From InterAksyon (Oct 22): Govt should stop 'red-baiting' of progressives, activists
Political vilification, popularly known as red-baiting or labeling, still hounds activists, and progressive groups called on the government to put a stop to it. The group Dinteg (Cordillera Indigenous Peoples Legal Center) said it continued to document cases and experiences of people that it deemed as political vilification, brought about by the government’s anti-insurgency campaign called Oplan Bayanihan. In a forum, Rhoda Dalang, Dinteg executive director, expressed concern that the Aquino administration’s Oplan Bayanihan “was no different” from the previous government’s Oplan Bantay Laya. “In fact, there are more killings, harassment at the community level. The reason they don’t come to our senses is they’re happening on the ground, victimizing low-profile people,” Dalang said. “Try having someone like Satur Ocampo killed, and people will raise hell. But if the victims are a B’laan mother and her two kids, there’s not much noise,” she added...
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/46166/govt-should-stop-red-baiting-of-progressives-activists
Dinteg is a pro-CPP group that has close ties to the Cordillera People's Alliance, a CPP-associated front active in the Cordillera region. Commies don't like to be called commies. They prefer to be referred to using various euphemisms such as "militants" or "progressives" or "activists" or even "leftists." The Philippine media for the most part has been cowed into accepting these deceptive terms. These groups are part of the "national democratic movement" the underground core of which consists of the Communist Party of the Philippines its political wing, the National Democratic Front, and its military wing, the New People's Army all of whom advocate the violent overthrow of the Philippine government. Now in a democratic society, citizens and organizations have freedom of speech and assembly within the limits of established laws. Members of legal CPP front organizations should not be "targeted" for their political beliefs as long as obey the law. However, these groups should be held accouhtable in Philippine courts when their actions destroy property or otherwise transgress existing laws. And the Philippine people have a right to know who these groups really are and to be informed about their not so hidden pro-CPP agenda.
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