Criminalization of activists, ChaCha latest package of Arroyo’s HRVs; Defend human rights at all cost – KMU

Kilusang Mayo Uno led workers today in the militant gathering and marches to mark the International Human Rights Day.

“The Arroyo regime has violated the gravest of our human rights in her quest to escalate efforts in eradicating all opposition to her administration. However, if this state of atrocity has garnered any significant response from our ranks, it is our renewed resolve to defend human rights at all cost.” said Roger Soluta, KMU Deputy Secretary General and Human Rights Desk Officer.

Criminalization

Soluta alarmed the public over the newest trend of overt HRVs, which is to cook-up criminal and non-bailable charges against innocent people, swiftly arrest them without legal procedures, and thus imprison them at the regime’s mercy.

“The fact that our Chief Lawyer Atty. Saladero has fallen victim to this massive criminalization signals everyone to be wary of this witch hunt.”

ChaCha and comprehensive HRVs

Soluta also slammed Arroyo’s railroading of the Charter Change that “intends, alongside to prolong her stay in office, to trample upon every social, economic, and cultural right of the people.”

“The economic liberalization provisions will only aggravate the effects of the financial crisis to the masses, as these seek to protect only the big business. ChaCha spells out more job losses, wage freezes, price hikes, union bustings, and more rights violations.”

Countering repression

“The remaining option for us is only to counter Arroyo’s fascism through collective vigilance and defiance.

“Every moment we are called upon to defend our right to live freely and decently, our right for a truly just and democratic society, and so we shall abide,” Soluta said.