STATEMENT
OF SOLIDARITY FROM BAYAN USA ON THE OCCASION OF
THE PERMANENT PEOPLES TRIBUNAL 2ND SESSION ON THE PHILIPPINES
March 20, 2007
Over
12 Filipino organizations and their broad allied networks in the United States,
under the banner of BAYAN USA, are with the families and other witnesses present
at the Permanent Peoples Tribunal 2nd Session on the Philippines as they begin
the proceedings with definitive charges against the corrupt, rotten, and murderous
US-Arroyo regime.
We stand by the convening organizations, especially as an overseas chapter
of BAYAN, within whose ranks lies a considerable percentage of victims of
state-sown terror under the command responsibility of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
As progressive Filipinos in the United States, we are maximizing BAYAN's
role as a leader and initiator of a broad, international united front versus
an unelected, unpopular, and terrorist Philippine government. Prior to this
International Tribunal, and most certainly past it, BAYAN USA sees itself
not as separate, but integral to the Filipino people's cry and movement
of justice, peace, freedom, and democracy. Therefore it is our duty to extend
the mass movement of Filipinos for peace and justice here on the international
front. An attack on one of our compatriots at the hands of Macapagal-Arroyo
is an attack on all of us.
It is therefore with anxious spirits that we seek the complete and total conviction
and rightful persecution of the Arroyo and George W. Bush regimes, for their
crimes committed against the Filipino people and all of humanity, through
the workings of this international public opinion tribunal known around the
world.
Let it be known that even this simple act of trial and conviction will never
bring back the scores of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters their state
terrorism measures have taken away forever. No man-made punishment will ever
be enough. For the victims who survive their loved ones lost, we cry with
you from across the Pacific Ocean, and seek total and complete justice alongside
you.
From our end, we will also continue to pressure the US government to defund
the murderous Philippine military that has taken so many of our compatriots
lives away. We resolve to never to end building our mass movement and united
front against the terror of the Arroyo regime until the Arroyo regime is completely
yanked from power and justice is served towards her.
Thank you to the convening and participating groups and individuals for this
much-anticipated second session on the Philippines, and thank you to the members
of the Permanent Peoples Tribunal itself, for utilizing this forum and prestigious
institution to expose what needs to be exposed to the international community--
that the Filipino people are dying at the hands of their own government.
We trust you understand the work that needs to be done in service of genuine
and lasting peace for our people. We also appeal to you to invoke the reason
and understanding this institution raised when it convicted the US-Marcos
regime during the first Permanent Peoples Tribunal session on the Philippines
back in 1980. Be aware you are now in the midst of a greater enemy to the
Filipino people and to the principle of human rights itself.
But most of all may this international tribunal also reveal to the whole world,
the historical reality that the Filipino people's movement for justice
and peace will never be bogged down by the work of any tyrant. In the end,
the Filipino people themselves will judge Arroyo in the one court that matters
the most-- the streets. And this, Arroyo must fear and be prepared for.
STOP THE KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES!
DOWN WITH THE US-ARROYO REGIME!
JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
FREE SATUR OCAMPO!
FREE CRISPIN BELTRAN!
LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!
Share this page with a friend