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CBCP asked to open churches for anti-HSA drive

Critics of the controversial Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 on Monday asked the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to allow them to discuss their critique against the anti-terror law in Roman Catholic churches, parishes and institutions.

In a press statement, the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) appealed to CBCP President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo to let them inform the people and members of the Christian faith all over the
country, why HSA is a serious threat to people’s security and extreme opposite of the Church’s gospel and doctrines on human rights, civil liberties and good governance.

The appeal to the country's influential bishops coincided with the opening of the two-day summit on extrajudicial killings spearheaded by the Supreme Court, in which representatives of militant groups are expected to bring the serious implications of the anti-terror law on basic human rights and civil liberties.

“We submit this humble appeal to the leadership of the CBCP. The people must be informed about the evil agenda of the ruling clique in Malacañang," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement. Hicap added: "As a nation of Roman Catholic Christians, we should not allow Satan’s disciples in the Palace to massacre the rights of the people in the name of US-puppet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her terror law and her evil regime’s survival."

The militant group said CBCP's divine intervention is politically and morally necessary to stop Malacañang from using the law to quell legitimate dissent and persecute critics and political foes, including ordinary citizens critical of the Arroyo government.

Pamalakaya’s appeal to CBCP came a day after Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales asked Malacañang to defer the implementation of the controversial anti-terror law until the gray areas are in the law are clarified.

Cardinal Rosales although not opposed to the anti-terror law, said the law’s interpretation of
terrorism is very wide and maybe misinterpreted. The Manila archbishop said the unclear provisions of the law could be abused by some people or groups.

Yesterday, the militant groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) trooped to Mendiola Bridge to greet the first day of HSA implementation with protest.

Pamalakaya for its’ part had distributed the militant’s primer exposing and opposing the harsh
impacts of the law to basic human rights and civil liberties to its 43 provincial chapters nationwide and had furnished copies of Bayan primer to ambassadors of European Union and 14 European states.

This week Pamalakaya leaders and staff will personally hand carry copies of Bayan critique primer on HSA to mayors of Manila, Makati, Pasay, San Juan and Navotas to convince these opposition mayors and their constituents to oppose the anti-terror law. Next week copies of militant’ primer on HSA will be sent to the mayors of Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, Paranaque, Las Piñas, Taguig, Pateros, Marikina and Cainta.

According to the 12-page Bayan primer, the Macapagal-Arroyo government will use the anti-terror law as an instrument to quell legitimate expressions of political dissent and social protest. The primer said mass actions calling for the ouster of President Arroyo, protest actions or workers strikes would be considered as act of terrorism under the law.

The Bayan primer also scored the proscription powers given to the ATC, which will make it easier for the government to categorize all militant groups, political organizations and individuals critical and opposed to the present administration as terrorists. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:27 | link | comments |

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