Ibinasura na rin noong Abril 1994 ang kaso ng Plaza Miranda bombing noong 1971 na “pawang ispekulasyon.”
Hindi pa rin ibinigay ang asylum at sa halip ay binansagan siyang “terorista” dahil sa mga gawa-gawang intelligence reports.
1995 – 1996 – Pinagtibay ng Council of State at iba pang korte ang kanyang mga karapatan bilang refugee at dahil wala naman siyang mga kaso, dapat siyang bigyan ng residency sa Netherlands. Pero sa kabila nito’y ginipit pa rin si Prop. Sison dahil umano sa mga ulat na may “links ito sa mga terorista.”
1998 – Abril 1998, ang justice secretary ng Pilipinas ay naglabas ng certification na nagsasabing wala ng pending na kaso laban kay Prop. Sison. Pero tuloy-tuloy ang gubyerno sa mga atakeng propaganda.
2001- 2002 – Nagrekwes sa US ang gubyerno na ilagay si Prop. Sison sa listahan ng mga “terorista.” Agosto 2002, nilagay ng US si Prop. Sison sa listahan ng mga “terorista.” Malinaw itong walang batayan dahil wala namang anumang kaso na maaaring pagbatayan nito. Sa kabila nito, pinagbawalan sya magtabaho, tinanggalan ng mga benepisyo, finreeze ang bank account. Kahit ang royalty payments sa pag-akda ng libor pinagbawal. Nilabag ang kanyang mga batayang karapatang pantao. Itinulak ding ilagay siya sa “terrorist blacklist” ng European Union na kanilang sinunod.
2003 – Kinasuhan si Prop. Sison ng pagpatay kay Col. Rodolfo Aguinaldo. Agad itong naisantabi ng mga abugado dahil sa malinaw na pagiging gawa-gawa nito at politically motivated.
2005-2006 – Nagsampa ng kung ano-anung gawa gawang kaso kasama na ang pagsampa ng kasong rebelyon noong Abril 21, 2006 kasama ang 50 pang mga tao, kasama ang Batasan 6. Saklaw nito lahat ng mga ginawa umano nya mula noong 1986, sa kabila ng mga nauna nang pagbabasura ng korte.
2007- Hulyo 2007, nagdesisyon ang European Court of First Instance na nagpapawalangbisa sa paglalagay kay Prop. Sison sa “terrosit list” at pagfreeze sa kanyang assets. Pinagbayad ng korte ang EU Council sa mga gastos sa litigation. Maaari pang kasuhan din ang Dutch government at pagbayarin ito sa paglabag sa karapatan ni Prop. Sison.
Hulyo 2, ibinasura na ang kaso ng rebelyon laban sa kanya at lahat ng mga umano’y ebidensya simula ng 1968 hanggang 2006, kasama ang sa mga akusasyon na ibinabato sa kanya sa kasalukuyang kaso. Lahat ng ebidensya ay hindi na maaaring gamitin sa mga bagong kaso sa korte ng Pilipinas.
Samakatuwid, malinaw na walang batayan ang mga panibagong kaso at panibago na naman itong paggagawa-gawa ng kaso para lamang i-harass at gipitin si Prop. Sison.
Bakit dapat ipanawagan ang kagyat na pagpapalaya kay Prop. Sison?
Makatarungan at dapat lamang na dumagundong ang panawagang kagyat na palayain si Prop. Sison dahil sa mga sumusunod na mga dahilan:
Recyled at gawa-gawa ang mga kasong isinampa sa kanya
Walang ligal na batayan, maging sa international laws, ang ginawang pag-aresto at patuloy na pagkulong sa kanya ng Dutch government.
Pinapatunayan lamang nito ang desperasyon ng gobyerno ni Arroyo at pakikipagkunstabahan nito sa gobyernong Dutch para masakote si Prop. Sison. Unti-unti na ring lumalabas ang interes at motibo maging ng imperyalistang US sa kaso ni Prop. Sison sa pamamagitan ng pinakahuling pahayag ni US Ambassador to the Philippines Kirstie Kenney na gagawin ng US ang lahat ng makakaya nito para ‘makatulong’ sa kaso sa ngalan diumano ng ‘gera laban sa terorismo.’
Lantaran nitong sinasabotahe ang usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng NDFP at Republika ng Pilipinas
Sinasalamin ng pag-atake at pag-reyd sa sentral na opisina ng nDFP na kailanman ay hindi sinsero ang RP na ipagpatuloy ang usapang pangkapayapaan. Bagkus, walang ibang layunin ito kundi ang ibulid ang NDFP sa kapitulasyon (pagsuko) sa mga kagustuhan ng gobyerno ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nang walang karampatang pagdinig at konsiderasyon sa mga lehitimong panawagan ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan.
Tulad ng ginawa nito sa MILF, gumagawa ng scenario ang RP upang i-demonize at ipawalambisa ang usapang pangkapayapaan habang buong kapal ng mukha na ipinangangalandakan ni Arroyo na ‘I have a peace to win’. Ang totoo, bukambibig ng gobyerno ang kapayapaan ngunit naghahanda ito para sa isang mas mapanupil at mapinsalang digmaan.
Lalong paiigtingin ng gobyerno ni Arroyo ang all-out-war laban sa ‘terorismo’
Ilang ulit mang ikaila ni Arroyo at ng mga alipores niyang sina National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales at DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales na wala raw bahid ng pulitika ang pagkaaresto kay Prop. Sison sa usapang pangkapayapaan dahil ito raw ay isa lamang kasong kriminal, mahalagang mabatid at masuri ang implikasyon nito sa paglaban ng malawak na mamamayang Pilipino para sa karapatang-tao at demokratikong mga karapatan.
Tinatayang tiyak na gagamitin ng RP ang pagkaaresto kay Prop. Sison upang bigyang-daan ang higit pang pagsupil sa mga ligal at lehitimong organisasyong matagal nang isinasangkot sa kanya at binabansagang komunista. Sa pamamagitan ng bisa ng Human Security Act o Terror Law, bibigyang ligal na batayan ang panggigiit sa mga organisasyong tinaguriang ‘communist fronts’ o di kaya’y sa mga personalidad at lider-aktibistang kilalang kritiko ng gobyerno.
Mangyari pa, naghahanda rin ang gobyerno ni Arroyo na supilin at dahasin ang mga malalakihang pagkilos bilang pagkondena sa ginawang pagkulong kay Prop. Sison. Isang halimbawa na rito ang di-makatarungang pagbuwag sa ginawang pagkilos ng mga progresibong organisasyon, sa pangunguna ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, sa Dutch Embassy kamakailan lang.
Ang pagtanggol sa karapatan ni Prop. Sison ay pagpapatibay sa pambansa demokratikong adhikain ng mamamayan
Hindi makakailang kinakatawan ng buhay at pakikibaka ni Prop. Sison ang kawastuhan at katatagan ng pambansang demokratikong adhikain sa harap ng ilang dekada nang mga pagsubok at pakikibaka.
Ang atake kay Prop. Sison ay atake sa lahat demokratikong at anti-imperyalistang interes na matagal na niyang ipinaglalaban. ###
Palayain si Prop. Jose Maria Sison!
Kondenahin ang panggigiit ng gobyernong US-Dutch-Pilipinas!
Itaguyod ang usapang pangkapayapaan!
Isulong ang pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka!
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crap, crap and more crap. at least there's good news from overseas. what say you of the CBCP taking its cue from myanmar's monks? ###
