Bawiin, bawiin ang Mendiola
"Bawiin, bawiin, bawiin ang Mendiola!"
T
his is now the official battlecry of all progressive and militant people’s organizations, specifically those led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and the Gloria Step Down Movement.
For many activists, Mendiola is a political Narnia — the ultimate gathering place for those who demand justice from the government. All major political demonstrations are held there: the best and most fiery speeches delivered and heard by thousands of Filipinos angered and outraged by governments who, one after the other, have not only failed their mandate but launched vicious campaigns of repression and undermined the economic welfare of the poor and working people.
Mendiola. The very word evokes so many images sharp and unforgettable, etched in th collective memory of this nation, written in blood in the people’s history of struggle for genuine freedom and democracy.
Since the illegitimate Macapagal-Arroyo administration launched its calibrated preemptive response policy, Mendiola and the areas immediately surrounding Malacanang have been turned into a garrison. Razor wire, platoons of police roaming 24-7. The smallest pickets and rallies have been met with violence from police and various goons under their jurisdiction, including retired police and army men. They’ve used shield and truncheons against demonstrators, and even brass knuckles. Only last week, a prayer rally was hosed down by fierce blasts from a water cannon. Scores of demonstrators have been hurt in the dispersals — bloody heads, bruised arms and legs, blackened eyes.
The authorities of the local government of Manila stipulated that the no-permit, no rally policy is being strictly enforced; but even this, their rule they chose to break because they never once recognized the legality or legitimacy of the permits shown them when demonstrators succeeded in getting said permits. So who’s kidding whom here?
The stench of fear undulates in waves and waves, a heavy black cloud hovering above Malacanang Palace. More than just barricading Mendiola, Malacanang is resorting to othe means of shrinking the democratic space.
The last few weeks has seen Malacanang desperately hell-bent on imposing of administrative and legislative measures giving the police and other armed state forces the sort of arbitrary power normally associated with fascist regimes or military juntas.In the hands of the PNP and AFP — uniformed killers masquerading as protectors of civilians — these authoritarian measures are being abused to the severe detriment of civil and human rights.
Through the anti-terrorism bill, Executive Order 464 and the CPR, the illegitimate and corrupt administration is darkly seeking the power to detain and question people without charge or trial. The police and military can raid anyone’s home or office, at any hour of the day or night, and forcibly take them away, interrogate and strip-search them and hold them incommunicado, effectively indefinitely.
These measures, especially the anti-terrorism bill, represent a fundamental assault on essential civil liberties. They give the security and intelligence agencies unfettered arbitrary and repressive power, marking a dramatic step toward the implementation of authoritarian rule. Those detained have no right to know why they are being hauled off for interrogation. If they resist, violent force, including lethal force, can be used against them. If they refuse to answer any question or hand over any material that PNP or AFP or any armed authorities of the government alleges they possess, they face imprisonment.
There is the serious danger that entirely innocent, ordinary people, who have committed no crime, will be subjected to intense political repression. They do not have to be suspected of committing any offence. The PNP or AFP, using the anti-terrorism bill, need only assert that they may have some information relating to “terrorism”, regardless of whether any terrorist act has actually occurred or is even suspected of being planned.
Given all this, the potential for political harassment and victimization is vast. for instance, the definition of terrorism in the anti-terrorism bill is so broad that anyone who knows about a protest or demonstration planned for a “political,ideological or religious cause” could be rounded up for interrogation.Given the bill’s sweeping provisions, and given the rising paranoia of the administration - a school or university teacher could be detained simply because they have a student in their class who has written an essay on terrorism. An investigative journalist or researcher could be interrogated and forced to hand over documents or notes relating to terrorism. Neighbours, workmates, acquaintances or relatives of suspects could be detained for questioning, possibly on flimsy, false accusations made by anonymous sources. Political or social activists could be taken into custody on allegations of knowing about terrorist plans.
Even right now as I type this, under the ATB, I could be arrested for being ‘terrorist’ and writing subversive blogs.
What Filipinos should be alarmed about is this: democratic rights forged in the last century of struggle are being abolished one by one, and in the most insidious ways. Unlike other criminal legislation, under the anti-Terrorism Act people can be imprisoned or punished for ideas, or knowledge, rather than acts. People can be detained on mere suspicion, without a specific charge. How different is this from the Nazi regime? Anyone can be rounded up for interrogation and detention under a law that is so vague that no one can tell whether they have infringed it or not. The Act’s language is deliberately ill defined, highly subjective and political, making it easy to manipulate
What all this reveals about the incumbent administration is that it’s afraid.
Afraid for itself, afraid of the voices that demand the resignation of its illegitimate president, and afraid of the truth that justice will prevail against it -eventually and inevitably.The Terrorism Act, the CPR and EO 464 are very significant departures from established law. The government is rushing forward with the intent of protecting itself from the legitimate protests and calls for Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation and removal from office.
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Pero ang lahat ng ito ay hindi nangangahulugan na pulos galit at hinagpis lang ang mga damdaming naghahari sa mga rali at demonstrasyon.
Ngayon ang ika-5 at huling araw ng Lakbayan ng mga magsasaka at mamamayan. Farmers and members of various allied peoples organizations from all over Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Northern Luzon journeyed from their respective provinces with the intent of registering their dissent against the Macapagal-Arroyo government and to expose that genuine agrarian reform is still being denied the country’s tillers. Farmers comprise the biggest percentage of the Filipino population, but they are also the most neglected by the incumbent administration and its predecessors.
Militante, mataas at buhay na buhay ang diwa ng mga magsasaka at mga aktibista. Sa init ng katanghaliang araw, at sa harap ng gutom at uhaw, nagpatuloy sila sa pagmartsa hanggang umabot sa Kamaynilaan. Hindi nila inalintana ang mga katarantaduhan ng mga pulis at militar na nagpadala ng mga bobong impiltrador at nagtayo ng mga checkpoint at harang sa mga major roads patungong Maynila.
They were laughing and smiling and yes, rejoicing over their triumph against the government who tried its best to sabotage the Lakbayan but miserably failed.
This afternoon’s program at the corner of Recto and Morayta was one of the best political programs I’ve ever seen and heard. The speakers — Bayan chair Dr. Carol Araullo, League of Filipino Students (LFS) chair Vencer Crisostomo, Bayan Muna solons Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casino; Anakpawis Rep. and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chair Rafael Mariano, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and KMP Sec. Gen. Danilo ‘Ka Daning’ Ramos were all in top form.
Their voices rang clear and strong, speaking as they did for the very people Macapagal-Arroyo has chosen to pit her will against: the farmers, the peasants, the urban and rural poor.
The cultural numbers were also brilliant. Highly creative. New songs and arrangements. The crowd and audience sang along , clapped and responded appreciatively.
I bet even the police were listening. Them and the marines and army men deployed behind the phalanx of police with their M-16s, tear gas canisters and stun-guns.
Ang hindi madalas binabanggit sa mga ulat kaugnay sa mga pulitikal na pagkilos ay ang katotohanan na ang gayong mga pagtitipon ay mga okasyon din ng pagbubunyi at selebrasyon.
Sa mga gayong pagkakataon naipapakita na nagkakaisa ang mga uring mapagpasya, at kaisa nila ang mga progresibong sektor ng lipunan. Sa gayong mga pagtitipon, nararehistro ang matibay at dakilang mensahe na isang araw, dadating ang katarungan sa lipunang Pilipino, at tangan ito ng mga mamamayang di natakot lumaban at makibaka.
Kung nakayang biguin ang batas militar ni Marcos, kayang biguin ang namumuong diktadurya ni Gloria. Walang batas na mas mataas sa kagustuhan ng nagkakaisang mamamayan. Walang pag-iisip ang mananaig kundi ang dakilang pananaw ng proletaryado at organisadong masang anakpawis.
Magdiwang tayo dahil ang bawat isang araw ay isang araw papalapit sa kamatayan ng naghaharing sistema, sa pagbagsak ng bulok, mandaraya, magnanakaw, sinungaling at berdugong presidenteng si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Mendiola will be reclaimed. The red banners of the Filipino people will soon be waving freely across that small but historic space. Babawiin at palalayain ng mamamayan ang Mendiola, kasama ng ibang mga larangan sa kanayunan at sa kalunsuran.#
