Workers denounce Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales' red-baiting

The Akbayan once again uses red-baiting to attack progressive party-list. In a statement released January 23, 2007, Akbayan through Etta Rosales asserts that "Bayan Muna continue to express sympathy towards the NDF."

According to Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog, National Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) this is the same tune the Arroyo regime and their propagandists uses to vilify the progressive party-list thus making them open to physical attacks. "Etta and Akbayan remain true to their double-talk. Preaching human rights while setting-up the progressive party-lists for attacks by red-baiting and clumping them together with the CPP-NPA-NDF."

"Etta and Akbayan praises themselves for denouncing political killings and 'pushing measures for the investigation and resolution of these killings'. Saying and doing are two different things since even Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita have made lip-service against the political killings and even General Jovito Palparan have made statements that he respect human rights. They even created the Melo Commission precisely to muddle the issue of the murders of journalists and activists," stated Labog.

"What is common between the above individuals is while they pay lip-service against extra-judicial killings, they continue to rant about progressive party-lists being communist fronts. Such accusations prepare the ground for members, officers and leaders of activist organizations to physical assault by government-backed death squads," opined Labog.

"Joel Rocamora, Akbayan president states in his paper dated April 20, 2004 that 'Bayan Muna is a legal party supported by an army, the New People's Army.' Walden Bello group named Focus on the Global South accuses that Ibon Foundation, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA), International League of People's Struggles (ILPS), KMU, Asian Student Association (ASA), and Migrante are '…groups that are associated or working closely with the CPP…' Such Mccarthysists red-baiting from groups outside the regime is what Arroyo and her butchers want, creating legitimacy to their claims against the progressive partylist and people's organizations," said Labog.

As of now, more than 800 activists and affiliates of progressive groups were killed under Arroyo's rule. The latest victims were Ruben Ermino and Demetrio Imperial of Bayan Muna Bicol who were both shot yesterday by unknown assassins.