News Release
March 16, 2018
Various groups picketed the Department of Justice to protest the terror-tagging of more than 600 individuals, part of efforts by the Duterte government to declare as “terrorists” the CPP and NPA. The “Black Friday” protest was also held in UP Diliman where activists denounced the Duterte regime’s attack on its critics.
Activists have decried the move as a “fake terror list” aimed at harassing and intimidating critics of the regime. The list includes UN Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples Vicky Tauli Corpuz, former lawmaker Satur Ocampo, lawyer Joe Molintas, several NGO workers, human rights defenders, indigenous leaders and peace consultants of the NDFP.
“We are serving notice to the DOJ that the people will fight this terror witch-hunt. The people will fight these baseless accusations aimed at slandering the progressive movement. Activism is not a crime. Stop criminalizing dissent,” Bayan said.
“The fake terror list is an instrument of state terror, harassment and intimidation. It makes vulnerable rights abuses those who are included. It goes against due process as no a shred of proof has been presented to link the individuals to any alleged act of terror,” the group said.
Bayan said that it is the “state terror of the Duterte regime” which has wrought havoc on the people.
“As we mark today the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), we call for its full implementation and the resumption of the peace talks between the GRP and NDFP. The DOJ’s fake terror list is itself a violation of CARHRIHL. It is better that peace talks resume instead of the all-out war of the Duterte regime,” Bayan said.
“The regime talks tough when going after its critics but seems to be terrified of mechanisms of accountability such as the International Criminal Court,” the group added. ###
