lfs lkm protest

PRESS RELEASE
August 21, 2008

Muslim, Christian students hold Sandugo to manifest unity; lambast the GRP-MILF MOA as a smokescreen for Arroyo's Cha-Cha

QUEZON CITY – Amidst the escalation of conflict between the GRP and the MILF in Mindanao, Muslim and Christian students from the University of the Philippines Diliman converge to condemn the Arroyo regime's machinations for pushing Charter Change and eventually retaining itself in power.

In a protest action spearheaded by the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP) here today, the Muslim Students Association (MSA) and the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) hold a Sandugo (blood compact) to express their unity albeit the standing turmoil in Mindanao. The aforesaid student formations also stand with the Bangsamoro people's struggle for their right to self-determination and peace.

"The Bangsamoro people, alongside their Lumad and Christian counterparts, have long been suffering from Arroyo's schemes to ensure her political survival," STAND-UP deputy secretary-general Fudge Tajar states. "It is already apparent that the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between her regime and the MILF is no more than a smokescreen for Charter Change. Cha-Cha shall ostensibly commence the shift to federalism to accommodate the demands of the Bangsamoro people's call for autonomy, but it shall only help perpetuate the Arroyo regime in power further than 2010."


PRESS RELEASE August 21, 2008 *Muslim, Christian students hold Sandugo* to manifest unity; lambast the GRP-MILF MOA as a smokescreen for Arroyo's Cha-Cha** QUEZON CITY – Amidst the escalation of conflict between the GRP and the MILF in Mindanao, Muslim and Christian students from the University of the Philippines Diliman converge to condemn the Arroyo regime's machinations for pushing Charter Change and eventually retaining itself in power. In a protest action spearheaded by the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP) here today, the Muslim Students Association (MSA) and the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) hold a Sandugo (blood compact) to express their unity albeit the standing turmoil in Mindanao. The aforesaid student formations also stand with the Bangsamoro people's struggle for their right to self-determination and peace. "The Bangsamoro people, alongside their Lumad and Christian counterparts, have long been suffering from Arroyo's schemes to ensure her political survival," STAND-UP deputy secretary-general Fudge Tajar states. "It is already apparent that the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between her regime and the MILF is no more than a smokescreen for Charter Change. Cha-Cha shall ostensibly commence the shift to federalism to accommodate the demands of the Bangsamoro people's call for autonomy, but it shall only help perpetuate the Arroyo regime in power further than 2010."			"Mindanao cannot achieve genuine peace and autonomy under the US-Arroyo regime. The tally of human violations committed by government forces against the Bangsamoro people and Arroyo's manipulation of anti-Moro hysteria are but testaments to the government's insincerity in granting the Muslims the community they envision," Tajar says. Further, the students lambast the Arroyo regime for pitting the Bangsamoro and the Christian people against each other as yet another diversionary tactic to obscure the intensifying cries for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's ouster. Tajar states, "We, mga Iskolar ng Bayan, will never condone the atrocities Arroyo and her cohorts have committed against the people. While we unite with the Bangsamoro people's quest for genuine autonomy and peace, we also seek Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's ouster as instrumental to ending both the Bangsamoro people and the Filipino people's plight." ### Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP) University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City Mobile Number: 09158513904 E-mail: jmterry_ridon@yahoo.com

			August 20, 2008 NEWS RELEASE Anti-chacha student walkouts to mark Truth Fest rally Minda conflict not a pretext for martial rule – youth groups Member organizations of Youth ACT Now! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!) held a press conference at St. Scholastica College in Manila today to announce participation in the August 22 Truth Festival rally. Youth organizations National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Student Christian Movement (SCM), Kabataang Pinoy, Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students (LFS), KARATULA, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Youth Revolt and Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan announced that they would lead walkout protests on August 22 to mark the youth's opposition against the Arroyo administration's moves to revise the Constitution. Students from the University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica, Ateneo, University of the East, University of Sto. Tomas, Far Eastern University, Adamson, Philippine Christian University, Lyceum, Letran, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Philippine Normal University, Jose Rizal University, Technological Institute of the Philippines and some public high schools around Metro Manila all announced participation in the rally. Students from the said schools are expected to hold simultaneous programs in their campuses before converging by noon of August 22 for a unified march towards the rally venue in Roxas Boulevard. Youth ACT Now! Spokesperson and NUSP president Alvin Peters said that youth and students are opposed to charter change 'because it would allow the extension of a corrupt, treacherous and unrepentant regime.' SCM chairperson Biyaya Quizon condemned the Arroyo administration's 'posturing for peace when clearly it has more sinister and divisive tactics in mind. We strongly condemn the senseless killings of civilians in Mindanao but we maintain that none other than the Arroyo administration is to blame for the intensifying conflict with our Moro brothers.' For his part, CEGP national president Vijae Alquisola said, "We warn Mrs. Arroyo against using the present Mindanao conflict as a pretext for martial rule. We call on our fellow youth to be ever vigilant against attempts to attack our freedoms and civil liberties." Metro Manila has been reportedly placed under 'red alert' as of last night. Meanwhile, LFS chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said that Arroyo's 'game plan and scenario-building' are becoming more obvious by the minute. "First, charter change. Then probably having anticipated strong opposition to cha-cha, Arroyo and her militarist-thinking advisers now seem to be inclined towards using the Mindanao conflict to sow an atmosphere of panic and chaos even in Manila and other regions." "Either way you look at it, cha-cha or martial rule, both serve Arroyo's motives to prolong power and evade accountability for the numerous unresolved cases of corruption and human rights violations," said Kabataang Pinoy president Dion Cerrafon. Anakbayan chairperson Ken Ramos said, "Instead of self-serving schemes, Mrs. Arroyo should address the present economic crisis burdening the people. Last we checked oil prices are still at record-high levels, the lines at NFA retail shops are not getting any shorter and the government is earning more windfalls via the VAT at the expense of our poor countrymen." Youth ACT Now! announced that walkouts and protest actions against charter change are set in different schools and communities nationwide on August 22. ### Reference: Sarah Katrina Maramag, 09193486790





Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao August 19, 2008 Statement Stop all-out war offensives, resume the talks, uphold international humanitarian law! We in the Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao (InPeace Mindanao) call on the government not to resort to all all-out offensives in Central and Northern Mindanao in response to alleged MILF attacks. We urge both the GRP and the MILF to give primacy to the peace process in order to resolve issues aggravated by Arroyo's scurrying of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. While we condemn the violations to international humanitarian law that led to the deaths, displacements, and trauma among Moro and non-Moro civilians, we assert that Arroyo is culpable for causing these actions as principal by instigation. Clearly, it is Arroyo's botching of the MOA-AD, her stirring of anti-Moro chauvinism, and her duplicity of intentions in the peace negotiations that had led to this chain of events in Mindanao. We call for the immediate indemnification, restitution and rehabilitation of civilians victimized and displaced by IHL violations. These attacks should be investigated in accordance to GRP-MILF agreements regarding hostilities, and should be dealt with according to their separate judicial and administrative processes.			The role of international agencies like the United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Monitoring Team is likewise being demanded by the situation. We also urge both parties to allow non-government organizations and churches to make their independent fact-finding missions into the affected areas and allow humanitarian intervention to benefit the evacuees, victims, and survivors. We call on the government to stop its drumbeating for war so that confidence-building with the MILF will be restored. The government, if it is sincere in pursuing peace, should accept their failings in the peace process and should untangle the present complications caused by the railroading of its Charter change agenda using the MOA-AD. We warn the Arroyo government against using the violence in Mindanao as justification for the imposition of emergency powers. It had done this in the past by establishing units of the AFP in Mindanao's urban centers after the twin bombings in Davao in 2003 which it blamed on the MILF. Only social justice can solve a social problem, not calls for war in Mindanao aired by Arroyo, by the warhawks of Malacanang and by those in the other corridors of power in Mindanao.#

Photos courtesy of LFS/LKM

LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS – MSU-IIT CHAPTER LIGA NG KABATAANG MORO – MSU-IIT CHAPTER Press Release Reference: Kemberly Jul Luna – 09203612464 August18, 2008 LFS, LKM STAGE PROTEST OVER "DAY OF TERROR" Iligan City - "END ALL HOSTILITIES!", "SPARE THE CIVILIANS!", "PEACE NOT WAR!" These were some of the appeals that the League of Filipino Students – MSU-IIT Chapter demanded on the day of the worst flare-up of fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government's armed forces since the postponement of the signing of the MOA on Ancestral Domain two weeks ago. "We call on the MILF and the AFP to end all hostilities and to get back to the negotiating table," said Fervil Von Tripoli, Chairperson of the LFS-IIT. Tripoli also added that "peace cannot be achieved through bloodshed and intensified hostilities." The latest count of the number of casualties when MILF insurgents raided the towns of Kolambugan and Kauswagan was 41, and ten more are held hostages. "We strongly believe that the real reason why Arroyo and her minions has been pushing for the creation of a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, which she touts as the solution to the peace problem in Mindanao, is to generate substantial grounds for the Government to endorse Charter-Change so they can eliminate the provision on the term limit of the presidency," Urbano further stressed out. The group also announced their further plans vis-à-vis the GRP-MILF peace negotiations and Arroyo's Cha-Cha, which includes a protest action on August 21, the National Day of Protest on Charter-Change.