MEDIA RELEASE
12 August 2011
MANILA — “Given the present disposition of the Aquino regime, Charter change will most likely not serve the Moro people but the US’ capitalist and militarist interests.”
This was labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno’s reaction to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s re-assertion of its demand for a Moro sub-state more than a week after the secret meeting between Pres. Benigno Aquino III and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim was made public.
The creation of an Islamic sub-state would entail changing the 1987 Constitution, giving rise to speculations that the Aquino government is using the MILF to push through with a Charter change drive.
“Aquino seems poised to exploit the Moro people’s legitimate demand for self-determination to advance the thoroughly illegitimate interests of the US in the country through Charter change,” said Roger Soluta, KMU secretary-general.
“While it is currently distancing itself from Cha-cha, the Aquino regime is making it appear that the Moro people’s interests will be advanced by a move that is actually aimed at advancing the US’s exploitative and militarist interests,” he added.
KMU said the Aquino government’s real motive in pushing for Cha-cha is to change the economic provisions in the Constitution and allow 100% foreign ownership of land and businesses in the country.
“A government that does not uphold the country’s independence and wishes to grant foreign capitalists 100% ownership of land and businesses in the country simply cannot be trusted to truly uphold the Moro people’s right to self-determination,” Soluta said.
“Aquino cannot possibly be upholding the Moro people’s independence by deepening the country’s slavery to the US,” he added.
KMU said the US has been very vocal in pushing for Cha-cha because it wants to exploit the rich natural resources of the country and Mindanao, and have limitless basing rights in the country and Mindanao.
“One top-level talk with an MILF leader is not enough for Aquino to show that he values the Moro people’s right to self-determination. More, much more is needed for the Filipino workers and people to believe his sincerity on this issue,” Soluta said.
