Oppose ML extension
Suara Bangsamoro opposes another Martial Law extension in Mindanao and demands to hold President Duterte's accountable for his crimes against the Bangsamoro people including the destruction of Marawi City and deaths of more than a thousand of Meranaws, massacre of seven youth in Patikul, Sulu, nine farmers in North Cotabato, extra-judicial killings in Maguindanao and forced displacement of thousands of Moro. These atrocities against our people in Mindanao were committed by government forces under the more than 500 days of Martial Law.
This move to extend Martial Law for a third time is a frail attempt to cover up the Duterte government's failure in addressing the unrest in Mindanao. Rather than providing an answer to the peace and security problem in Mindanao, Martial Law is used as a tool by the Duterte government to suppress legitimate concerns of Mindanaoans -- peasants clamoring for free land distribution, Moro and indigenous people struggling for respect for their rights to self-determination, workers calling to end contractualization, families bearing the brunt of skyrocketing prices of basic commodities and social services.
We can no longer prolong the agony we are suffering from human rights abuses under martial rule. We are calling for an end to Martial Law and barring of its extension. The violence of Martial Law has introduced the apparent normalization of the killing of 154 farmers, Moro, and Lumad in Mindanao. Martial law normalized displacement of a thousand people in Mindanao. Martial law normalized the bombing of civilian communities that destroyed our homes, place of worship, and schools. It has thrown our lives into a dangerous and vulnerable situation. Furthermore, it has trampled upon our civil and political rights. Its curfew, checkpoints, zoning, and food and economic blockade have violated our freedom of movement. Martial Law suppresses dissent and freedom of expression, with 700 cases of trumped-charges in Mindanao against civilians, farmer, Moro, Lumad, workers and peace advocates who are not terrorists nor members of any armed movement.
With the war in Marawi long over, there is no actual threat of rebellion and insurgency which the Constitution requires to justify the declaration of Martial law. The true intention of Duterte's Martial Law is to expel the Bangsamoro and Lumad from their rich lands. His motive is to threaten and kill the protectors of ancestral lands and territories to pave away for foreign and local corporations. His plans for Mindanao will lead to the destruction of our environment. The expansion of mining, logging and palm oil plantations will threaten the food security of our communities and the whole country and in the future, put us at the mercy of other countries for our food and sustenance.
Suara Bangsamoro joins Bayan Mindanao, Kalumaran and other sectors from Mindanao today to protest the third extension of Martial law in Mindanao. We Bangsamoro and Mindanaoans say no to Martial law extension! End martial law now!
Suara Bangsamoro