Press Release
September 13, 2012

Martial Law at 40
Nationwide protests for education, human rights set

Youth and student groups nationwide will launch “strikes, walk-outs, big marches” in campuses, workplaces and communities next week as the nation commemorates the 40th year anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. 

In a unity statement signed by about a hundred youth organizations and alliances, the groups said that “Martial Law is still very much alive under Aquino.” The groups led by Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, National Union of Students of the Philippines and College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines expressed their protest against the rising tuition costs and the spate of human rights violations prevailing under the Aquino administration. 

“We cannot simply remember. The ‘legacies’ of Marcos are still very much alive. Marcos’ Education Act of 1982 which legitimized tuition increases is still in full force today. Human rights violations, political assasinations, disappearances and fascist repression campaigns are still rampant,” said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of youth group Anakbayan. 

Crisostomo said students from University of the Philippines in Diliman and Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, schools in the University Belt, Intamuros and Taft areas will hold week long “strikes and campus shutdowns” from September 17-21.

“We can no longer stand the attacks on our right to education and the continuing violation of human rights and liberties. We are calling on the Aquino administration to stop pro-commercialization policies, junk Oplan Bayanihan and to stop violation of human rights,” said the groups. 

More than 267 tertiary schools have increased tuition this year by as much as 15%. The groups said the actual number could be much higher as government does not monitor “miscellaneous” and other fees.
 
They said state universities and colleges such as University of the Philippines (UP), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) which are supposed to provide accessible education have also increasing school fees. UP, through a “rebracketing” scheme has hikes tuition from P1,000 to P1,500 per unit. PUP has meanwhile hikes its miscellaneaous fees by as much P500. 

The groups said that justice is still elusive for victims of the Arroyo administration, and that the “bloody campaign of repression continues under Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan.” They cited the 100 cases of political killings, the 170 political detainees and 11 abducted under Aquino. 

“Aquino keeps on saying that his family was a victim of Martial Law. But he does nothing to end human rights abuses, in fact, his military counter-insurgency plan still targets civilians and activists,” Crisostomo said. 

He said the youth and people must continue the fight “for the nation and for the future” and like the Filipinos who fought Martial Law, “must make history once more.” #

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Ipaglaban ang Edukasyon, Karapatan at Tunay na Pagbabago!

Kami, mga kabataan at mag-aaral, magulang, guro, kawani at mga mamamayang Pilipino ay lubos na nababahala sa patuloy na pagkakait sa karapatan sa edukasyon at tumitinding paglabag sa karapatang pantao. 

Ngayong taon, daan-daang mga pribadong kolehiyo ang nagtaas na naman ng matrikula at ng mga bayarin. Sa kabila ng pagtutol ng mga mag-aaral at mga magulang, inapruba ng gubyerno ni Benigno Aquino III ang mga pagtataas, kasama na ang napakaraming kwestyunableng mga bayarin.

Nagtaasan din ang mga bayarin at kabi-kabila ang mga hakbangin para magkomersyalisa sa mga pampublikong pamantasan gaya ng UP, PUP, at marami pang iba.

Higit na ipinagkakait ang karapatan sa edukasyon sa mayorya ng mga Pilipino na naghihirap. Lumolobo ang bilang ng mga nagdodrop-out at hindi na makakapasok man lamang sa eskwela. Tila tuluyan ng kinalimutan ng mga nasa katungkulan na ang edukasyon ay karapatan — hindi pribilehiyo.

Nakapaloob mismo sa Philippine Dev’t Plan, Roadmap to Public Higher Public Education Reform, at K-12 ang mga plano at patakaran ng administrasyon ang higit na pagtataas ng matrikula, pagkokomersyalisa at lalong pagkabulok ng sistema ng edukasyon. Ang badyet para sa edukasyon ngayong taon ay kulang na kulang, malala pa, itutulak nito ang iba’t ibang hakbang ng pagkokomersyalisa at pag-aabandona ng estado sa edukasyon.

Lubha rin kaming nababahala sa tuloy-tuloy na paglabag sa karapatang pantao, pamamaslang, pagdukot at torture. Buhay na buhay pa rin ang Batas Militar sa 100 na kaso ng pampulitikang pamamaslang, 170 na bilanggong pulitikal, 11 na dinukot sa ilalim ng gubyernong Aquino. Wala pa ring nananagot sa lagpas 1,000 mga biktima ng pamamaslang sa ilalim ng nagdaang administrasyong Arroyo.

Nagpapatuloy ang madugong kampanya ng panunupil at pandarahas sa ilalim ng bagong Oplan Bayanihan ng gubyerong Aquino. Dumarami rin ang kaso ng pagsupil sa mga kabataan at mag-aaral: tinitiktikan, tinatakot, dinadakip, tonotortyur at pinapatay.

Patuloy ang kahirapan at pambubusabos sa mamamayan: mababang pasahod, kawalan ng lupa at demolisyon ng mga komunidad at iba pang atake sa kabuhayan. Walang makabuluhang pagbabago at patuloy ang pagsasamantala sa nakararami ng iilan at dayuhan.

Hindi na matitiis ng kabataan at mamamayan ang higit na pagkakait sa karapatan sa edukasyon, paglabag sa karapatang pantao at patuloy pang kahirapan at pambubusabos. Nananawagan kami sa gubyernong Aquino na itigil ang mga patakaran ng komersyalisasyon at mga pagtataas ng matrikula, ibasura ang Oplan Bayanihan at itigil ang paglabag sa karapatan, at tumindig para sa tunay na pagbabago.

Tinatawagan ang kabataan at mamamayan na tumindig para sa karapatan, katarungan at kinabukasan. Ilunsad natin muli ang mga strike, walk-out, malalaking martsa sa mga ating mga pamantasan, pagawaan at komunidad.

Para sa bayan, para sa kinabukasan. Muli tayong lumikha ng kasaysayan.

SIGNATORIES

National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)
College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)
League of Filipino Students (LFS)
Anakbayan
Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (KARATULA)
Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP)
KABATAAN Partylist
Cleve Arguelles, University of the Philippines System Student Regent
Helen Alfonso, Polytechnic University of the Philippines Student Regent
Eulogio Amang Rodriquez Institute of Science and Technology Institute Student Government
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral
University of the Philippines- Manila University Student Council
University of the Philippines- Extension Program in Pamapanga University Student Council
University of the Philippines- Baler Campus University Student Council
University of the Philippines- Visayas University Student Council
University of the Philippines- Cebu College Student Council
University of the Philippines- Miag-ao Campus Student Council
University of the Philippines- Visayas Tacloban Student Council
University of the Philippines- Mindanao Campus Student Council
Ifugao State University Student Government
Romblon State College Student Council
University of Rizal System Student Council
Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade Supreme Student Council
Palawan State University Student Council
PUP Ragay Supreme Student Council
Alliance of Concerned Students-Partido ng Demokratikong Mag-aaral (ACS-PDM), University of Northern Philippines in Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Nueva Ecija Colleges and Universities Student Councils Association
Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights- UP (STAND-UP)
Alliance of Students for Alternative Progress-Katipunan ng Demokratikong Mag-aaral (ASAP-KATIPUNAN)
Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP )
ANAK-PUP
National federation of Student Leaders in PNU
Organizations
STAND UP
UP Agham Youth
Alay Sining
Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity-UP Diliman
UP Anakbayan
Artists’ Circle Fraternity
Artists’ Circle Sorority
Astrum Scientis Sorority
Beta Lambda Kappa Sorority
Center for Nationalist Studies
EMC2 Fraternity
UP Gabriela
Gamma Sigma Pi Fraternity
UP Ibalon
Lambda Sigma Pi Sorority
UP League of Filipino Students
UP Moriones
UP NNARA Youth
Pi Omicron Fraternity-UP Diliman
Pi Sigma Delta Sorority-UP Diliman
UP Praxis
PROGAY-LESBOND
UP Psychological Association
UP Roma
Saligan sa CSSP
Sigma Delta Pi Sorority-UP Diliman
Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity-UP Diliman
Sinagbayan
UP Student Christian Movement
UP Union of Journalists in the Philippines
Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity-UP Manila
Alpha Phio Omega Sorority-UP Manila
UPM Anakbayan
UPM Gabriela
Health Organization for the People
UPM Karatula
UPM League of Filipino Students
UPM NNARA Youth
UPM Pre-Law Society
Sigma Delta Pi Sorority-UP Manila
Alliance of Concerned Students- PUP
Juxtapoz
KABARO
BayanMuna
National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates- Youth
Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity –UP Manila
UPM Student Christian Movement
Anakbayan-Cordillera
Anakbayan-Gitnang Luzon
Anakbayan-Metro Manila
Anakbayan-Timog Katagalugan
Anakbayan-Bikol
Anakbayan-Cebu
Anakbayan-Panay
Anakbayan-Negros
Anakbayan-Davao
Anakbayan-New York/New Jersey
Anakbayan-Seattle
Anakbayan-East Bay
Anakbayan-Los Angeles
Anakbayan-Japan
League of Filipino Students (LFS) -NCR
LFS-Cagayan Valley
LFS-Baguio
LFS-Palawan
LFS-UPLB
LFS-Tarlac State University
LFS-UP Pampanga
LFS-Sorsogon
LFS-Cebu
LFS-Negros
LFS-Iloilo
LFS-Mindanao State University-IIT
LFS-Marawi
LFS Lanao
LFS Cagayan De Oro
LFS Malaybalay
LFS-Southern Mindanao
LFS-Far South Mindanao
LFS-San Fransisco
KARATULA-Ilocos
KARATULA-Cordillera
KARATULA-NCR
KARATULA-Iloilo
KARATULA-Bicol
Student Christian Movement (SCM)- NCR
SCM-Southern Tagalog
SCM-Eastern Visayas
SCM-Central Visayas
SCM-Iloilo
SCM-Caraga
SCM- Zamboanga
SCM-Davao
SCM-Tandag
SCM-General Santos
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