Migrante-Australia calls on the Howard Government to withdraw its support for Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, the fake president of the Philippines

Sydney, 25 February 2006: Yesterday, the 24th of February 2006 at 11:30 am Philippine President Mrs Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) unleashed the demons that she has been harbouring since she cheated her way to the Philippine presidency in 2004. These demons are arbitrary arrests, dispersal of people’s assemblies and increased repression of individuals and organisations fighting for justice and genuine democracy in the Philippines. These are all contained in the Proclamation 1017, which she declared under the state of emergency. The substance of Proclamation 1017 is Martial Law. It is very sad that GMA has turned her back on the people who toppled the Marcos dictatorship and Estrada’s corruption regime. The 25th of February 2006, is the 20th anniversary of the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos in the popular uprising known as People Power 1. From this legacy People Power 2 was born, ousting Erap Estrada and ushering Mrs Arroyo to power. Today, she has cancelled all public meetings and gatherings and her military arrested protesters at the rally yesterday. These further show that Mrs Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not suitable to be President. The voters in 2004 knew this but GMA has manipulated all the mechanisms of the 2004 elections to manufacture a “win”. Mrs Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017 to trick the Filipino people. In her pronouncements, she tried to claim that she is the underdog and through this she aims to get the people’s sympathy and support. But Mrs Arroyo has to watch out now because soon she will be running out of tricks and Filipinos are getting more and more impatient. The socio-economic situation in the Philippines has deteriorated since Mrs Arroyo became President. Ka Mameng (CARMEN DEUNIDA) a woman leader of her community and of Gabriela expressed in her interview with ABC (Australian TV): “We don't see any development in the Filipino nation. Instead, we are being strangled, we are dying from poverty”. Mrs Arroyo’s government continues to be subservient to the US government in its socio-economic and military policies and programs. Today, Police picked up Philippine Congressman Crispin Beltran (or Ka Bel) a defender of worker’s rights for questioning. As of this time we do not know his situation. The US-Arroyo regime is known for the execution and torture of human rights workers and community leaders who protested against the government’s anti-people policies and programs. Migrante condemns the US-Arroyo Regime’s declaration of state of emergency. As Filipinos residing overseas, we are concerned of the well-being of our relatives and the rest of the nation. This situation will result in instability and further undermine the socio-economic life of Filipinos. Migrante calls on the US-Arroyo Regime to lift the Proclamation 1017 and the state of emergency for unconditional release of Crispin Beltran and others who were arrested to resign and hand-over the administration to a Transition Council that will manage the government and prepare for a clean and honest election Furthermore we call on the Howard government to withdraw its support for Mrs Arroyo’s government. Reference: Edwin Subijano, President-Migrante Australia: 0409 461 600 Bong Andres, Vice-President-Migrante Australia: 0410 632 707

25 Feb 2006

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