BAYAN CONDEMNS INCREASED MIL DEPLOYMENT

May 29, 2010

Press Release

Davao City --- Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) registers its strong condemnation towards the ongoing military deployment in Southern Mindanao Region and seeks for the immediate pull out of the military troops under the 10th Infantry Division.

BAYAN asserts that only the big multinational corporations will benefit from the presence of the military as it would implement the clearing operations necessary prior the actual operation of the mining corporations.

"Additional military troops, particularly the 71st IB which was just recently deployed in Compostela Valley, will speed up the implementation of multinational mining projects in this mineral - rich province and will undoubtedly result to the intensification of human rights violations in the region," said John Birondo, spokesperson of BAYAN.

"Military presence in remote lumad and peasant communities have time and again caused trauma, violence and various forms of rights abuses against the people especially to the children who are the most vulnerable victims of the military's all-out-war," said Birondo.

The group is alarmed over the likely internal displacement of lumads and farmers in areas targeted for mining and military operations.

“Military presence in so-called development areas will put the lives of the civilians in grave danger,”Birondo said.

“With the upcoming administration, we challenge the government to put an end to large scale foreign mining and realign its programs instead to national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform which are the ultimate fundamentals to a strong and pro-people development”, Birondo said.

Bayan: people’s movement for genuine change continues

Press Release

May 19, 2010

Davao City – Responding to persistent reports of widespread electoral fraud, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the people's movement will continue to strengthen to end systemic and centuries-old practice of corruption, abuse of power in Philippine politics and foreign domination.

“The recently concluded national elections, with all the flaws and taints of electoral fraud, have failed to assure our people of a moral and principled governance. The process alone was a manifestation of a rotten political system in the country dominated by old elite and traditional politicians,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“As far as the monitoring of Kontra Daya is concerned, vote buying and harassment hounded the elections. As millions of voters were disenfranchised, the entire electoral process is not yet cleared from allegations of massive electoral fraud and the alleged corruption by no less than the officials of the COMELEC, “Birondo noted.

Bayan also belittled the military's General Holganza’s claim of defeat for local and national bets of the progressive bloc. “The people’s movement will never be defeated. With or without the elections, the struggle for justice and equality will continue to bring thousands of protesting people in the streets,” Birondo stressed.

“What is more evident is the fact that the military failed to cause the defeat of progressive partylist organizations. We also welcome the fact the “butcher” retired general Jovito Palparan have failed, so far, to sow violence in the city and prevent volunteers and activists from freely campaigning for progressive candidates,” Birondo said.

“Our representation of the people’s true voice recognizes no boundaries. We shall continue advancing the people’s agenda for land rights, just wages, housing, education, and basic social services no matter what,” Birondo added.