AJLPP Update

June 9, 2009

Troop additions meant to suppress protests against Cha-cha

Fr. Santiago "Sanny" Salas

Spokesperson in Eastern Visayas

National Democratic Front of the Philippines

June 6, 2009

Cebu City ---The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today belittled the 8th Infantry Division's push for troop additions and said that the real purpose for new soldiers is to suppress the people's protests against charter change or "cha-cha". "It is not credible for Gen. Arthur Tabaquero to say that an additional 600 soldiers will ensure government victory by 2010," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson.

"During the Marcos dictatorship, the New People's Army in Samar alone thrived while fighting against government troops numbering more than twice the present military deployment in the island. The revolutionary movement today is far stronger than it was more than twenty years ago and is fast expanding in Samar and Leyte.

The real reason for additional troops is to put down protests against impending charter change and to ensure by armed force that Gloria Arroyo will remain in power beyond 2010. More troops will mean more political killings and other human rights violations."

Fr. Salas also said that the NPA is unconcerned over the added troops because it only gives more targets for the guerrilla army. "The NPA is supported by the people, it is well-guided in carrying out widespread and intensive guerrilla warfare, and strengthens itself over a long period until it can finally defeat the enemy."

The NDF-EV spokesperson added that passage of House Resolution 1109 last June 2 to convene Congress into a constitutional assembly without Senate participation had virtually confirmed that Arroyo will not step down in 2010, but will try to remain in power as prime minister.

"The last time that constitutional changes took place amidst a public uproar, martial law and the dictatorship of Marcos were not far behind.

Likewise, Arroyo and her minions would like to fashion a new constitution in their favor, especially in legitimizing political repression, as well as in selling out national sovereignty and national patrimony to foreign interests.

"But because the push for "cha-cha" by the Arroyo-controlled Congress is illegitimate, the administration is also readying authoritarian measures against public outrage.

Arroyo is preparing to use the military and police, whose generals are in her pockets, to crack down on anti-government protests."

Fr. Salas also called on the people to reject the Cha-cha and to persevere in ousting the Arroyo regime.

"The revolutionary movement supports the people's protests against a pro-imperialist and pro-Arroyo "cha-cha" and against prolonging the Arroyo regime.

The NPA is thus justified in launching more offensives to draw away the fascist troops who are being positioned to attack the peaceful anti-Arroyo and anti-"cha-cha" protests. Arroyo's pushing of the "cha-cha" and her bid to remain in p