Press Release

Filipinos and Canadian supporters unite against state terror in the Philippines to oust fake President Arroyo

February 27, 2006

Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.) - In an effort to understand the meaning behind last Friday’s declaration of state emergency by President Arroyo, a cross-section of over 50 Filipinos and Canadian supporters gathered yesterday at a community forum to discuss the real reasons and impacts of the declaration under Proclamation 1017.

While Arroyo declared a state of emergency on February 24, 20 years after Marcos declared martial law in September 1972, both proclamations used exactly the same language.

“Much like the dark days of martial law, there are intensifying violations of democratic and human rights in the form of warrantless arrests, suspension of freedom of expression and assembly, takeover of private and public institutions deemed dangerous to Arroyo’s administration, and the gagging of the media,” said Emmanuel Sayo of the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP).

“The cowardly targeting and arrests of progressive partylist representatives like Congressmen Crispin Beltran and Joel Virador, just days after her state of emergency declaration are signs of Arroyo’s desperate lashing out on the legal Left before her imminent downfall,” explained May Farrales of the Philippine Women Centre of B.C. “Since she cheated her way to victory in the 2004 election, there has been escalating demands in and outside the Philippines against her fake presidency, militarization, and massive graft and corruption,” continued Farrales.

Over the weekend, outreach efforts among the Filipino community in local stores and churches have shown general discontent with Arroyo’s de-facto martial law. Statements by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Ecumenical Bishops Forum, and the Promotion for Church People’s Response were distributed and received positive responses from parishioners, priests, and community members.

Filipinos in Canada are the third largest visible minority group, numbering almost 400,000. “This is now the second martial law I’ve had to live through in my lifetime,” declared the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada’s (NAPWC) Cecilia Diocson. “We must unite as Filipinos and progressive Canadians as an important force in ousting Arroyo,” continued Diocson. She refers to the $10 billion U.S. in remittances that props up the moribund economy of the Philippines off the backs of Filipino migrant workers every year.

Forum participants also discussed the need to have a ‘transition council’ that will replace Arroyo should she be ousted. The council will be composed of a coalition of representatives of organizations and progressive individuals who have been opposing Arroyo as well as representation from mass organizations and sectoral groups like peasants and workers.

“This will be a departure from the traditional political culture in the Philippines that relies on the cult of personality,” explained Marilou Carrillo, Chairperson of the Philippine Women Centre of B.C.

The council would have to agree on substantive issues that would have to be implemented after taking over including carrying out a genuine land reform and national industrialization and to promote a patriotic, democractic and scientific culture among the youth and entire people.

Canada’s role in the Philippines generated a lively exchange that culminated in the call for the Canadian government to stop all economic aid to the country until Arroyo lifts martial law and stops its human rights abuses.

BCCHRP Chairperson Barbara Waldern said some of Canada’s largest corporations like the mining company giant Placer Dome Inc., recently bought by Barrick Gold, have been operating in the Philippines for decades.

“Apart from the business side, Canada should speak out against the imposition of martial law if it is to be true to its values of respect for human rights,” said Waldern. She has been monitoring the activities of Canadian mining firms in the Philippines for over a decade now.

A vigil-rally will be held today at 5:00 PM in front of the Philippine consulate offices on 700 West Pender (at Granville St.) as part of a national mobilization. Rallies were held earlier today in Montreal and Toronto. The Vancouver consulate was also picketed by demonstrators last Friday, hours after the news of the declaration of a state of emergency.

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For more information, please contact:
May Farrales, Philippine Women Centre of BC: 604-215-1103 or cell:
778-389-4267 or e-mail: pwc@kalayaancentre.net