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February 24, 2006
The Alliance of Progressive Labor today condemns the brutal dispersal by the police of the rally held by the APL, Akbayan, and Laban ng Masa to denounce the State of Emergency ordered by government.
"We do not even know for sure if a coup attempt had indeed taken place," said Josua Mata, APL Secretary-General, "The declaration of a state of emergency as a result of an alleged coup attempt is nothing more than an exaggerated response to secure a very insecure GMA."
Mata said the crackdown on legitimate dissent was now "imminent “ and maybe used to sow terror and frighten the people who wish to exercise their rights and power.
"The prospect of warrantless arrests and a blanket ban and dispersal of any and all rallies are wholesale violations of the Constitution," explained Mata, "but the declaration of a state of emergency will only worsen political dissent!"
Mata asserted that "GMA might take advantage of the situation to further sweep the crisis hounding her under the rug, when what the whole situation demands is for her to avoid violence and bloodshed by stepping down now!"
"The fact that GMA had to resort to a vaguely defined declaration of State of Emergency twice in five years show how tenuous her hold on power is," added Mata. "And unless she takes the high road and relinquishes authority, she will continually face an unwavering and escalating opposition."
"And while we do not support a military junta, much less a violent resolution to the political crisis, this only goes to show that no stability will obtain for us for as long as GMA is at the helm of government," added Mata.
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