TANGGULAN  Youth Network for  Human Rights and Civil Liberties
   

NEWS RELEASE

February

 

 Youth group warns against curtailment of peaceful  anti-Arroyo protests

 

The TANGULAN Youth Network for Human Rights and Civil Liberties condemns the frisking incident by some police elements to jeepney passengers along Aurora Boulevard, Sta. Mesa  last night. The group said the incident might not be an isolated case.

 

TANGULAN received reports from a group of students that while they are aboard a jeepney from Stop and Shop to Cubao, suddenly around five policemen in uniform called the driver to stop the jeepney near Aurora Blvd. corner Seattle St. around 11:00 p.m. last night.  

 

The policemen then ordered all male passengers to get down, then one by one they were subjected to body frisking and bags inspection . Vencer Crisostomo and Roneil Villegas, leaders of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) who just came from a meeting after an education forum held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, were among those frisked Monday night.          

 

"We were so surprised, but we think that it has something to do with the turmoil going on inside the Congress. I thought it was Martial Law. The police bore no nameplates and the search was arbitrary, there was not even a physical barrier to denote that there was a check point, "  Roneil Vilegas,  LFS Vice Chairperson  said.

 

Meanwhile, TANGGULAN Convenor Biyaya Quizon and chairperson of Student Christian Movement, warned the government and its security forces not to curtail the peaceful protests anti-Arroyo forces are planning. Various youth groups belonging to the YOUTH DARE (Youth Demanding for Arroyo's Removal) are set to hold a Noise Barrage, 5 p.m. today at Luneta calling for resignation of Arroyo.    

 

"The government security forces are just as paronoid of the aftermath of "couped" Speaker of the House Jose de Venecia declaration of 'war' against corruption in the Arroyo administration and 'let the cat out of the bag'  when he said he knew about the 2004 election many fraud attempts of the Arroyo camp." Quizon said that it is highly suspect of the high police visibility in Manila today after the Congress coup. 

 

"The government's security forces are just provoking more anti-Arroyo sentiment when they harass and violently disperse peaceful gatherings of civil society groups, in the vain hope that they can muffle the calls for Arroyo's resignation."

 

TANGGULAN encouraged  similar incidents to be reported to human rights groups in order to check on the excesses and rights violations of the government's security forces, "who are just too quick to call critics and legitimate protests as 'plots' to destabilize the Arroyo government".

 

TANGGULAN is a nationwide alliance of various youth groups, inter-denominational youth groups, student councils and publications advocating for human rights.###

 

Reference:

Leni Valeriano, Information Officer (09154386099)