Press Release 10 January 2000
THE SEPTEMBER 21 Committee today added its voice to the opposition against the deployment of 500 marine soldiers within Metro Manila, saying it was a prelude to the return of open fascist rule in the country.
The September 21 Committee was responsible for last year's Sept. 21 nationwide protests which denounced the Estrada government's "dangerous drift towards authoritarian rule."
"Not even Marcos, in the heydeys of Martial Law, dared deploy the Marines in public areas like shopping centers and other business establishments," said Sept. 21 Committee Spokesperson Fr. Joe Dizon.
Dizon said the soldiers were being deployed "to intimidate the public, whose dissatisfaction with the Estrada government is growing every day." He branded it as a "classic fascist reaction to the legitimate calls of people's organizations for Estrada to step down from office."
It can be recalled that last December 10, various human rights groups led by Karapatan had called for Estrada's ouster. This was echoed by the youth group AnakBayan in a rally in front of Malacanang a few weeks later. Earlier, church ministers under the Church Against Rising Tyranny (CHRIST) called for Estrada's resignation as well.
"The message from the police and military is, 'you may not like Estrada, but he has the guns so just shut up,'" said Dizon.
Dizon expressed alarm at PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson's statement that similar steps would be done in other urban areas. "Before we know it, the presence of these combat-trained soldiers will be a permanent fixture in urban areas. Pretty soon, they will be used for checkpoints, zoning operations, intelligence missions, dispersal operations, squatter demolitions, abductions and mass arrests as well. It's going to be martial law all over again."
The Committee also shared the fear of many solons and human rights groups that the tandem of Gen. Alfredo Lim and Lacson would lead to more violations of human rights and civil liberties. "These two generals are notorious for their lack of respect for due process, human rights and the people's civil and political liberties. That they are at the helm of the country's peace and order machinery is a distressing thought indeed," said Dizon.
The Committee lashed out at Lim's statement that only criminals and anti-social groups disapproved of his appointment. The Cavite-based priest branded the statement "malicious, self-serving and demagogic."