Philippines: Unity Statement by February 25 Coalition

international | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Sunday February 26, 2017 03:36 by February 25 Coalition

WE FOUGHT TO BE FREE. WE SAY NEVER AGAIN TO DICTATORSHIP!

This month we celebrate the People Power Revolution of February 1986, the event that finally put an end to the Marcos dictatorship.

This extraordinary event capped our long years of suffering and struggle. For the regime of Ferdinand Marcos violated our people with torture and imprisonment, displacement and impoverishment, in numbers that have moved even international courts to pass judgment. It was a regime that crushed dissent, even as it plundered the economy, leaving the country with a debt so huge, the next generations will still be making its payments.

Three million people took to the streets in February 1986 to tell that regime they've had enough. Millions more gathered in other parts of the country demanding an end to the abusive rule. The people prevailed.

It was an extraordinary time of heroism and resolve, when Filipinos, united in heart and purpose, stopped tanks, converted hardened soldiers, ousted a dictator, and gave democracy a new breath of life.

This year, 2017, People Power has become even more relevant. The Marcos family, which to this day is propped up by stolen wealth, has resurrected itself in politics, setting its sights on nothing less than the biggest prize, Malacañang.

Its expensive and relentless campaign to overturn historical truth and erase the horror of martial law--of which the burial of its patriarch, the dictator Ferdinand, at a cemetery for heroes is an integral part-- indicate a clear and present danger.

The institutions of modern democracy that we built in the years since 1986 are young, weak, and vulnerable to a resurgent and aggressive despotism.

Clearly, the tools of dictatorship are being resurrected--from the open threat to suspend the privilege of writ of habeas corpus to the constant danger of having martial law declared, to the subversion of civilian and democratic rule, to the gross violation of human rights.

Already, over 7,000 men, women, and children have lost their lives in killings patently without regard for their fundamental rights as citizens.

These events are akin to the brutalities under the Marcos dictatorship.

We now face the resurgence of nothing less than authoritarian rule.

The February 25 Coalition calls on all citizens to commemorate the 31st anniversary of People Power in the Philippines by remembering that we, the people, are the true sovereign in our Republic.

We challenge the nation to remember our dark history under the dictatorship and to commit to the cause of protecting our hard-won freedoms.

We call upon all citizens to assert our sovereign will and resist all efforts to subvert civilian democratic rule and to revive dictatorship in new forms.

We call on our government to respect the basic rights guaranteed by our Constitution, and to uphold the value of every individual life.

Stop the killings!

We call on People Power to rise again. Whatever our differences, all Filipinos are united in desiring respect for human rights, justice, peace, prosperity, and our prideful place in the world of nations. Let us fight for our rights, for historical truth, and justice. Let us defend democracy as the only road to peace and progress.

We cannot allow dictatorship to happen ever again in our country.

Celebrate and Remember Our People’s Power!
Defend Our Rights and History!
Resist the Re-Imposition of Dictatorship!
Respect and Uphold Life, Dignity and Human Rights! Stop the Killings!
--
Alab Katipunan
Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)
Akbayan Party
Akbayan! Youth
August Twenty One Movement (ATOM)
Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation
Bente Uno
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)
Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN)
Claimants 1081
Coalition Against the Marcos Burial (CAMB)
Coalition Against Trafficking In Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
De La Salle Philippines (DLSP)
Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees, Inc.
KASAPI
Kilos Maralita (KM)
Lingap Bilanggo
Manila SUCs Coalition
Millennials Against Dictators (MAD)
NeverAgain: No to Dictators, to Martial Law, to a Marcos Return to Power
Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)
Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (PANDAYAN)
Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)
Partido Manggagawa (PM)
People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR)
People Power Volunteers for Reform-Youth (PPVR-Youth)
People's Movement for Democratic Governance (PMDG)
Philippine Stagers Foundation
PILIPINA - Kilusan ng Kababaihang Pilipino
Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)
Samahan Sa Tuwid Na Daan Laban Sa Katiwalian Inc.
Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan Alumni (SAMASA Alumni)
Sanlakas
Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO)
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB)
Social Democratic Caucus (SDC)
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)
Sustainability and Participation through Education and Lifelong Learning (SPELL)
The Nameless Heroes and Martyrs
The Silent Majority (TSM)
World March of Women (WMW)
YOUTHS -Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (YOUTHS-PANDAYAN)
1MAR Movement