We are very angry, we are furious that a promising young leader like Cris was brutally assassinated. How can the youth ever appreciate a regime that goes to the extent of killing young people who have dissenting opinions? How can the youth ever appreciate a government that kills what it calls "'the future of the nation"?

                              - Van Rigor Lanuza, Chairperson, League of Filipino Students - ZC

With Cris’ killing, we mourn. But with that mourning comes a renewed vigilance and resolve. The youth have completely lost faith that this fascist regime could ever give us a bright and better future. That future will only become possible if the tyrant Arroyo is ousted from power.”

                                   - Fritz Zarandona, Chairperson, ANAKBAYAN - Zamboanga City

There is a brutal pattern and logic to all these killings, but I don't really feel up to analyzing it right now. This murdering government might as well slap a bullseye sticker on the forehead of all national democrats and political activists the same way Hitler made German Jews wear the Star of David on their clothes before he had them herded off like doomed cattle to the gas chambers.

                                                                                   -Ina Alleco Silverio, Anakpawis staff

Photos courtesy of League of Filipino Students (LFS)-Zamboanga,

Anakbayan and Liga ng Kabataang Moro

NEWS RELEASE

March 23, 2006

‘Crusade for Cris’ kicks off in Zamboanga City

Students light candles, post pictures of slain student leader,

call for end to Arroyo’s tyranny

Youth organizations in Zamboanga City led by the League of Filipino Students-Zamboanga City launch today the ‘CRUSADE FOR CRIS (HUGO),’ a nationwide campaign in several colleges and universities in the country. Students held a candlelighting ceremony outside the grounds of Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) to seek justice for the brutal slaying of Cris Hugo, a national council officer of the LFS.

Cris Hugo was gunned down in Legazpi City while on his way home from an outing on March 19, 2006 by unknown assailants. He was shot three times in the back and declared dead on arrival when he reached the hospital. He was 20.

“We are very angry, we are furious that such a promising young leader like Cris was brutally assassinated,” said Van Rigor Lanuza, LFS-Zamboanga City Chairperson. “While the police are diverting this case to the angle of the slaying due to a frat war, we know very well that Cris was felled because of his convictions and his beliefs. We believe this is a political killing,” Lanuza added.

“We know who the real murderer of Cris is. It is the tyrant now seated illegitimately at the helm of Malacañang,” declares Lanuza.

Cris was an activist student leader, a National Council member and regional coordinator of the League of Filipino Students. He was also the Grand Chancellor of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Fraternity in Bicol University.

Since 2001, human rights group KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights) has documented 415 cases of summary executions of militants and members of progressive groups. Cris is the most recent addition to that list. He is the 33rd victim of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by suspected elements of the military for this year alone. He is the third leader of a militant organization killed in the province of Albay and the 77th documented victim in Bicol under the Arroyo administration.

“How can the youth ever appreciate a regime that goes to the extent of killing young people who have dissenting opinions? How can the youth ever appreciate a government that kills what it calls “the future of the nation,” queried Lanuza.

“We want justice for our slain fellow youth and student leader. We also want justice for all those who were killed summarily and brutally just because of political convictions. Political beliefs are to be freely expressed and are guaranteed by our Constitution. They do not merit murder and execution,” said Fritz Zarandona, ANAKBAYAN – ZC Chairperson

Joining the crusade for justice are the city chapters of ANAKBAYAN and the LIGA NG MGA KABATAANG MORO.

Earlier that day, members of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity together with the LFS, ANAKBAYAN, LKM posted pictures of Cris on the walls and bulletin boards of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in memory of the slain student leader.

 “We will post pictures of Cris on the walls of our student offices, billboards and classrooms.  He will serve as a reminder of how murderous the Arroyo administration is and will be our inspiration to intensify our efforts to put a stop to her tyranny,” added Zarandona.

Around 6:00 pm, students began pouring in to light candles in memory of Cris, while other teachers and passers-by contemplated on the implications of his unjust demise while offering candles for Cris.

“With Cris’ killing, we mourn. But with that mourning comes a renewed vigilance and resolve. The youth have completely lost faith that this fascist regime could ever give us a bright and better future. That future will only become possible if the tyrant Arroyo is ousted from power.” said Zarandona.###

For Reference:

Van Rigor Lanuza

Chairperson, League of Filipino Students - ZC

Fritz Zarandona

Chairperson, ANAKBAYAN - ZC

0906.936.4294 / 991.4895

They read the streamer and the posters on the bulletin board, and contemplate the meaning of it all.

Kung Mamamatay Tayo
ni Alex Remollino

Eman Lacaba, martyred at 27
 

Ang langgam kadalasa'y lalong kapuri-puri
kaysa mga tao.
Ngunit kung mamamatay tayo,
huwag tayong mamatay na parang mga langgam
na sa isang tapak lamang
ay agad nililisan ng kanilang hininga.
Sa halip, mamatay tayong tila mga tangkay
ng rosas
na bago mabali ng tampalasang kamay
ay nagpapadugo muna
sa palad nito.
by Alex

First they came for the communists

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out

— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out

— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out

— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out

— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me

— and there was no one left to speak out for me.

-- Rev. Martin Niemöller, 1945, in Germany

Youth groups launch ‘Crusade for Cris’

Vow to organize protests that the ‘government will never forget’

‘CRUSADE FOR CRIS (HUGO),’ A CAMPAIGN CALLING FOR JUSTICE for the erstwhile youth leader, was launched by national youth organizations led by the League of Filipino Students (LFS) today, with protest activities marking several campuses.

“What is most alarming here is that, this time, the victim is a young student. This is what angers us so much, the fact that the target now extends to our friends and fellow students,” said Vencer Crisostomo, LFS national chairperson.

Joining the crusade are national youth groups College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), Kabataan Party, Anakbayan, Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (KARATULA) and the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP).

The groups kicked-off the campaign with series of protest activities in several campuses.

The CEGP, a nationwide alliance of college publications, trooped to ubelt and handed out newsletters and publications to inform students of the killing.

Students from the University of the Philippines, meanwhile, held room-to-room discussions and a noise barrage protest in the afternoon.

“Now we are really pissed. We promise to generate a student movement that will claim justice for Cris and will bring down this fascist government. We will avenge the killing of our fellow student and bring Arroyo a protest she will never forget,” said Crisostomo.

The youth groups are holding a protest action on March 22, and are planning to march on March 23, together with other organizations.

“We will post his picture on the walls of our student offices and classrooms. He will serve as reminder of how wicked the Arroyo is and will be our inspiration to further intensify our efforts to oust her government immediately,” Crisostomo said. ###