STATE WORKERS ASSAIL MARTIAL LAW DECLARATION IN MAGUINDANAO

Submitted by courage_phil on Tue, 12/08/2009 - 08:49.

“Martial law will not
bring justice to the victims of the Maguindanao massacre but will only serve
the interests of a regime that is desperately clinging to power.” This was the
statement of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of
Government Employees (COURAGE), the national center of government employees, whose
members held a protest action today in Quezon City to condemn Arroyo’s martial
law declaration in Maguindanao.

 

COURAGE
Secretary-General Santi Dasmariñas, Jr. said that Arroyo’s Proc. No. 1959 is an
overkill and could be a prelude to a national declaration of Martial Law. He
added that the martial law in Maguindanao is a case of testing the waters only
and a showcase of the powers at her disposal to perpetuate her rule beyond
2010.

 

“After Arroyo filed
her candidacy as representative of the 2^nd District of Pampanga, our
fears that she will not step down in 2010 are re-affirmed. First, she made her
way to the presidency through massive fraud then she militarized the whole
bureaucracy to secure her position. We cannot help but think that everything is
orchestrated by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The chaotic events that
allegedly pushed the Arroyo administration to declare Martial Law in
Maguindanao are also eerily similar with that during the Marcos’ regime,”
stated Dasmariñas.

 

 “A week ago, a huge arms cache was found in
the Ampatuan residence. It was clear that the AFP and the PNP are supplying
weapons and ammunitions to the Ampatuans for them to maintain their political
control in the area. The involvement of the Arroyo government in sustaining
Ampatuan’s warlordism in Maguindanao is beyond doubt. So there is simply no
justification for the use of martial law”, said Dasmariñas.

 

“We strongly denounce
the Maguindanao massacre and we are one with the whole nation in demanding
justice for the victims. But we cannot support something that will only aggravate
the cases of human rights violation instead of ending the decade-old conflict
in Maguindanao.” 

 

COURAGE also urged
lawmakers to immediately revoke Proclamation No. 1959. “It is just unfortunate
that the suspension of Martial Law now falls on the hands of Congress which has
repeatedly showed allegiance to Arroyo. But the collective efforts of the
Filipino citizenry have been proven to be the best weapon against any dictator.
We appeal to the people to defend our civil liberties and unite against
Arroyo’s tyranny,” added Dasmariñas. #