In a statement released today, youth peace advocates from Kalinaw Metro Manila expressed their dismay over the February 6 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s one-year Martial Law extension in Mindanao.
“Ang ipinamalas na dunong ng mataas na hukuman ay kaiba at malayo sa karanasan ng mga mamamayan ng Mindanao sa Martial Law. Nakaririmarim na maipagpapalit o mapagtatakpan ng ilang teknikal na usapin at ‘butas’ sa batas ang katotohanan ng mga malalang paglabag ng karapatan sa Mindanao. Tila bulag, pipi at bingi ang ating Korte Suprema rito,” said the group in their statement.
[The wisdom demonstrated by the high court is far removed from the Martial Law experiences of the people in Mindanao. It is revolting that technicalities and ‘holes’ in the law covered up grave rights violations in Mindanao. The Supreme Court seems to be blind, mute and deaf to these.]
The group cited recent rights violations in Mindanao that included the January 20 killing of peasant rights activist James Flores, 33, from Tagum; the January 22 killing of peasant leader Anecito Lopez, 55, by identified elements of Philippine Marines in Quezon, Bukidnon; and, the January 23 abduction and detention of Jomar Japitan, 22. The group said these are only a few examples in a long list of rights violations.
Kalinaw Metro Manila also said that instead of peace, the current administration ushered war and military rule.
They cited, on one hand, today’s public launch of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ draft of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms that pushes for free land distribution to farmers, national industrialization, and workers’ rights among others. They challenged the government to show their commitment to peace by addressing the roots of armed conflict: widespread poverty and social injustice.
“Nagkaisa na ngayon ang ehekutibo, lehislatura at hudikatura sa pagpapatibay ng batas militar sa Mindanao, na ngayo’y maaari na ring gawing tuntungan sa isang pambansang batas militar,” the group’s statement also said.
[The executive, legislative and judiciary have now combined to reinforce Martial Law in Mindanao, that may now also be used as premise for nationwide martial law.]
Youth Movement Against Tyranny (YMAT) likened the high court’s decision to the pictorial maxim of the ‘three wise monkeys’ who ‘see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil’ against Martial Law in Mindanao.
“The youth cannot agree with the court’s decision when the people have spoken of grave human rights violations and injustices committed by the government against them. We cannot ask the highest court of law in the land more emphatically, where is justice in this? Why are you turning a blind eye?” said YMAT in their statement.
They also assailed the approval of House Bill that replaces the Marcos-era Batas Pambansa 880 that required permits for rallies. The new bill requires a notice to the mayor three working days before the protest and imposes graver penalties of six months to six years of imprisonment for rally organizers who violate the requirements prescribed in the law. The group said this circumvents the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceable assembly.
They said the Duterte administration is using political repression and economic oppression against the people to facilitate private interests and profits.
“The people’s rights are systematically being curtailed because our voices and our collective action are our biggest weapon against masked despotism or even a full-fledged tyranny. While we struggle against being muzzled, the Duterte administration is laying down the full-blown surrender of our economic and territorial sovereignty for private and foreign profits and interests,” said YMAT.
The group said, “we remain resolute in our call to end martial law in Mindanao, and to end all fascist and anti-people policies under Duterte’s rule.”
YMAT and Kalinaw Metro Manila joined a picket at the Supreme Court in Manila this morning with Mindanao groups Pasaka (the Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao) and Save Our Schools Network Mindanao to protest the high court’s decison.
Youth groups are preparing for another big protest on February 23, a date that falls within the historic EDSA 1 People Power uprising that would be commemorated by various groups.
