Toronto demo: ‘GMA Resign!’

Toronto demo: ‘GMA Resign!’

By Kapituko – GMA Resign Movement

TORONTO–On the same day embattled Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo addressed the nation on her yearly State of the Nation Address (SONA), Filipinos in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal braved the sweltering heat of plus 35 degree celcius Canadian summer to deliver a hotter message – her immediate resignation.

Here in Toronto, Filipinos with young children and grandparents in tow waved banners and placards in front of the Philippine Consulate at 161 Eglinton Avenue East in solidarity with the worldwide call for the resignation of Arroyo.

Speakers from various sectors lambasted the US-Macapagal-Arroyo corrupt fascist regime and demanded Arroyo’s resignation. They also called for an end to the spate of killings of political leaders, journalists, priests, ministers and church leaders, workers, peasants, judges, lawyers and people critical of her administration’s policies.

The GMA government’s political crisis had been simmering for years as the Filipino people realized that Arroyo and her husband are in the take from the proceeds of illegal numbers game or ‘jueteng’ – an issue that brought the downfall of Arroyo’s predecessor, Joseph Estrada thru a people power uprising.
The crisis had been aggravated by the more fundamental issues of increasing poverty, unemployment, military atrocities committed by the military and paramilitary forces against the civilian populace under the guise of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.

The Gloriagate scandal has sparked and fuelled the upsurge of protests and brought the political crisis to a boiling point. At the same time, when various polls painted her as the most unpopular and the worst president in Philippine history, the Gloriagate expose’ and Arroyo’s virtual admission of involvement in the electoral fraud have brought the people’s clamour for her immediate resignation.
Joy Sioson of the Philippine Women’s Centre – Toronto said the people’s outrage can no longer be contained over Arroyo’s cheating in the 2004 elections, subservience to the dictates of U.S. imperialism, militarization of the whole country and the unabated murders of anti-administration critics.

“Already, there were 47 deaths due to assassinations and summary execution since Novembver 2004 to March 2005. Many of the victims belong to Bayan Muna and Anakpawis, both political parties that won seats in the House of Representatives. Other victims include leaders and members of people’s organizations and cause-oriented groups that were critical of her policies,” said Mithi Esguerra of Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada (UKPC).

“We call on Arroyo to stop these killings and uphold and respect human rights. In view of all these, we ask that all Canadian aid to the Philippines used by the GMA administration for counter-insurgency and the dubious “war on terror” be cut-off since these have been used to commit many grave human rights violations.

“We also ask that the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and police who are responsible for these violations be held accountable and brought to justice. The GMA administration must indemnify all victims of these military atrocities,” said Esguerra.

Iggy Manlangit of North York Filipino Association urged Filipinos to unite in the struggle to protect and uphold human rights in the Philippines. Arroyo, he said, should resign immediately to allow a new breed of Filipinos to run the country. The days of corrupt, autocratic and dictatorial political leaders must come to an end so that the socio- political and economic life of Filipinos can progress.

Edwin Mercurio, a Toronto freelance writer and former Philippine journalist held Arroyo accountable for the unmitigated killings of media practitioners.

“The rising death toll suffered bv Filipino journalists is abhorrent, scandalous and is a savage attack on press freedom. Today, the Philippines is the most dangerous place in the world for media practitioners, surpassing India, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico and second only to war-ravaged and U.S.-occupied Iraq.
“We are witnessing the assassination of journalists under the murderous, graft-ridden, fascist and US puppet Mrs. Gloria-Macapagal-Arroyo. Is there press freedom in a country where more than 67 media practitioners are shot and killed and not a single perpetrator has been brought to justice? Last year alone, 13 journalists were killed,” Mercurio said.

Terry Olayta of the Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ) scored Mrs. Arroyo for using the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) fund during her election campaigns. She added that the Arroyo administration’s lack of assistance for overseas workers facing abuse, exploitation and persecution abroad and continuing rights violations are enough reasons for Mrs. Arroyo to resign.

Rally participants also said they are tired of Philippine-style ‘Rigodon’ politics and do not believe that fundamental changes would come out of the U.S.-Ramos sponsored charter change or ‘Cha-Cha.’ They want to see a government that truly reflects the aspirations of the Filipino people, where there is social justice, genuine economic reforms, righteousness, transparency and accountability – a Philippines free from imperialistic control by foreign countries and a sovereign government where there is lasting peace and progress.

KAPITUKO – GMA RESIGN MOVEMENT
(KABABAYANG PILIPINO IN TORONTO CALLING ON GMA TO RESIGN