Stop the Attacks in the Philippines! Activism is Not Terrorism!

By Fighting Words Staff

Fighting Words is reprinting this statement on the massacre of now reportedly 9 community activists in the Philippines. Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & War (MECAWI) is a member organization of the ILPS – International League of Peoples’ Struggles. We especially want the public to be aware that the Biden Administration continues the support of the murderous Philippine government of Rodrigo Duterte..

ILPS US condemns the murderous attacks on activists in Southern Tagalog, Philippines. This gruesome state violence was carried out by the “Synchronized Enhanced Management of Police Operations” (SEMPO) between the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines. Nine activists were arrested, six were killed, and six others “escaped” in simultaneous raids on offices and homes of the activists based on 18 search warrants. Many of those killed and arrested were leaders of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), members of ILPS.

ILPS US unites with @bayan_usa’s demands and, as a US-based alliance, we demand the following from the US government which is complicit in enabling and bankrolling the state terrorism and violent repression of activists in the Philippines:

1. We demand US Congress to immediately end all security assistance to the Philippines and stop funding these human rights violations with US tax dollars by reintroducing and passing the Philippine Human Rights Act. Learn more at humanrightsph.org
2. End all unequal military agreements with the Philippines, such as the Visiting Forces Agreement, that train killer cops and soldiers.