News Release
March 6, 2007

Bayan denounces signing of anti-terror law

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today held an emergency protest action in Plaza Miranda, Manila to denounce the signing of the anti-terrorism law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The measure was passed by Congress via a special session last February. The President is set to sign the measure into law in formal ceremonies.

" Arroyo has remained deaf to calls by civil libertarians against approving the terror law. The president has instead followed the impositions of the United States and the urging local militarists who are hell bent on using this terror law to curtain human rights and people's resistance," said Bayan chair Carol Araullo.

" The anti-terror law is the legal extension of the US war on terror, a discredited and much-hated policy of the Bush regime. In a time when the whole world is reviewing and rethinking anti-terrorism legislation, the Philippines continues to cling to the US terror war," she said.

Recently, the Canadian parliament repealed certain provisions of its anti-terrorism law. Among the repealed provisions is the detention of suspects for three days without charges.

This same provision can be found in Section 19 of the Philippines? anti-terror law. The section deals with detention of suspects in case of imminent terror attacks.

" The US is probably jumping with glee with the signing of this piece of repressive legislation, especially in a time when US foreign policy is so isolated by the international community. It is true that Arroyo intends to score brownie points with the US government with this latest move," she said.

Complete ingredients of martial rule

Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. for his part said that the ingredients for martial rule or emergency rule are now complete.

" The building blocks of martial law are here. Widespread political killings, the militarization of Metro Manila, and now a law that can violate people's right to privacy, movement, security of person and political affiliation." Reyes said.

Reyes maintained that the definition of the crime of terrorism remains vague and will cover even those groups engaged in legitimate forms of dissent.

" Who will prevent the Arroyo administration from using this law to drive legal activists under ground? Can the administration give a guarantee that this won't happen?" the Bayan leader asked.

" No matter what kind of assurance this regime gives, the fact remains that it cannot be trusted to wield more power. It has a dismal human rights record. It can?t even punish its own generals. Now it wants to give itself more powers to suppress the people," Reyes said.

He also scoffed at the claim made by administration candidate Sen. Joker Arroyo that the terror law is just a public relations ploy of the administration and that it won't have ill effects on critics of Arroyo.

" Shame on Joker for misleading the people by underestimating the capacity of this government to abuse its powers. This government really intendends to use and abuse this law," Reyes said.