March 8 Statement from Amihan: Continue the Struggle to Oust a Repressive, Cheat and Corrupt President

As Filipino women celebrate International Women’s Day today March 8, 2006, we members and leaders of the AMIHAN, National Federation of Peasant vow to continue the struggle to remove from office Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We vow to  draw inspiration and continue the militant  tradition of toiling women from all over the world, fighting against political repression, economic exploitation and patriarchal domination.

It is ironic that as we celebrate this day to give praise and  recognition to the important role that women play in nation building, Gabriela Partylist representative, Liza Masa,  who  brought the fight for women’s emancipation from the streets to the hallways of Congress, the law making institution of the country, is now facing government  persecution, and is facing the threat of arrest and detention on possible charge of rebellion.

Ms. Liza Masa and five other partylist representatives are under protective custody of the Congress, and are banned from leaving the premises of the Congress., at the risk of possible arrest by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), who are on a 24 hour guard duty.

 It is likewise ironic that despite government’s recognition of this day of women, millions of Filipino women continue to wallow in poverty and destitution. Peasant women and other rural women continue to be the unpaid laborers in the farms, the wage laborers on mere pittance,  the flesh that is traded  as the  spectre of hunger stalk the rural areas.

Not content with the depths of poverty and misery GMA has plunged the women into, she  even raised the tax burden of the people, continued to pay 30% of the national budget to debt payments, while scrimping on budget for much needed social services such as health and education.Further she wants to change the economic provisions of the constitution to allow 100% foreign ownership of lands, and other vital resources, and pave the way for the reestablishment of military bases  in the country.

Indeed, we do not expect anything  positive anymore  on this president, that we will stop at nothing short of her ouster from Malacanang,!

AMIHAN joins the rally sponsored by Gabriela Women’s Coalition  and other women’s groups in Ayala, Makati  today.