The coalition Stop the New Round (SNR) said the Philippines must not enter into new trade agreements that allow the country to be the dumping ground of cheap, subsidized products.
SNR said the Arroyo administration must protect the domestic economy rather than allow it to be mangled by larger powers.
Joseph Purugganan said SNR will mobilize 200 members from various sectors to join yet another big protest in Hong Kong being organized by the Asian Migrant Workers in protest of the WTO’s new round of talks.
"Walang naitulong ang WTO sa pag-unlad ng bansa natin. Bagkus, naging dahilan pa ito ng pagsara ng maraming pabrika at nawalan ng trabho and maraming manggawa. Halos tinanggalan din nito ng hanapbuhay ang mga magsasaka dahil sa pagbaba ng murang prutas at gulay na hango sa ibang bansan," he said.
In another development, Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), hailed the continuing anti-Arroyo ferment in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that has led to a select group of patriotic soldiers to attack the LTA building at Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City last week.
Ka Roger said the attack is an indictment of President Arroyo, who has been accused by former allies of paying off election officials in Mindanao to ensure her victory.
The CPP spokesman noted that the bombings of the house of Antipolo City Rep. Ronnie Puno and the Ernest Printing Press in Caloocan City were all related since Puno has been tagged as a participant in the Arroyo special electoral operations.
Ernest Printing was pinpointed as the company printed excess ballots and the fabricated certificates of canvass (CoCs) used by the House of Representatives in couintng the votes for Arroyo.
The Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF), a member of the underground coalition National Democratic Front (NDF) also scored the human rights record of the Arroyo government, slammiong it for the the murder of Jose "Pepe" Manegdeg II in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur on November 28 and Albert Terredano in Bangued, Abra the following day.
The two victims were members of legitimate non-government organizations (NGOs), the CPDF said.
"We hold this despicable and bogus Arroyo regime responsible for this wave of political murders… Ever since Arroyo came to power, 71 leaders of Bayan Muna have been killed. For the Arroyo regime and the bloodthirsty military, there is no room for legitimate dissent. They can not and will not tolerate parliamentary struggle," the CPDFR said.
"The CPDF calls on all freedom-loving and patriotic sectors in the Cordillera and the entire country to persist, join the revolutionary struggle, and intensify armed resistance against this illegitimate and disgusting regime. The US-Arroyo regime shall pay dearlu for these murders," the CPDF concluded. (MNB)
