| 
National Statement of Overseas Filipinos in Canada
Resist Undeclared Martial Law in the Philippines! Oust the US-Arroyo Regime!
October 13, 2005
As the progressive community of peace and freedom-loving overseas Filipinos in Canada, we condemn in the strongest sense the current state of undeclared martial law in the Philippines under the US puppet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Under nearly five years of Arroyo’s fake and fascist rule, the people’s anger and resistance has heightened.
The recent implementation of the "calibrated preemptive response" (CPR) or "no permit, no rally" policy led to the violent dispersals of peaceful rallies held in Manila last Oct. 4, 5 and 6, 2005. The Oct. 4 "Walk for Democracy" led by the Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties was dispersed by members of the Western Police District who arrested nine protesters and injured many others. After video footage of the violent dispersal was aired on TV, the police later admitted that the force used was "unjustifiable."
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. The Committee on Justice recently also railroaded the latest version of an Anti-Terrorism Bill which would effectively curtail the people’s right to peaceful protest. The Bill also so broadly defines "terrorists" that even striking workers would be labeled as such.
The 11 Canadians and Filipino-Canadians who recently attended the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) in the Philippines documented and heard first-hand the horrific stories of gross violations of human rights in many areas in the Philippines. Although Arroyo has been in power for less than five years, her human rights record surpasses that of the former dictator Marcos.
The current international clamor of Arroyo’s ouster or resignation over evidence that she cheated in the last presidential elections has grown. In response, Arroyo and her lackeys attempt to use an iron fist to enforce the rule of law to all those who oppose her and her administration’s polices.
Yet far from quelling the people’s anger and desire for genuine change, Arroyo’s policies have only served to fuel our collective anger.
The recent politically-motivated killings of Nestle union leader Diosdado Fortuna and Atty. Bocar of Samar are yet more examples of the extent to which Arroyo and her armed forces are willing to go to silence any opposition.
As overseas Filipinos in Canada, we are also victims of forced migration, 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 Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC’s) Live-in Caregiver Policy (LCP). Arroyo only sees us as "milking cows" for it is our remittances that prop up her ailing economy.
For the nearly 200,000 Filipino domestic workers that have come to work as 24 hour on-call slaves in the homes of wealthy Canadians and for the nearly half a million Filipinos in Canada, we are outraged over Arroyo’s current undeclared state of martial law. With rumours of her declaring a national state of emergency and propping up the "terrorist scare" as an excuse to trample on the democratic rights of the people, we vow to oppose Arroyo’s recent measures as violations of the Filipino people’s human rights and civil liberties.
We will not be cowered into silence, yet instead vow to heighten our resistance and call for the ouster of the illegitimate, puppet and fascist US-Arroyo regime.
We call on all overseas Filipinos in Canada and for progressive Canadians to join us in this call and in supporting the Filipino people’s struggle for national liberation and a just an lasting peace.
Oppose the CPR, Executive Order 464 and the Anti-Terrorism Bill!
Uphold and defend the people’s right to peaceful protest!
Resist undeclared martial law!
Oust the illegitimate, puppet and fascist Arroyo regime!
Set up the transitional people’s council!
October 13, 2005
Statement issued by:
Vancouver --
SIKLAB (Advance and Uphold the Rights and Welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers)
Filipino Nurses Support Group
Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance (UKPC) - Vancouver
Philippine Women Centre of BC
Toronto --
Philippine Network for Justice and Peace
Philippine Women Centre of Ontario
Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance (UKPC) -Toronto
Filipino Workers' Support Committee
Ottawa --
Pilipinong Migrante sa Canada (PMSC)
Montreal --
PINAY Montreal
Kabataang Montreal
National –
National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada |
