Stand Firm for Democracy, Courageously oppose Tyranny

‘(We are) born with all (our) rights. (We are) born as free as the bird that sings among the branches of the trees, free as the air that gives us life, the plant that perfumes the valleys with the aroma of its flowers, like the stars and all other creatures. We are born with the right to think freely and express our thoughts (and) the obligation to defend these liberties for which God has given (us) heart and strength.’

(Monsignor Gregorio L. Aglipay, Fundamental Epistle VI, 1903)

We are disturbed by the alarming events emerging in our country. Before our very eyes unfolds the horrendous extent of police brutality unleashed upon peaceful demonstrators who only assert their legitimate and inalienable right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The policy of the state of abandoning maximum tolerance in the stead of the calibrated preemptive response is a repressive act that violates the indispensable democratic rights of our people.

Together with the numerous unsolved cases of killings and intimidations of activists and mass leaders in various regions of the country that are widely believed to be the handiworks of the military, the situation clearly points to an ever-increasing situation of violence, worsening political repression and human rights violations in the Philippines under the tentacles of a state-military bureaucracy.

The situation makes us plainly see the certainty of martial law, laying bare its dreadful face and bare iron hands to repress our people.

In the not-so-distant past, these harsh realities had been the fares of the Filipino people. The ruthlessness of martial rule still lingers in the hearts and minds of those who survived the Marcos dictatorship. What we have witnessed in the last few days were not mere nightmares of the past but actual savage acts committed by men in uniform upon harmless citizens. These are indications of a return bout of that ugly phase in our nation’s history and our collective life as a people.

We are disheartened to see that President Arroyo has opted to thread the same path of the Marcos dictatorship. She has betrayed our people by curtailing their freedom to express themselves without fear of persecution. In the midst of this situation – with the state violating the basic tenet that governs a democratic society – that is the primacy of civilian interest and welfare over the military - the people have the right to defend themselves and protect their democratic rights and civil liberties as citizens of the country.

Never again should we allow the mantle of martial rule engulf our nation and seize democracy. We have once withstood the brutality of the powerful and the mighty in order to restore democratic institutions in this country and to gain back our individual and collective basic human rights. We should not allow again these hard earned victories to be stolen once more by the very people we have placed into positions of power and authority.

People of God, stand firm for democracy and courageously oppose tyranny. ‘Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery’ (Galatians 5. 1). Let us denounce in the strongest possible terms the escalating political repression in the country, to remain vigilant against tyranny and terrorism of the state and the military, and to resist military infringement of civilian authority.

In Christ our Peace,

X THE RT. REVD. EPHRAIM S. FAJUTAGANA
General Secretary

10th October 2005
City of Manila