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!
