Commentary February 09, 2007 Anti-Terror Law will undermine efforts for justice and peace in Mindanao The Suara Bangsamoro Partylist is one with the rest of the Filipino people who vehemently opposed the passing of the Anti-Terrorism Bill. The Suara Bangsamoro believes that once President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will sign it into law will have a grave effect on the struggle of the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao and will sow more dissent from people whose constitutional rights were violated by the military and police authorities. Suara Bangsamoro feels that it is ironic that while the Philippine government boasts of drafting a comprehensive peace plans and pledging road maps to peace to ?resolve? the conflict in the Bangsamoro areas, her government is fastracking an anti-terror law that would surely violate the civil and political rights of the Moro people. Already, the Moro people has been used as cannon fodders to galvanize lawmakers into passing the anti-terror law? the recent victory against Abu Sayyaf leaders, the mysterious bombings in Mindanao allegedly done by Moro revolutionary groups and the scores of Moro civilians paraded as terrorists. Despite not including the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the terror lists, both were always linked with the Abu Sayyaf and Jamaah Islamiya whenever they are posed to strike against US and AFP soldiers advancing in their territories. The terror tag is hovering on their heads should they not bow down to the terms and conditions of the Philippine government for the final peace pact. Scores of Moro civilians living in MNLF and MILF influenced areas were killed, abducted, arrested and detained without charges. In areas identified as Abu Sayyaf lairs, scores of civilians were tortured and forced to sign papers admitting they are supporters and sympathizers of Abu Sayyaf. Even without the law, the government has been institutionalizing her militarist policies in dealing with the Bangsamoro?s aspirations for the right to self-determination. It started with her state of lawlessness in Basilan, all-out war in Sulu and Maguindanao and ?hands of steel? against the Abu Sayyaf and the on and off charges and cases filed against the MILF officials for bombing incidents in Mindanao. We believe that the law could be used against the Bangsamoro people who criticize her militarist policies and the presence of the US troops in Mindanao. Our partylist organization has been included in the ?communist fronts? that irk President Arroyo whenever there are complaints against her military and police force for human rights violations. The anti-terror law could institutionalize the covering-up of police and military abuses just like what President Arroyo has been doing for General Jovito Palparan, AFP and Army chiefs General Hermogenes Esperon and General Romeo Tolentino, and former defense chief General Angelo Reyes for their crimes against the people? political killings, illegal arrest, detention and torture of Moro civilians in Basilan, massacre of MNLF leaders in Sulu, allegedly masterminding mysterious bombings in Mindanao, massacre of innocent Moro inmates in Bicutan and the death of numerous civilians in their implementation of President Arroyo?s all-out wars. Instead, the guns are pointed on those who criticize her militarist policy. Since 2004 elections, members and officers of the Suara Bangsamoro Partylist are being targeted for anti-terror propaganda of local military and police. On human rights day last year, streamers hung in all parts of Cotabato City bearing messages of Suara Bangsamoro and its secretary-general, Zaynab Ampatuan, as a terrorist and a communist front. The allied organizations of Suara Bangsamoro, KAWAGIB (Human Rights) and Liga ng Kabataang Moro were also included as targets along with their lead officers such as Sittie Rajabia Sundang and Michael Dumamba. The terror and communist tagging of the President gives the military, police and local politicians the license to silence our ranks. Rahman Camili, a member of the Suara Bangsamoro in Madaum, Davao del Norte was was abducted by armed men in bonnets in December of last year. He was shot in the stomach and leg and is still missing until now. We call on our Moro brothers and sisters Moro people to actively participate in street rallies and call for the junking of the anti-terror law. The Anti-Terror Law will surely give teeth to the President to silence her critics and receive a pat in the back by US President George Bush. But it will also spawn a collective decision of the people to junk not only the anti-terror law but also the one who uses the anti-terror law for her own political agenda in the coming May 2007 elections and beyond. Amirah Ali Lidasan Nacional Vice-Chairperson Suara Bangsamoro Partylist Organization Kimpo Subdivisi?n, Cotabato City Email Add: surabm@yahoo.com ---------- Suara Mindanao ofc. 304 Mabelen bldg,2nd flr. Corner Suazo St. Quezon Blvd DavaoCity Tel: (082) 222-38-06 Email:suarabm@yahoo.com Press Release Feb 08,2007 For reference: Ms. Zaynab Ampatuan, National Sec-General, Suara Partylist. Mobile num: 0926.743.9231 Suara Party-list outrageously calls to Junk the Anti-terror Bill Davao City- Suara Party-list is urging the Filipino people to decisively junk the US Patriotic Act based Anti-terrorism law passed in the Senate yesterday. This Mindanao based Partylist believes that this Law is too vulnerable to be abused by the authorities and this can be the reason for more abductions, tortures and killings of civilians. Bai Zaynab Ampatuan, National Secretary General of Suara Party-list likewise expressed her dismay to the 16 Senators who voted in favor of the bill. For Ampatuan who had experienced to be named as a terrorist by the agents of the states like the AFP, this Anti-terror law would only mean- prosecution of innocents particularly Moro civilians, members of human rights organizations, activists and members of the opposition who have been tagged as terrorists by the Arroyo administration. "I can still vividly remember how GMA had been panicking for the passage of this anti terror bill in the House of Congress-it was then when the Gloriagate Scandal came out and I believe that GMA will be using this law not only for the terrorists but also for us from the progressive groups who have been calling for her ouster" Ampatuan said. According to Ampatuan, "implementation of this law under a government that tops the list of human rights violations and political killing will threatened not the terrorists but the nation's democracy". Ampatuan said if the bill is approved in the bicameral session today and signed by the president she will no longer be surprised if one of these days she herself or one of her colleagues from the progressive party-lists will either be jailed or get killed for her critical views against the current administration as this may be considered terrorism already as prescribed under the vague Anti-terror Law " We,Mindanaoans also want the end of terrorism but we do not believe this can be ended by this Anti-terror law. If GMA is serious with the elimination of terrorism then her government should stop the fabrication of terrors through war and anti-people policies" said Ampatuan. Ampatuan pointed that "with this Anti-Terror law and the pronouncements of the US embassy that Mindanao is the second front of Terrorism, it would basically imply another round of war in Mindanao and we all know that the common casualties of this war are not terrorists but mostly civilians particularly the women and their children.". She also raised that another war is looming in North.Cotabato specifically in Liguasan Marsh and in Central Mindanao because officials of the AFP have been claiming that these areas are the haven of Pentagon Kidnap for ransom group, Jamaah Islamiyah and the ASG. " I am only certain that these areas are predominantly Moro communities and proven to be rich in natural resources and if war will again be waged here, hundreds of thousands will flee from their home to the evacuation centers." Meanwhile, Suara Party is preparing to lead big mobilizations against this Law and vowed to support a petition to junk this Anti-Terror Law authored by Sen Juan Ponce Enrile. ###