[APWSLMembers 480] Labor group prepares for possible Martial Law scenario

[KMU International Department]

NEWS RELEASE
February 23, 2007

Labor group prepares for possible Martial Law scenario
“Malacanang, AFP to take measures harsher than PP1017 following 
Esperon’s tagging vs. legal groups” -- KMU

On the anniversary of the Proclamation 1017, labor center Kilusang 
Mayo Uno (KMU) said they are not discounting the possibility that the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will proceed to take harsher 
measures against civilians and progressive groups especially after 
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon’s open vilification campaign against legal 
groups. 

“With the way the AFP and Malacanang countered the findings of United 
Nations Rapporteur Philip Alston on the human rights situation in the 
country, it is evident that the government is not keen on stopping the 
spate of attacks against unarmed civilians and organizations which they 
suspect as supporters of the CPP-NPA-NDF and unjustly label as 
‘communist fronts,” said KMU Secretary General and Anakpawis Party 
List nominee Joel Maglunsod. 

Among the possible scenarios cited by KMU includes raiding of legal 
offices of progressive organizations, planting of evidences including 
subversive documents and firearms and arrests of leaders and 
members of the groups maliciously referred by the AFP Chief. “AFP is 
arrogantly standing by their militarization campaign that primarily targets 
unarmed civilians. The killings and harassments continue, much worse, 
the AFP refuses to arrest Gen. Jovito Palparan and all those who are 
involved in the killings.” 

“It’s been a year since PP1017 was declared and supposedly lifted, but 
the blanket authority it provided to Malacanang and the AFP was even 
reinforced. Cong. Crispin Beltran’s continued illegal detention is a 
concrete proof of the government’s excessive abuse of power. The 
approval of the Anti-Terror Act worsens the situation.” 

The labor group said they will hold protests on February 26 outside the 
Philippine Heart Center to demand the release of Rep. Beltran who is 
the first victim of Arroyo’s PP1017. 

Allow Ka Bel to campaign 

Maglunsod said Anakpawis Party List is petitioning for Ka Bel to be 
allowed to campaign as the first nominee of Anakpawis. “Workers are 
demanding that Ka Bel and I campaign side by side to various factories, 
industrial enclaves and urban poor communities nationwide. His rights 
as a legitimate candidate must be recognized by the PNP and the 
COMELEC,” Maglunsod concluded. ###