CPP/Ang Bayan: People oppose military rule

Propaganda article from the English edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Jun 7): People oppose military rule

Various people’s organizations immediately launched protests against Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao last May 23.

On May 24, activists of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) held candle-lighting activities at Plaza Miranda. Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students (LFS) and the Kabataan Partylist (KPL) also lit candles at Mendiola. Similar activities were launched by Bayan-Bicol at Lapu-lapu, Legazpi City, and at Plaza Quezon, Naga City.

Youth organizations in Daraga, Albay staged protests the same day and human rights supporters held a protest mass at the Redemptorist Church in Legazpi City.

The group Suara Bangsamoro and other Lumad activists held a picket in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on May 25 to call on Duterte to stop offensive military operations and to pull out military forces in Marawi.

Bayan-Mindoro held simultaneous candle lighting activities on May 25 in Abra de Ilog, Calintaan and San Jose towns in Occidental Mindoro, and also in Roxas town and Calapan City. Concurrently, more than 500 activists of Bayan-ST held a protest action in Cabuyao, Laguna. Rallies were launched at UP-Los Baños, Bacoor Public Market in Cavite, South Luzon State University in Lucban and Antipolo City, and at the Pinaglabanan shrine in Legazpi City in Bicol.

This was followed by a Black Friday Protest on May 26, with participants from different organizations led by Bayan and Karapatan, who held a rally at Plaza Miranda. Selda, Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), National Union of People’s Lawyers, and victims of Marcos’ martial law joined the protest. Youths led by LFS, Anakbayan and KPL likewise held a rally at Mendiola. At the same time, protests were held by the Cordillera People’s Alliance in Baguio City and by Bayan chapters in regional centers such as Bacolod City, Tacloban City and Iloilo City.

Mindanao bishop Cardinal Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato supported the protests by declaring “We shall condemn any abuse of martial law and as in the past will condemn it outright if it goes in the way of evil.” Progressive parties and their representatives also expressed solidarity and sympathy with the Marawi and Mindanao people.

On May 30, Mindanao activists and leaders led by Suara Bangsamoro and Kalinaw Mindanao conducted a picket at the congress grounds.

 Fifty progressive Muslims and Christians under the Pilgrims for Peace, Moro-Christian People’s Alliance (MCPA) and National Council of Churches in the Philippines came together for “Break the Fast at Sundown” as symbolism for unity of religions and sympathy against the occurring violence in Marawi City during the Ramadan period.

 On June 1, the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) staged a rally in Bacolod City.
Overseas, Bayan-USA and Gabriela-USA condemned the martial law declaration. Irma Shauf-Bajar of Gabriela-USA said “With more military operations, women and children will be even more vulnerable to rape, harassment and other sexual abuse.”

The protesters held a second “Black Friday Protest” on June 2, when national-democratic organizations marched in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, workers and peasants in different parts of the country continued actions for their rights and welfare.

On May 21, 600 Coca-Cola workers set up a picket line to protest the company’s widespread termination of workers.

On the same day, 300 families from affected communities of the Dallac Tribe in Brgy. Lucog and residents along the length of Chico River held a caravan along Brgy. Dagupan, Bulinao and Makanyaw, then converged for the protest program at Banat, Bagumbayan, Tabuk City to assail the 52 megawatt hydroelectric power Karayan Dam project by the San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group (SLRB).

On May 22, more than a thousand jeepney operators, drivers and conductors under the transport group Piston assembled a protest caravan from the Elliptical Road to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board office in East Avenue, Quezon City then held a picket at the Department of Transportation office in Mandaluyong City.

They were again protesting the “jeepney phase-out” program. Protests were also launched in Sorsogon and Cebu. Transportation was paralyzed in Iloilo, Antique and Bacolod City.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170607-people-oppose-military-rule/