Media Release

Filipinos in Vancouver Carry Coffin of Philippine Democracy and Rally to Resist Undeclared Martial Law in the Philippines

October 20, 2005

VANCOUVER, B.C. --- Despite heavy rain, members of progressive Filipino groups in B.C. gathered in front of the Philippine Consulate building in downtown Vancouver yesterday carrying a bloodstained mock coffin painted with the Philippine flag and the words: “Martial Law, R.I.P. Philippine Democracy.” They rallied to demand for ouster of fake Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Arroyo has been accused of cheating in the last presidential election and was found guilty of crimes against humanity by the International Solidarity Mission in August 2005. However, despite massive numbers of rallies and protests held by the Filipino people in the Philippines and abroad she still refuses to step down from presidency.

“Not only that she has ignored the desire and demands of the Filipino people for a genuine change, Arroyo and her military armed forces have killed many journalists, human rights activists, striking workers and union leaders,” said May Farrales of the Philippine Women Centre of B.C.

In a statement read at the rally, the group cited the recent killings of Nestle union leader Diosdado Fortuna and Atty. Bocar of Samar. The statement read, “[These] are yet more examples of the extent to which Arroyo willingly do to silence any opposition to her repressive fascist regime.

Arroyo recently implemented the “Calibrated Preemptive Response” (CPR) or “No Permit, No Rally” policy which led to the violent dispersal of peaceful rallies held in Manila recently.

According to the protesters, the implementation of the CPR comes along with the passing of Executive Order 464 which effectively places a gag order on members of the Executive Branch from testifying before congressional inquiries. They also criticized Arroyo for railroading the “Anti-Terrorist Bill” which so much broadly defines the protesters, even striking peasants and workers would be labeled as “terrorists.”

“Oust Gloria! Oust the illegitimate, puppet and fascist Arroyo!,” the protesters chanted.

In a prepared statement, the protesters also criticized the Philippine government for viewing overseas Filipinos merely as ‘mikling cows.’ “The economic and political crisis in the Philippines coupled with official state policy pushed us abroad. Despite our annual $8.5 billion US in remittances, once abroad overseas Filipino migrant workers are neglected and offered no or little protection from all forms of abuse, particularly under the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC’s) Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP),” the statement read.

The several progressive Filipino groups called on all overseas Filipinos in Canada and for progressive Canadians to join them in this call and in supporting the Filipino people’s struggle for national liberation and a just and lasting peace.

“We will not be cowered into silence, yet instead vow to heighten their resistance and call for the ouster of the illegitimate, puppet, and fascist US-Arroyo regime,” the statement read.

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