Members of the SANLAKAS and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP-Solidarity of Filipino Workers), both forerunners of the Free Burma Coalition – Philippines, called on the Burmese people to step up their defiance of the SPDC military junta thru a people power similar to the Philippine experience and eventually overthrow the SPDC military junta.
There were 200 of them warm bodies, some traveled from outside the metropolis just to send a message to the Burmese people. They gathered in front of the SPDC embassy (Myanmar Embassy) at 2:00 in the afternoon today, October 8.
Members of the SANLAKAS and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP-Solidarity of Filipino Workers), both forerunners of the Free Burma Coalition – Philippines, called on the Burmese people to step up their defiance of the SPDC military junta thru a people power similar to the Philippine experience and eventually overthrow the SPDC military junta.
“The military junta in Burma has long been illegitimately ruling the country and is now facing international isolation. We had called on the SPDC for a dialogue with its people. The junta does not heed to dialogue as demanded by its people; but it has all the more violently attacked the peaceful protesters. Nightly raids, round-up and torture are happening in Burma right now amid junta’s claims of normalcy. We know the military junta is very brutal. There is no other option left for the people of Burma but to overthrow the military dictatorship!” says Teoddy Navea, BMP Secretary General.
“We express our support to the people of Burma and whatever course their struggle may take; we will always be one with them in their struggle,” Navea added as he spoke atop a truck which served as a stage in a rally in front of the embassy.
For two weeks now, the Filipino solidarity groups have been in the forefront of solidarity actions calling for an end to the violent crackdown on the democracy movement in Burma and supporting the call for dialogue and national reconciliation.
The FBC-Phils. calls on the whole world to continue their solidarity actions to add up to the strength and momentum of the democracy movement inside Burma.
The activists brought a huge model of a clenched fist, one of the images that iconized Philippine struggle against the Marcos dictatorship which culminated in the 1986 people power that overthrew Marcos. A protest die-in was also held at the end of the program with people lying on the steps of the embassy shouting “People power in Burma! Overthrow the SPDC military dictatorship!”
Also present during the rally are delegations from the Alyansa ng Magsasaka sa Bulacan (Farmworkers’ Alliance, Bulacan), KALAYAAN!, and the Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML-union of urban poor communities).
For inquiries, kindly refer to:
Teoddy Navea (BMP)
+63928-6639185
Egoy N. Bans (IID, FBC-Phils)
+63920-9132472
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