Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights
Statement
February 25, 2008

Canadians support the Filipino people’s call for the ouster of corrupt, fascist and fake President Arroyo

As progressive and peace-loving Canadians, we express our full and unconditional support and solidarity for the masses of the Filipino people who gathered today not only to mark the anniversary of the People Power uprising (EDSA I) which overthrew the dictator Marcos but, more significantly, to call for the ouster of the corrupt, fascist and fake Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

We congratulate the patriotic and progressive forces of the broad united front led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) who, for the first time since 2005, were able to rally at Mendiola near the presidential palace of Malacanang – a historic site for the Filipino people, which had been repeatedly blocked off as a rally site by the Arroyo administration in violation of the people’s right to speak and to assemble.

The strong and militant voices of the Filipino people echo resoundingly across the ocean to Canada and throughout the world.  We know from our people-to-people solidarity links with organizations of workers, peasants, women, youth and students, migrants, health workers, human rights advocates and others that the Arroyo regime has pursued blatant and repressive anti-people policies that have deeply angered the Filipino people.  We also know from the progressive organizations of Filipino compatriots in Canada the harsh impact of the continuing economic, social and political crisis on Filipino immigrants and migrants in Canada and their families in their homeland.

The latest scandal to hit the Arroyo regime is the ZTE – NBN deal, which involved blatant corruption to benefit President Arroyo’s family and her allies and an outrageous plot to kidnap one of the chief witnesses to the scandal.  President Arroyo herself recently admitted knowing about anomalies in the contract, but went ahead with the deal anyway since it involved foreign relations with China.

However, this is the just the latest in a long line of scandals, corruption and anti-people moves that the Arroyo regime has pursued since coming to power in 2001.  We know that there have been previous issues of corruption, human rights violations (over 800 killed, close to 200 disappeared and 1 million displaced) and gross puppetry to foreign interests that the Arroyo regime refuses to be held accountable for.

Despite the Arroyo regime’s attempts to scare, intimidate or harass people from attending the rallies, the Filipino people militantly stand up against tyranny, corruption and repression.  We believe that it is their democratic right to do so.  It is also in honour of the long-history and tradition of militant and democratic struggles waged by the Filipino people for democracy, peace and genuine freedom.

It is in the spirit of internationalism and anti-imperialist solidarity that we, as Canadians, express our support for the call of the Filipino people to oust Arroyo.  We also vow to continue to support the valiant struggle of the Filipino people for their national and social liberation – which takes all forms of struggle, including the armed struggle to defend and promote the people’s interests.

We urge the Canadian government to critically examine the latest developments in the Philippines.  We believe the Canadian government’s position that the Philippines is a “functioning democracy” is no longer tenable.  We urge the Canadian government to:

1.    Review its current relations with and withdraw all military aid, bilateral aid and multilateral aid to the Philippine government while the political killings and other violations of human rights continue to occur;
2.    Redirect partnership aid towards progressive community-based groups like KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) that advocate genuine development and uphold human rights and the dignity of life;
3.    Pressure the Philippine government to respect international human rights covenants and agreements; and
4.    Hold a Parliamentary Hearing on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

Finally, we call on all progressive and peace-loving Canadians to get involved in the support and solidarity movement.  For over 25 years, Canadians have actively supported the Filipino people’s struggle for national and social liberation.  Given the depth of the crisis in the Philippines, which we know has its context in the current crisis of the imperialist system, the need for more support and solidarity for the struggle of the Filipino people is ever more urgent.

Support the Filipino people’s struggle to oust the corrupt, fake, puppet and fascist Arroyo!
Down with US imperialism!
Long live international solidarity!
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