The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) scorned Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales’ call to have the CPP outlawed again saying this will only result in worsening military abuses and suppression of human rights.
CPP spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal said “Gonzales and Esperon know fully well that the legal reproscription of the CPP will have, in fact, very little effect on the de facto illegal status of the CPP, nor will it stop the growth of the New People’s Army and the advance of the people’s w ar.”
Rosal pointed out that despite the repeal of the 1947 Anti-Subversion Law which criminalizes membership in the CPP, members of the CPP continue to be persecuted and are usually charged with ordinary crimes.
“The real objective of their call to reproscribe the CPP is to legitimize their current plan of targeting and setting up legal progressive parties, organizations and individuals for intensified military attacks and fascist suppression by merely tagging these as ‘communist front-organizations “, Rosal said.
Rosal said such a measure “will only embolden and license Arroyo’s armed forces, police, security forces and death squads to launch more fascist attacks and repressive measures as well as ‘legal offensives’ against the progressive organizations, parties and leaders in the name of suppressing the CPP.”
Speaking before journalists, General Esperon said yesterday that “If I had my way, I would want to arrest all these suspects, but no, we have to file the appropriate cases, we need warrants of arrest.” He said proscribing the CPP as a terrorist organization can be done through the Anti-Terror Law or Human Security Act which will take effect starting July this year.
“Such statements of the chief-of-staff bare the armed forces’ brazen fascist contempt for already tenuous legal procedures that provide for the legitimate existence and exercise of rights of progressive parties and organizations, ” said Rosal.
“Obviously behind the Arroyo regime’s plan to proscribe the CPP and NPA, is its objective of consequently proscribing legal progressive parties and organizations which Arroyo and her officials insist on tagging as ‘communist-front organizations’ and ‘enemies of the state’,” Rosal said. “Outlawing the CPP will only be used by the Arroyo regime as justification in having the leaders of members of progressive parties and organizations arrested and charged as CPP members and as “terrorists’ ,” said Rosal.
“Expect that as soon as the Anti-Terrorist Act takes effect in July, aside from proscribing the CPP and proceeding to attempt at the proscription as well of progressive forces, the Arroyo regime will commit more abuses of human rights and violations of civil liberties in its desperation to stiffle resistance to its rotten and brutal rule and preserve itself in power,” added Rosal.
Reference:
Marco Valbuena
Media Officer
Cellphone Numbers: 09179776392 :: 09282242061
E-mail:cppmedia@ gmail.com