ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 7, 2011) – The local chapter of the nationalist youth organization called ANAKBAYAN has strongly criticized the Aquino administration after the violent dispersal by the police of students and human rights advocates who gathered in Manila to air social concerns.
As they were heading their way to Mendiola, the police barricaded the road along Recto Avenue and the groups violently dispersed.
“This incident was very saddening. We are about to celebrate the 63rd Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this December 10 but it seems the government is ignorant of what human rights mean,” said James Saguino, a spokesperson for the ANAKBAYAN Zamboanga.
The youth leader also slammed a government order declaring Mendiola as a ‘protest-free zone.’
“Mendiola has been a historical place of peoples’ struggles since the Marcos regime. It was during the Arroyo administration that such same policy was also implemented. Why is the Aquino administration also prohibiting activities like this to be held in Mendiola? No change under the Aquino administration,” Saguino said.
He also cited many government policies such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Automatic Appropriation on Debt Services, budget cuts on social services, the counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan and All-out Justice which Saguino are mere ‘carbon copy’ of the Arroyo policies.
Saguino described the violent dispersal as a blatant disrespect of the state for human rights.
“The protesters are about to hold a peaceful assembly in the form of camping at the Mendiola but they were stopped. The youth called for additional budget for education and health services, but they were responded and met with water cannons by the government.”
“Repression and fascism still reign today in the new administration, which has been claiming to be pro-people. The state is still the top violator of human rights despite that it signed such universal declaration which is supposed to promote and protect human rights,” he said.
Saguino said ANAKBAYAN together with other organizations from different sectors shall hold a “Unity March for Human Rights” on December 10 from Western Mindanao State University to the Plaza Pershing.
“We vow to protect and promote peoples’ rights and interest, even if the government cannot and will not,” he said.
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