Power to the People! Oppose Duterte’s Terror!
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
July 3, 2020
Against The Passage of Duterte’s Anti-Terror Law
Malaya Movement condemns in the strongest possible terms the passage of Duterte’s reprehensible Anti-Terror Law he signed on July 3rd in the Philippines. Republic Act 11479 or “The Anti-Terror Act of 2020” plunges the nation into further danger, posing a serious threat to human rights defenders who have long been critical of the government’s bloody drug war, attacks on press freedom, and crackdown on opposition and dissent. While the COVID-19 pandemic remains unresolved and record-breaking unemployment challenges working class families to put food on the table, Duterte’s weak stomach for criticism and bloodthirst for unquestioned power has put the health and wellness of Filipinos last on his list of priorities.
Only a few days ago, the UN Human Rights Council held it’s 44th Session, and Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, raised concerns that the Duterte government’s “overarching focus on public order and national security…[is] often at the expense of human rights, due process rights, the rule of law and accountability”, mirroring the sentiments that lawyers, legislators and rights advocates have shared in opposition to this recent anti-terror law. Even as a US-based movement, we do not separate ourselves from the real possibility of being targeted by the Duterte government for our positions on his weak stance of sovereignty, Martial Law-era policies, and his insistence of constitutional reform to further his reign and those in the Philippine elite who have maintained political dynasties.
We must not forget the history of Filipinos in the US who have been targeted, tortured, or killed for being critical of the tyranny and fascism of past Philippine governments. In 1981, labor leaders Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes were assassinated in Seattle, WA for opposing Marcos’s Martial Law. In 2009, while conducting human rights and community health work, Melissa Roxas was abducted, detained, and tortured for 6 days by elements of the Philippine military. In August of 2019, almost a year from now, Brandon Lee, SF-native, journalist and advocate for the rights of indigenous people, was shot in front of his home in Baguio after being red-tagged and threatened by local elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Despite the broad concerns of the law’s constitutionality from legislators and legal experts in the Philippines, and warnings against the law’s threat to the freedoms of expression, speech, privacy, association, or assembly from international human rights organizations, Duterte chooses to turn a deaf ear to reason. The Malaya Movement then asserts that if the people in power will not listen to reason, then it is reasonable for the people to wield its power.
The Malaya Movement calls on the Filipino People to once again bring reason and truth to President Duterte as we have done in years past with Marcos and Estrada. We must continue to oppose Duterte’s Anti-Terror Law! Makibaka! Huwag Matakot!
OPPOSE THE ANTI-TERROR LAW!
JOIN US ON JULY 8th NATIONAL DAY OF RESISTANCE!
Condemn the Anti-Terror Law in front of your local Philippine Consulate or the Philippine Embassy
Check out Malaya Movement’s Action Toolkit for resources and event updates.
Keep posted for information on another National Day of Action on July 27 in response to Duterte’s State of the Nation Address!
RAISE MORE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ANTI-TERROR LAW!
Share what you’ve learned today with your organizations, families, communities, and more!
Sign and share these petitions: Junk the Terror Law (tinyurl.com/junkterrorlawnow) & Support the Phililppine Human Rights Act (tinyurl.com/PHRApetition)
CALL & EMAIL YOUR LOCAL US LEGISLATORS!
Ask them to publicly denounce the Anti-Terror Law either through a tweet, social media post, or at maximum by official statement.
Inform them about the Philippine Human Rights Act campaign, and ask if they are willing to publicly support proposed legislation to combat fascism and dictatorship in the Philippines or at maximum if they are willing to co-sponsor the bill
USE #JUNKTERRORLAW AND SPEAK OUT!
Publish statements, open letters, social media posts to register your opposition
Get social media influencers, community leaders, and organizations to use their platform to speak out against the Anti-Terror Law!
DONATE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FUND!
JOIN MALAYA MOVEMENT
What is a movement without people? Join an existing chapter in your area, or ask malayamovement@gmail.com about how to start one!