Condemn the violent dispersals at the US Embassy and Camp Aguinaldo
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) strongly condemn the violent dispersal of the demonstration of patriotic organizations led by national minority groups in front of the US embassy earlier today. Police personnel used water cannons and tear gas bombs against the demonstrators.
Comprising the bulk of the demonstrators were national minority and peasant groups who are in the national capital to demand an end to the militarization of their rural communities which are being subjected to the US-directed counter-insurgency Oplan Bayanihan.
At least 29 demonstrators were arrested in the dispersal including peasants, students, doctors and others. Several demonstrators were hurt when police vehicles ran over them.
Today’s violent dispersal follows a similar violent dispersal yesterday in front of Camp Aguinaldo, the national headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The CPP holds the leadership of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and officials of the Duterte government responsible for the violent affront against the people’s democratic rights to demonstrate and seek redress.
That the successive dispersals were carried out with such viciousness reveal the deep-seated hostility against the people and patriotic forces of those police and military officers who ordered the dispersals. These officers must be immediately identified, investigated and put to task.
The violent dispersal is a direct violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The CPP urges the Negotiating Panel of the NDFP to raise the matter of the violent dispersal with their GRP counterparts.
The CPP supports the demand of the peasants and minority groups for an immediate end to the military occupation of their communities.