NEWS RELEASE

Teachers gathered today to form Educators for Civil Liberties, an alliance of academics, public school teachers, and other educators concerned with upholding constitutionally-guaranteed rights. 

“We’ve organized ourselves in response to the continuing repression of civil liberties following Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration of a state of emergency,” said Prof. Ramon Guillermo, the group’s spokesperson. “As educators, we cannot remain idle while this government curtails democratic rights, which provide the conditions for academic freedom.” 

“The Arroyo government is now resorting to the tools of dictatorship—such as warrantless arrests and the harassment of media—in an effort to suppress dissent,” added Guillermo. “Mrs. Arroyo is using coercion to try and stop the people from demanding accountability for her role in electoral fraud, massive corruption, and the suppression of the truth about these issues.” 

The group’s convenors include Ramon Magsaysay awardee for literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, University of the Philippines Faculty Regent Dr. Roland Simbulan, economist Dr. Edberto Villegas, historian Dr. Francis Gealogo, University of the Philippines academic union president Prof. Judy Taguiwalo, Alliance of Concerned Teachers chairperson Antonio Tinio, Manila Public School Teachers Association president Minda Galang, and Quezon City Public School Teachers Association president Tess Busadre.

Guillermo explained that the alliance was also deeply concerned about the killing of activists in provinces. “This includes a number of  teachers, allegedly murdered by government-sponsored death squads.”

High school teacher Napoleon Pornasdoro was shot dead in Lucena City on February 27. In September 2005,  college professor Vitoria Samonte was killed in Bislig City. In February 2004, elementary school teacher Leima Fortu was killed in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. All three were known anti-Arroyo activists.

The alliance called for the immediate release of Anakpawis representative Crispin Beltran, the dropping of rebellion charges against the so-called “Batasan 5” and other personalities in the progressive movement, the junking of government’s calibrated preemptive response policy against rallies, an end to the harassment of journalists and media organizations, an end to the summary execution of activists, and will seek justice for the three murdered teachers. #

March 21, 2006

Reference:       Prof. Ramon Guillermo (0918-5765343)

                         Spokesperson

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