In the continuing sabotage of the peace talks
between the GRP and NDFP
Workers Protest Against "Terrorist" Listing by the U.S.
Kilsuang Mayo Uno News Release
August 12, 2004
In a rally in front of the US Embassy this morning, the militant labor
center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) strongly registered that if the Arroyo
government was able to stand against US demand to maintain the Philippine
troops in Iraq for the safety of Angelo dela Cruz, then the government
should all the more oppose US impositions for the good of the country.
According to Elmer Labog, KMU Chairman, the Arroyo government must not
support the US government’s continued inclusion of the Communist Party
of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and Prof. Jose Maria
Sison in the list of foreign terrorist organizations and individuals in
the next two years.
Labog said that the renewal of the terrorist label on the CPP, NPA and
Prof. Sison is a direct and flagrant intervention to the country’s internal
affairs. "How can the peace talks between the Government of
the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front
(NDF) pursue, prosper and succeed if this is always sabotaged by the US
government? The US is a true-blue warmongering animal and it is
the only one who will benefit in the event of an escalated war between
the Philippine government and the revolutionary forces in the country.
Pres. Bush is only flaming the conflict in the country under the guise
of anti-terrorism. But who is the real terrorist?"
Labog registered that he recognizes the NDF position to temporarily postpone
the next round of talks scheduled on Aug. 24-30 because of the continued
sabotage of the US and the slow actions of the Arroyo government to the
agreed goodwill measures and obligations.
Luis Jalandoni, Chief of the NDF Negotiating Panel, said that the postponement
of the peace talks is needed in order to give time to the GRP to fulfill
its obligations under the agreements stipulated in the first and second
Oslo Joint Statement, including the removal of the CPP, NPA and Prof.
Sison in the terrorist list. Other issues that the NDF will raise
as GRP’s obligations are the release of political prisoners and the justice
and indemnification to the 10,000 victims of human rights violations under
the Marcos dictatorship.
Labog asserted that the US has no right to declare who is a terrorist
and who is not. He said that the US is the number one terrorist
power in the world, as proven by the immeasurable damage it has wrought
to human lives and properties as a result of its wars of aggression in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Under its war on terror policy, it continues
to attack national liberation movements, governments assertive of national
independence and progressive leaders critical to US imperialism in a desperate
bid to maintain world hegemony.
Labog also added that any moves towards genuine peace in the country would
fail as long as the Philippine government continues to follow the US dictates.
The labor leader asserted that poverty is the root cause of the 35-year
old rebellion in the country. Yet, the policies of the Arroyo government
are still anchored on anti-poor measures, such as the proposed additional
taxes, which will all the more bury the poor into abject poverty. ###
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Below are photos of protest rally near theUS embassy in Manila on August 12, 2004, starting at 10:30 am, against the renewed "terrorist" listing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People"s Army and the NDFP chief political consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison. Rally participants came from KMU, Anakpawis, Gabriela at LFS. Near the US embassy the WPD (western police district) police blocked the rally on Kalaw street in order to prevent it from reaching the US embassy. The police carried loaded firearms.
