A police bomb squad safely detonates the improvised explosive device found near the US embassy in Manila on Monday. (photo by Edd Gumban, InterAksyon/PhilStar)
Leftists on Tuesday cautioned the Philippine National Police against using recent bomb threats, such as the discovery of an improvised explosive device near the US embassy in Manila, “as justification for the suppression of democratic rights and for more repressive measures.”
“It is necessary to remind the PNP of this because once upon a time in our history, such threats were used to suppress the people's protests,” Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said in an apparent reference to the 14-year Marcos dictatorship that began with the declaration of martial law in 1972.
To justify martial law, former President Ferdinand Marcos cited growing public discontent and other perceived threats to the government, including a still fledgling communist insurgency that, ironically, saw its ranks swell because of the widespread human rights violations committed by the dictatorship.
Reyes noted that the bomb threat “comes just two days before the November 30 rallies,” the second nationwide protest called against the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The first nationwide protest last Friday, exactly a week after Marcos’ burial with full military honors, saw thousands turn out in urban centers across the country, including Manila where at least 15,000 people joined the rally at the Luneta Park.
“We warn against any attempt to impose restrictive measures or scare tactics on protesters,” Reyes said. “Like we said, ‘Never again. And not this time’."
Among the mass actions scheduled for Wednesday are a workers’ march to Mendiola.
Also on Wednesday, more names will be added to the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors those who were in the forefront of the struggle against the dictatorship.
http://interaksyon.com/article/134752/dont-use-bomb-threats-to-justify-repression---bayan-to-pnp
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