The Geneva Forum for Philippine Concerns (GFPC) denounces, in the strongest possible terms, the Arroyo administration for the issuance of Proclamation 1017, placing the entire country under a “state of national emergency”. It is ironic that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo chose the 20th anniversary of People Power revolution that ended the tyranny of the Marcos dictatorship to bring back the specter of the dark period of martial law. We believe that the alleged “coup attempt” is just a pretext for the GMA regime to institutionalize martial law all over again, cow into silence the growing people’s opposition and cover up the numerous scandals and scams besetting her administration and thus perpetuate herself in power.
As Filipinos overseas, we are members of two societies: here in Europe, where we stand steadfast over our own rights, and in the Philippines, whose nationals we remain. We are in solidarity with the Filipino people, overseas and in the Philippines, in condemning the outright banning and the violent dispersal of all demonstrations and rallies; the warrantless arrests and detention of prominent opposition figures and numerous Filipino citizens exercising their right to assembly, including children as young as seven years old; the warrantless searches; the harassment and filing of inciting to sedition, rebellion and coup d’etat charges against Representatives of Party-list groups and other opposition personalities; the “gestapo” raid and take over of the newspaper office of the Daily Tribune, and the threat of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to take over other media outlets who “are threats to national security”.
We demand an immediate end to this state of national emergency which we deem to be unconstitutional. Moreover, as the Philippines is a state party to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Philippine government has violated the international guidelines set down by the UN Human Rights Committee on the proclamation of states of emergency.
We are one with the Filipino people in resisting Proclamation 1017 and asserting the people’s right to free speech, expression, and assembly. We call on the appropriate UN human rights bodies and experts, international NGO’s, churches and civil society groups, and foreign diplomatic missions to urge the Arroyo government to immediately rescind Proclamation 1017. We also request the international community to continue monitoring the situation and to ensure that basic human rights are respected and protected.
RESIST and DEFY Proclamation 1017!!!
Martial Law, Never Again!!!
Long Live the spirit of the EDSA people power revolution!!!
Atty. Cecilia Jimenez and Ms. Clarissa Balan-Sycip, Co-Chairpersons Geneva Forum for Philippine Concerns