Counter-Terrorism Experts Conference will refresh Arroyo’s license to strike state-sponsored terrorism and political repression

Militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that political repression and state-sponsored terrorism being waged by the government against progressive organizations, militant party-list representatives and labor unions will intensify as the Arroyo government plays host to the three-day Counter Terrorism Experts Conference (CETC) that will take place Cebu starting tomorrow.

KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat said it is likely that Malacanang will use the resolutions and unities of the CETC to further promote its supposed anti-terrorism campaign which in reality translates to suppression of government critics and Arroyo’s political opponents including progressive organizations whom the government tagged as ‘communist fronts.’

“The Philippines ’ most wanted terrorist now reigns at Malacanang. No other than Mrs. Arroyo and her trusted mercenaries in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have launched the most brutal attacks against the Filipino people.”

“To save herself from ultimate political downfall, Arroyo acts like a dictator and strikes her fascist hands against the people all in the name of national and international anti-terrorism campaign. This year alone, almost 40 members and leaders of progressive groups were killed in the latest wave of political killings,” Suyat said.

Suyat further said that Arroyo will surely boast the government’s so-called ‘efforts and victories’ in fighting local terrorism to the representatives from 44 countries attending the CETC.

“Under the guise of its all-out war against terrorism, Arroyo recorded the worst acts of violence and human rights violations against the people. In 2005, human rights group KARAPATAN recorded 874 cases of human rights, violations victimizing 99,011 individuals, 14,302 families in 288 communities for the period of January to November 30, 2005. In this same period, 31 labor leaders and advocates of the workers movement were assassinated by death squads who serve as auxiliary forces for the government’s Oplan Bantay Laya anti-insurgency campaign,” Suyat said.

KMU will be participating in the International Labor Solidarity Mission (ILSM) on April 29 to May 7 that will bring together international labor leaders and advocates from 8 countries to document cases of trade union related killings in the Philippines. Meanwhile, preparations for the May 1 Labor Day nationally-coordinated activities are already underway. “We will highlight Arroyo’s culpability in the rising cases of politically-motivated killings of labor leaders and advocates,” Suyat ended.