Angeles City – “This Republic Act 9372 or Human Security Act of 2007 (HSA) is a recipe for martial law!” Roman Polintan, Chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Patriotic Alliance) or Bayan Central Luzon and the regional coordinator of Bayan Muna, said these last July 11, in an All Leaders’ Forum held at the City Library here in Angeles City.

“The Arroyo administration and her militarist advisers and strategist led by Norberto Gonzales and Raul Gonzalez and General Eduardo Ermita are relentless in undermining the civil, political and human rights of the Filipino people,” Polintan averred.

Thus he voiced that it’s a time for more vigilance and called on all the people to join them in the streets and junk the said R.A. 9327 which he hastened to call ‘Inhuman Security Act’ by the Arroyo government.

The local human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the advancement of human rights) has reported more than 800 people killed and another 200 abducted since President Arroyo came to power in 2001. Most of the victims belonged to leftist groups linked by the military to the rural communist insurgency.

Deadly weapon

Lita Mariano, Secretary General of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (Alliance of Central Luzon Farmers or AMGL) put forth that the Arroyo government's counter-insurgency program consists of an all-out campaign of extrajudicial killings and abductions targeting members and leaders of grassroots people's organizations, progressive party-lists and human rights groups.

“How can anyone in his or her right mind trust the President’s pronouncements that the HSA is for the public good? The HSA in the hands of the incumbent regime is a deadly weapon of terror and political repression," she postulated.

Forum

The forum graced by no less tha Bayan Muna (Nation First) Partylist first nominee Satur Ocampo, was organized by BAYAN Central Luzon and its members such as the AMGL, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-CL) and the Workers Alliance of Region III.

It was the first of its kind after the recent elections and the onset of what they term as a reign of terror in the region courtesy of the now retired General Jovito Palparan.

The forum drew an attendance of 150 from workers and peasants; different religious denominations from the Roman Catholic Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Methodist communities; lawyers; and the media from all the provinces of Central Luzon.

The activity which started at 1:00 P.M. was capped by a candle lighting ceremony and a short processional march in front to the Angeles City Library.