This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 25, July 31-August 6, 2005
Stop Aid to Arroyo, Filipinos Ask Canadian Gov’t
Filipinos in Canada joined
their compatriots in the Philippines in calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
resignation last week. They are also asking the Canadian government to stop
giving aid to the Arroyo government.
By
the Kapituko – GMA Resign Movement TORONTO, Canada - On the
day embattled Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave her yearly State
of the Nation Address (SONA), Filipinos in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal
braved the sweltering heat of +35-degree Canadian summer to deliver a hotter
message – her immediate resignation. They also asked the
Canadian government to stop giving its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to
the Arroyo government. Here in Toronto, Filipinos
with young children and grandparents in tow waved banners and placards in front
of the Philippine Consulate on Eglinton Avenue East in solidarity with the
worldwide call for the resignation of Arroyo. Speakers from various
sectors lambasted what they call the U.S.-Macapagal-Arroyo fascist regime and
demanded Arroyo’s resignation. They also called for an end to the spate of
killings of political leaders, journalists, priests, ministers and church
leaders, workers, peasants, judges, lawyers and people critical of her
administration’s policies. The Arroyo government’s
political crisis had been simmering for years as the Filipino people realized
that, as alleged, Arroyo and her husband are in the take from the proceeds of
illegal numbers game or jueteng – an issue that brought the downfall of Arroyo’s
predecessor, Joseph Estrada through people power uprising in January 2001. The crisis had been
aggravated by increasing poverty, unemployment, military atrocities committed by
the military and paramilitary forces against the civilian populace under the
guise of counter-terrorism as well as killings and human rights violations. Scandal The “Gloriagate” scandal
has sparked and fuelled protests and brought the political crisis to a boiling
point. At the same time, as various polls painted her as the most unpopular and
the worst president in Philippine history, the “Gloriagate” expose’ and Arroyo’s
virtual admission of involvement in the electoral fraud have heightened the
people’s clamor for her immediate resignation. Joy Sioson of the
Philippine Women’s Centre–Toronto said the people’s outrage can no longer be
contained over Arroyo’s cheating in the 2004 elections, subservience to the
dictates of U.S. imperialism, militarization of the whole country and the
unabated murders of opposition leaders and anti-administration critics. Mithi Esguerra of Ugnayan
ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada (UKPC) also said already, there were 47 deaths
due to assassinations and summary execution since November 2004 to March 2005.
Many of the victims are from Bayan Muna and Anakpawis, both political parties
that won seats in the House of Representatives. Other victims include leaders
and members of people’s organizations and cause-oriented groups that were
critical of her policies. “In view of all these, we
ask that all Canadian aid to the Philippines used by the Arroyo administration
for counter-insurgency and the dubious ‘war on terror’ be cut off since these
have been used to commit many grave human rights violations,” Esguerra said. “We
also ask that the members of the AFP and police who are responsible for these
violations be held accountable and brought to justice. The GMA administration
must indemnify all victims of these military atrocities.” Iggy Manlangit of North
York Filipino Association urged Filipinos to unite in the struggle to protect
and uphold human rights in the Philippines. Arroyo, he said, should resign
immediately to allow a new breed of Filipinos to run the country. The days of
corrupt, autocratic and dictatorial political leaders must come to an end so
that the socio- political and economic life of Filipinos can progress. Media
killings Edwin Mercurio, a Toronto
freelance writer and former Philippine journalist, held Arroyo accountable for
the unmitigated killings of media practitioners. “The rising death toll
suffered of Filipino journalists is abhorrent, scandalous and is a savage attack
on Press Freedom,” Mercurio said. “Today, the Philippines is the most dangerous
place in the world for media practitioners surpassing India, Brazil, Colombia
and Mexico and second only to war-ravaged and US-occupied country, Iraq.” “We are witnessing the
assassination of journalists under the murderous, graft-ridden, fascist and U.S.
puppet Mrs. Gloria-Macapagal-Arroyo,” Mercurio also said. Terry Olayta of the
Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ) scored Arroyo for using the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) fund during her election
campaigns. She added that the administration’s lack of assistance for overseas
workers facing abuse, exploitation and persecution abroad and continuing rights
violations are enough reasons for Arroyo to resign. Rally participants also
said they are tired of the Philippine-style ‘Rigodon’ politics and do not
believe that fundamental changes would come out of the U.S.-Ramos sponsored
Charter Change or “Cha-Cha.” They want to see a government that truly reflects
the aspirations of the Filipino people, where there is social justice, genuine
economic reforms, righteousness, transparency and accountability – a Philippines
free from imperialistic control by foreign countries and a sovereign nation
where there is lasting peace and progress. Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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