Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume IV, Number 13 May 2 - 8, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
NEWS AT A GLANCE May
10 election irrelevant to the masses – PILC The
Public Interest Law Center (PILC), a group of lawyers giving free legal services
to grassroots sectors, has branded as “irrelevant to the masses” the coming
presidential election. “We are opposed to military adventurism and “no-el”
as a matter of principle, the PILC said in a statement. “For these reasons, we
seriously consider the people’s options in the coming May 10, 2004 elections. “The
options are indeed bleak.” In
a May 2 statement, the lawyers’ group said that neither President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo nor actor Fernando Poe, Jr. – the top contenders for the
presidency – deserve the people’s vote. “On
the one hand, GMA has conceded virtual basing rights to the American troops and
supported U.S. wars of aggression, even spreading the same within the borders of
our country, to clinch American patronage for her election bid. Though she now
basks in the adulation of big business, it is undeniable that the same business
leaders have previously criticized her boundless thirst for power as aggravating
and further bringing our economy in dire straits.
The masses see that the so-called ‘intelligence’ and ‘experience’
which she boasts of as her edge over her closest rival are nothing but her
brilliance at preserving her own hold on power and proven track record in
carrying out the twin policies of globalization and all-out war. “On
the other hand, FPJ has nothing to offer the people in terms of an alternative
program of government, and merely relies on his popularity as a screen idol to
propel him to Malacañang…The electorate is left to conjecture about what he
stands for on the basis of his well-known association with the late dictator
Ferdinand Marcos, the disgraced former President Joseph Estrada and their
cronies. Indeed,
FPJ’s so-called ‘sincerity’ has a most hollow ring to it.” The
PILC also said that the prospect of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, “running for
president to save himself from charges of human rights violations, corruption
and suspected connections with international illegal drugs syndicates,”
replacing Poe as the candidate of the united opposition is an even worse one. “With GMA and FPJ at the top of the pack, the May 10 race is nothing but another farce,” the PILC said. “With the present election reduced to the false choice between GMA and FPJ (or possibly Ping Lacson) who are no different from each other, the electorate continues to be deprived of the opportunity through this election to effect even the smallest reforms in government and in society and make even the smallest dent on elite rule.” *
* * Anakpawis
demands justice for slain coordinators, officials Anakpawis
national chairperson and first party-list nominee Crispin Beltran slammed
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP), saying she is responsible for the growing list of
murdered members and officials of his party, as well as affiliated party Bayan
Muna. Beltran
voiced this denunciation of the president at the Anakpawis miting de avance last
May 1. “The
president has not lifted a finger to stop the AFP from butchering civilians and
Anakpawis and Bayan Muna supporters, coordinators and officials,” Beltran
said. “It is her duty and responsibility, both as the commander-in-chief of
the AFP and the highest official in the land, to stop the abuses of the military
and punish those who have perpetrated vicious crimes against civilians and
political activists. So far, almost 50 members of the progressive party-lists
have been brutally slain and thousands subjected to various forms of human
rights violations ranging from verbal threats to actual psychological and
physical harassment.” The
veteran labor leader also said that all units of the AFP should be sent back to
barracks and not allowed to be around the civilian populace during the remainder
of the election period. He said that the AFP should be told to keep away from
communities and schools effective immediately and not just on May 10. “The
military should remain in their barracks until after the last ballot has been
tallied and counted. No doubt there will be even greater bloodshed and more
civilian casualties if the military is allowed to continue roaming around like
packs of rabid, ravenous wolves,” he said. “The
main agenda of the military this election period is to kill as many members and
supporters of Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and their four other sister party-lists in
the demented goal of defeating their bid to strengthen the people's
representation in Congress.” Beltran demands from the president a direct order to the military to stop harassing and killing members and coordinators of progressive party-list groups. “She has no right to present herself as worthy of the Filipino people's trust and votes on May 10 if she cannot even control the AFP and protect the human, civil and political rights of the electorate,” he said. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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