[from Balitanghali]

original link HERE

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SC ruling on HLI proves CARPER no-good; fight not over—LFS

“The fact that it would take an SC ruling for farmworkers and farmers to have what’s rightfully theirs is a testament on how worthless and inutile CARPER is.”

This was the statement of the League of Filipino Students as the Supreme Court ruled 14-0 in favor of land distribution of the ‘Aquino-owned’ Hacienda Luisita.

“Land distribution is way overdue, but still the Supreme Court ruling is commendable. The sad picture in this situation is that farmers would need the Supreme Court to rule in favor of them just to get what’s rightfully theirs, proving that the land reform program CARPER is nothing but a piece of garbage aimed at maintaining the monopolized ownership of land in the Philippines and not at all at distributing the land to the tillers as it so untruthfully promises.”, said Aki Merced, LFS Spokesperson.

“It has come to this moment where many have been killed and a lot have suffered from hunger and poverty from the hacienda system that is well and alive throughout the country. It is high time to rethink and expose the CARPER that has allowed the bogus Stock Distribution Option to be an instrument of the landed elite in depriving the farmers of what is rightfully theirs.”, said Merced.

Merced said that now more than ever, junking CARPER is significant in the struggle for genuine land reform.

Fight not over

“On the other hand, we cannot be so sure that this SC ruling would be swiftly implemented given that the landlord clan that it dodges is the President’s family. The Aquino camp has proved itself a staunch defender of the Hacienda Luisita Incorporated. It has 2 massacres, the Mendiola and Hacienda Luisita massacres, in its track record to prove it.”, Merced said.

Merced recounts both massacres, first of which happened in the Cory Cojuangco-Aquino’s time. “Every supporter of the farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita and the campaign for genuine land reform should be on the guard should the Aquino camp make moves in overturning the clear decision.”, Merced said.

“Definitely, the fight is not over. The hacienda system is alive and well, thanks to CARPER and our Haciendero President. It would take more than an SC ruling to free the monopolized lands, and we can only count on the mass movement of the Filipino people to ensure that our tillers get what’s rightfully theirs.”, Merced said. #

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What Mr Tucay did is a landmark moment in history where the youth and the people are called to go beyond neutrality and media objectivity, instead, these are turbulent times where we are obliged to be biased for the bastardized democratic rights of the students, the Filipino people and the citizens abused by profit-driven interests all around the world.

Together with the progressive militant students, LFS celebrated with the youth from different parts of the globe with the 70th anniversary of the International Students Day with a symbolic burning of the US flag.

The short program condemned US Secretary State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the country which is very timely to ensure the implementation of more intensive trade liberalization policies mandated by the recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Hawaii. This will definitely translate to massive commercialization policies on education. The Imperialist U.S. is growing desperate by the day with its dying economy. More than ever, the US needs to milk its coffers from all possible resources legitimized by economic and political policies implemented by puppet governments such as Aquino’s.

For the following days and before the year ends, the connivance of the Aquino regime and Imperialist US shall be exposed to the Filipino people. The mass movement of not only hundreds but thousands of youth with the Filipino people is inevitable. Thus, the LFS calls on the youth to be the “spark that will create the prairie fire” that will rouse movements that will be commensurate with the anger instigated by the neglect and numbness of the US-Aquino’s regime to the true demands and democratic rights of the people.

While the US claims they have grown unfazed or accustomed to heckling, what is more politically correct, is that they have grown desensitized with years and decades long of killing hundreds and millions of people around the world from amassing all kinds of life and livelihood to waging cycles of war to feed their infinite imperialist greed.

More than ever, there is a need to “make the monster bleed from thousands upon thousands of wounds.” All over the world the 99% have gathered at the centers of capitalist powers to forge unity with the peoples of their respective countries and to inspire peoples of other nations. It is but timely and just for the people of the Philippines to be tireless in making history, a history that will begin with an end to Imperialism.  ###

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This was the statement of Aki Merced, spokesperson for the League of Filipino Students, as students from all over the country burned flags of the United States of America to express rage over the parasitic control of the United States to the Philippines and continued puppetry of the Aquino regime to the United States. The group also commended Marjohara Tucay, Editor in Chief of the Philippine Collegian, for standing up and protesting inside the Hillary Clinton forum held at the National Museum yesterday.

“All over the world, people are rising up against the greedy monopoly capitalists and banks of the USA. The Philippines is not saved from the crippling effect of the global capitalist downfall, especially because we are in the throes of US imperialist control. In time of great economic depression, the US turns to its semi-colonies like the Philippines to suck more blood and attempt to revive its economy.”, said Merced.

Merced continued that even the problems of the Philippine education sector are due to the ongoing policy control of the US and its instruments—the IMF, WB and WTO. “Deregulation and continued slashing of the education budget is directly attributable to the profit-promoting policies of these financial institutions. The people have retaliated and the US government, together with Aquino, has responded with intensified military campaigns against naysayers.”

“We commend Marjohara Tucay for serving as a great example for the Filipino youth, standing up with militancy and principle. It is for Ms. Hillary Clinton’s benefit, now that she knows that the Filipino youth is not happy with the US troops staying in our islands and pinning down the iron hold of the United States on the Philippines.”

‘Today, on the International Students Day, we collectively call for the junking of all unequal and onerous US-PH agreements, and vow to intensify the struggle for genuine patrimony and sovereignty. We are one with the Filipino people in saying: Down with US Imperialism!”

LFS Spokesperson, Aki Merced, hands Marjohara Tucay, a torch as a symbol of the youth’s admiration for his bravery for protesting at yesterday’s forum, the torch that will burn the US Imperialist greed to flames

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Nationally coordinated US flag burning set tomorrow

PRESS RELEASE

NOVEMBER 16, 2011

 References:

Aki Merced, 09322537600

Aries Gupit, 09157938089

“Junk the Mutual Defense Treaty! Junk the Visiting Forces Agreement!”

This was the call of youth and student groups led by the League of Filipino Students as they today in front of the National Museum where US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a forum. The groups say that as part of the continued protests for Clinton’s stay, patriotic youth and students will be holding a nationally coordinated US flag burning tomorrow. The center of protest will be at UP Diliman at exactly 12 noon.

At around 2:30 pm, the protesters were already assembling in front of the National Museum where they threw paint balls at Clinton’s convoy.

“This is to send out the message that the Filipino youth are enraged and cannot bear the unequal relations between the Philippines and the United States anymore, as concretely seen in the 60^th anniversary of the onerous Mutual Defense Treaty. Hillary Clinton is here to further solidify the US’ hold and control of our land, through its obedient puppet, Noynoy Aquino.”, said Aki Merced, spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students.

The protesters were harshly dispersed and as a result, some student leaders were seriously hurt. Moreover, LFS commended Philippine Collegian Editor-in-Chief Marjohara Tucay for bravely standing up and making the Filipino youth’s call heard inside the said Clinton forum. They condemn the police for harshly reacting to the legitimate calls of the protests.

“Is this what we get for asserting our nation’s sovereignty? It is too obvious how the present regime is again engaged in hardcore US puppetry, with the 2^nd most powerful US government official paying our country a “special” visit.”, continued Merced.

“Rest assured, the youth will continue to fight for the junking of unequal treaties that continue to cause peril to our people and our sovereignty.”###

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Progressive youth groups Anakbayan-Panay and League of Filipino Students-Panay today assailed the Aquino government’s giving of a P31 million peace bribe” to the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), saying this will only lead to the intensified militarization.

Anakbayan-Panay Regional Spokesperson Eric Alip said that the funds given to the RPA-ABB for bogus peace talks is being used by the group to gain a foothold in urban poor communities in Iloilo City and surrounding municipalities, sowing fear, criminality and terror upon civilian communities.

“If the Aquino government is sincere in defeating corruption and poverty to achieve a just and lasting peace, then it should resume the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and agree on the country’s socio-economic reforms rather than coddling the RPA-ABB gangster clique,” said Alip.

The Anakbayan spokesperson said that the first step to the resumption of peace talks is for Aquino to immediately release NDFP peace negotiators and consultants who are detained on trumped up cases. The Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed by the Philippine government and the NDFP states that these people must not be arrested.

“The RPA-ABB is not a legitimate beneficiary of peace funds because it surrendered to the government years ago and is now used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as special CAFGU in its counterinsurgency operations. It is also used by despotic hacienderos like Danding Cojuangco as goons,” said LFS-Panay Regional Spokesperson JC Alejandro.

Alejandro said that more than giving funds to criminal gangster factions like the RPA-ABB, the Aquino government must address the roots of armed conflict in the country like landlessness, high cost of education, chronic unemployment, extreme hunger, poverty, exploitation, and oppression.

Reference:
JC ALEJANDRO
LFS-Panay Regional Spokesperson
09298834757

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Warm greetings of solidarity!

Our kababayans (fellow countrymen) urgently need our help and support. Days after typhoon Pedring (international codename: Nesat) lashed the country on September 27, 2011, we witnessed the gravity of devastation it has brought to Filipinos. Pedring left the country with more than PhP 3 billion and PhP 545 million damages to infrastructure and agriculture, respectively, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

As of September 30, there are 43 casualties, 44 injured and 30 missing due to typhoon Pedring. The onslaught of heavy rains and winds affected a total of 205, 885 families in Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, CAR and NCR.

National youth organizations, student councils, campus publications and Kabataan Partylist have formed TULONG KABATAAN, a relief drive for the victims of Typhoon Pedring.

The major objective of the relief drive is to consolidate efforts among the youth in gathering immediate relief for the affected communities. We also aim to reach out to other communities affected by the floods that are not currently covered by ongoing relief and rescue operations.

TULONG KABATAAN WILL:

1. Gather as many donations as possible, whether in cash or in kind, from fellow youth and students, institutions, schools and churches
2. Pack goods and materials for distribution
3. Deliver of goods in affected areas, integrate and express solidarity with the victims.

PRIORITIES FOR DONATIONS

FOOD: Rice, canned goods, dried fish, bread and biscuits, eggs, mongo beans, coffee and sugar, milk and formula milk, bottled water, oil and cooking condiments

MEDICINE: paracetamol, anti-diarrhea, medicine for cough and colds, hydration salts, water purification tablets, medicine for prevention of leptospirosis, vitamins

NON-FOOD: Blankets and sleeping mats/bags, tents for temporary shelter, jackets and sweaters, clothes for the young and old, cooking utensils, candles and flashlights

CASH DONATIONS

Cash donations can be made through the following:

Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8526313

Bank Account:

Account name: Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
Branch:  Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Kamias-Anonas Branch, Quezon City Philippines.

US Dollar Account No: 3324-0048-06
Peso Checking Account No: 3321-0176-64

MAIN DROP-OFF POINTS

TULONG KABATAAN COMMAND CENTER

118-B Scout Rallos, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City

Contact Person: Vanessa Bolibol 0926-1703655

OTHER DROP-OFF POINTS

SERVE THE PEOPLE BRIGADE (STP Brigade)

Volunteers will primarily gather donations, and help in the packing and distribution of goods. They are also encouraged to invite more volunteers to join the STP Brigade. Volunteers can enlist on STP Brigade Booths nearest to their schools or contact Makakalikasan through the contacts below.

CONTACT

HOTLINES: 0926-8037591

E-MAIL: makakalikasan.alliance@gmail.com

WEB: www.lfs.ph

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‘Squeeze’ appears to have been copied straight from the press release of Sec. Butch Abad which denies for the second straight year the existence of budget cuts in state colleges and universities, despite a categorical declaration by President Aquino himself that the budget of SUCs indeed will be trimmed down during his presidency.

To deflect the truth of the cut that has been reflected in the DBM website itself, Abad has changed the language of the budget, boasting now about the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund, when in years past there was no such animal in the budget debates.

It is arrogant for the Inquirer and Sec. Abad to describe the different budget estimates as mere “deliberate attempts to create an issue when there is none” as it pins outright stupidity on the students, teachers, staff administrators that joined the week-long university strikes nationwide. In other words, the Inquirer just called the UP President, who is a financial expert, a buffoon for supporting the fight against the budget cuts.

Moreover, this “DBM PR mill” editorial conveniently missed the point that mere internally generated income by the SUCs had never be enough even for their operations, and we are all but certain that an increase in tuition and fees would seriously interfere with greater access of students to SUCs – the supposed alternative to expensive private higher education.

Also, whether the establishment of SUCs was merely for the “vanity” of local government leaders is of no moment for the students. As long as such schools had been chartered, it is government’s obligation to fund and to develop it into centers of excellence. Besides, ten state universities in a region as vast as Samar is a step towards bettering access.

However, what is most instructive of this DBM PR-cum-Inquirer editorial is that it is no different from the position of the previous Arroyo administration on the funding of SUCs, which is to systematically cut its funding and force the schools to raise their tuition and fees.

If this is the change that has been promised by Aquino, then change is indeed constant. Our suffering has indeed been constant.

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Reference: Mai Uichanco, Deputy Secretary-General, 09277619716

Students from state colleges and universities and private schools declared September 22 as a day of planking against budget cuts on education, health and basic social services. Despite the resounding opposition of certain legislators regarding hazards of planking, what is more hazardous to the youth is the continuous neglect of the Aquino government in providing substantial budget for basic social services. The students from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Manila, Miag-ao campus in Visayas and Mindanao, students from EARIST planked around noon at Mendiola as part of their respective strikes against Aquino’s budget cuts. Campuses in Lanao, Mindanao State University main campus, Iligan Institute of Technology and other campuses also set to stage simultaneous planking protests around 4:30 pm.###

UPDATE (As of 9:30 pm)
    

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Labanan ang anti-mamamayan at maka-imperyalistang budget ni Aquino!

Lumahok sa protesta ng mga estudyante, administrador, at guro sa Setyembre 23!

STRIKE!

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