Activists hold ‘People’s SONA’ in Canada
Activists hold ‘People’s SONA’ in Canada
Compiled by BAYAN-Canada and allied organizations.
By Ysh Cabana
The Philippine Reporter
Several cause-oriented groups led by BAYAN took to the streets across Canada to expose what they call President Rodrigo Duterte’s fascist regime and called for his ouster ahead of his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Enough with your broken promises. It’s time for you to leave,” said Chris Sorio, Chairperson of BAYAN-Canada, in a People’s SONA.
This protest is where the people themselves deliver what they believe is the real situation of the Philippines after four years of Duterte in office. In Canada, People’s SONA was organized by BAYAN with Malaya Movement-Canada and the Canadian chapter of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP).
Protesters frowned at the Duterte administration’s anti-people policies. Vancouver-based groups branded the recently signed Anti-Terrorism Law a “draconian act” aimed at silencing Filipinos who are critical of the government.
“In the actual Anti-Terror Law, the provisions for terrorism are very vague and broad. The law puts the onus on interpreting acts as terroristic onto members of the military or the police. That is very concerning to us,” said Danelle Ortiz, Secretary General of Gabriela-BC.
Meanwhile, Migrante-Manitoba stood in solidarity with embattled friends and comrades in the Philippines. Holding placards conveying messages against Duterte’s “tyranny”, members gathered at the steps of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The group denounced Duterte’s miserable failure to curb the spread of COVID-19. Demonstrators in Ottawa also marched from the U.S. Embassy to the Philippine Embassy linking imperialism to “the worst economic crisis in the history of the country.” Chalkmarks were drawn on the ground on the curb as megaphone volumed turned up. “Junk, junk terror law!” they chanted.
In Toronto, the scorching weather did not deter rallyists from airing their grievances in a two-hour long program. Billed as “SONAgKAISA” to express unity of a growing number of people against Duterte, several dozen demonstrators converged at Little Manila, a predominantly Filipino section of North York. Raised fists and waving banners filled the intersection of Bathurst St. and Wilson Avenue.
“Today, as our kababayan back home march in the streets and protest to show the true state of the nation, we enjoin you, our kababayan in Canada, to lend your voices in fighting for a better homeland and in bringing social justiceand true peace in the Philippines. There is no safety in silence. We are one with the collective strength of the Filipino people in bringing the US-Duterte regime close to an abrupt end,” said Ed Muyot of the Malaya Movement.
Along with Makulay atbp., Kwentong Bayan, and solidarity groups, Toronto Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Kitchener-Waterloo Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines and Canada-Philippines Solidarity Organization, speeches covered the various injustices caused by the US-Duterte regime.
Montreal’s progressive organizations also held a rally in front of José Rizal monument at Parc MacKenzie King. Malcolm Guy of the International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS-Canada) highlighted the recent passing of Fidel Agcaoili, chairperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiating panel. The crowd honored his legacy by promising continued struggle for just peace in the Philippines. The crowd joined together for more chants.
“Long live the memory of comrade Fidel! Down with Imperialism and all reactions! Comrade Fidel presente!”
In an online forum, Alberta chapters of OFW group Migrante and youth group Anakbayan discussed the negative impacts of Duterte’s fascist regime. Duterte has been under fire for using “militarist tactics” in the so-called war on drugs, which groups have criticized for extrajudicial killings and violations of human rights since coming into power. As in most of his usual public address, he has waged a word war against other perceived enemies but his penultimate speech was delivered to a limited audience of allies in Congress and Cabinet officials who have been key in the administration’s pet projects. At one point, Duterte admitted that he does not understand what he has been reading.
Days prior, Migrante-Canada also shared stories, sentiments and aspirations of Filipino migrants in Canada as part of the State of Migrants Address. Workers in the province of Alberta, the group noted, complain that they only received a fraction of the supposedly $200 cash aid program of the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment.
BAYAN-Canada also frowned at the Philippine government’s “kill, steal, and bill” policies. Two more years of absolute government ineptitude and neglect is enough, the group said.
“BAYAN-Canada encourages everyone here, our kababayan and friends, to join us in the struggle for genuine democracy and freedom in our country. We must remember that Filipinos abroad, as the third largest remittance senders in the world, help keep the Philippine economy afloat,” the group said in a statement.
“We therefore have all the right to take part in ensuring accountability from the said administration. Now is the time to speak out against tyranny and rid ourselves of the scourge that is the US-Duterte regime,” it added.
“We call on the Canadian government to end all Canadian support to the Duterte government, including financial, socio-economic programming,tactical, logistical and training support, military sales and defense cooperation. The Canadian government can provide leadership in the international community to call the Philippine government to account for widespread and systematic human rights violations, and give substance to its own commitment to global human rights.”
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