[van-announce] Commemorate Sept 11-end 'terrorist' hysteria

[Philippine Women Centre of B.C.]

Filipinos in Canada urge to end ‘terrorist’ hysteria in commemoration of
September 11th

11 September 2002

As the world commemorates the victims of September 11th, Filipinos in Canada
urge all peace and freedom-loving people to call for an end to the U.S.-led
‘terrorism’ hysteria.  While we honor and commemorate those that lost their
lives in this tragic act of violence, we reflect solemnly on the state
violence and terror that has since ensued in the name of the victims of
9/11.

At present, the Filipino people’s legitimate aspirations and movements for
genuine democracy, peace, and national freedom are under the gun in the
U.S.-led international ‘war on terrorism.

Since the tragedy of September 11th, millions of Filipinos the world over
have fallen victim to ‘terrorism’ hysteria puffed up by the U.S.-led
international ‘war on terrorism’.  After the U.S. military stormed into
Afghanistan in the name of vengeance, thousands of U.S. combat soldiers
marched into the Philippines in January 2002.  This deployment marked the
opening of U.S. imperialism’s second front in its global ‘war against
terrorism’.

Since this original deployment of 6000 U.S. combat troops and Special
Forces, more and more soldiers have been entering the Philippines supposedly
to help the Philippine army quell a small bandit group, the Abu Sayaff
(ironically, an organization created by the Central Intelligence Agency).
Already, the massive U.S. military presence has brought about scores of
human rights violations and an upsurge in prostitution and violence all over
the tiny archipelego in the Asia Pacific.

As Filipinos in Canada and human rights advocates, we have been campaigning
in solidarity with the broad masses of the Filipino people to have the U.S.
military withdraw from the Philippines immediately.

However, despite the obvious fact that there is little left of the Abu
Sayaff, the U.S. military still continues to participate in combat, but,
they are no longer engaging in battle with the Abu Sayaff.  Now, the U.S.
has set its military might on the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino
people for genuine peace, democracy, and national freedom.

On August 9, U.S. State Secretary, Colin Powell, announced the addition of
the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army on its
foreign ‘terrorist’ list.  The United States also stated that the assets of
the CPP, NPA – as well as those of Professor Jose Maria Sison (CPP Founding
Chair and Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines or NDFP) – are subject to freezing.

Following suit, the Dutch, British, and Canadian governments quickly went
along with U.S. imperialism’s wishes and placed the CPP and NPA on their
foreign ‘terrorist’ lists.

Now Professor Sison and other Filipino progressives including legitimate
asylum seekers and recognized political refugees in the Netherlands have
fallen victim to draconian and repressive measures such as surveillance,
raids, control of movement and travel and harassment.  Professor Sison has
since been systematically demonized by the European media in an attempt to
justify the discriminatory measures of the Dutch government.  They are now
threatening to have Professor Sison, who is a recognized and legitimate
political refugee in the Netherlands, unjustly extradited to the U.S.,  – a
move that clearly exposes U.S. interests behind his political persecution.
These measures unfairly violate Professor Sison’s civil liberties and
democratic and human rights.

In Canada, as overseas Filipinos who are striving for social justice, we
have been coming under increasing pressure as the Canadian government
continues to pursue policies and practices for the sake of ‘national
security’ against international ‘terrorism’.  Already, new post-September
11th immigration policies are geared towards arbitrary deportations and
stiffer restrictions and penalties that adversily affect our community of
migrants and immigrants.  Now, with the recent announcement that Canada has
also included the CPP and NPA on its list of foreign ‘terrorists’, we are
extremely disconcerted and anxious as this move only adds fuel to the
anti-immigrant hysteria that has intensified post-September 11th.

The pretext of fighting ‘terrorism’ in the aftermath of September 11 must
not be used to suppress legitimate political activities and dissent.    Let
us not use the senseless deaths of the victims of September 11th to allow
the U.S. to continue on a path that will cause more death and destruction.

Now, more than ever, as the marginalized and majority who are bearing the
brunt of the U.S.-led war against ‘terrorism’, we must step-up our efforts
to expose and oppose the ‘terrorist’ hysteria that U.S. is spreading.  We
must shift our attention beyond the concept of ‘good and evil’ towards a
deeper understanding of the current international economic and political
crisis that threatens U.S. interests and demands that it pursue wars of
aggression and campaigns of suppression.

Justice for Professor Jose Maria Sison!

End the U.S.-led political witch hunt!

U.S. troops out of the Philippines now!

Down with U.S. imperialism!

Long live international solidarity!

 Statement of:

British Columbia for Human Rights of the Philippines
Filipino Nurses Support Group
Philippine Women Centre of British Columbia
SIKLAB (Overseas Filipino workers organization)
Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino-Canadian Youth
Alliance-Vancouver

______________________________________________


"Celebrating over a decade of struggle!"
Philippine Women Centre of British Columbia
Phone/Fax: 604.215.1103
www.pwc.bc.tripod.com/
www.kalayaancentre.org



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