|
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Speak out: Threat to basic freedom
By Josua Mata
Alliance of Progressive Labor
The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) is concerned about maneuverings in the House of Representatives to enact an anti-terrorism bill that will severely curtail civil rights and the people’s basic freedom.
It’s a quid pro quo legislation. GMA gets her "Terror Bill" which will be employed against her opponents while de Venecia will be left to his devices concocting a Charter change initiative, which everyone knows is not going to solve the country’s problems at this time.
The anti-terrorism bill, up for third and final reading in the House of Representatives, will open the floodgates to Marcosian cruelty and a whole plethora of constitutional infringements. It is the same thing with the ChaCha, which is being pushed through a resolution under the House committee on constitutional amendments.
Ploy
Moves in Congress to amend the Constitution is a political ploy to strengthen the ranks of the elite factions backing up Gloria Arroyo’s embattled regime. It will also pave the way for the removal of the constitutional provisions on national patrimony.
With Fidel Ramos explicitly demanding a cut in her term and de Venecia obviously keeping his cards close, Arroyo is dancing the ChaCha tune to keep their loyalties in check.
But passing the terror bill and laying the groundwork for ChaCha have been nothing but a waste of taxpayers’ money since they are using the government and its resources to advance their own agenda.
A survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) early last year had already said it out loud: People simply do not care about charter change. How could they, in the face of massive poverty and lack of jobs and livelihood?
Nobody is dancing the ChaCha except Arroyo, Ramos and de Venecia. And to instill fear in those who oppose their ploy, they will rely on a terror bill to trample on our hard-won right.
Workers and the general public cannot be clearer in their demands: We want jobs and not terror wars, we want food on our tables and the realization of our collective rights to fair and decent wages and bargaining abilities, not elite-initiated ChaCha which will only benefit a few.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
