|
Smith is a fugitive ; Arroyo and US Embassy are harboring a criminal
by Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party)
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007 at 2:20 PM
Workers and poor, led by the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) or Labor Party-Philippines, joined other rallyists from Sanlakas and Task Force Subic Rape Case in an indignation rally at the US Embassy 11 a.m. today.
Representative Renato Magtubo, PM Member of Parliament, stated that "The convicted rapist US Marine Smith is now a fugitive and the US Embassy in collaboration with the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime is harboring a criminal. We call on the workers and the people to make a citizen’s arrest of Smith and reclaim justice for Nicole and the nation." Nicole is the pseudonym of victim of the rape committed by Smith and three other US Marines in the city of Subic that hosted the biggest US naval base abroad before it was closed.
The rallyists carried placards with the message "Wanted : Smith, Fugitive from Justice, Convicted Rapist." In symbol of their disgust and denunciation, the militants lobbed tomatoes at the Embassy gates.
"As is the norm in this illegitimate regime, the sudden transfer of custody of Smith took place in the dead of the night just like the railroading of constituent assembly resolution, the passage of the reformed value added tax and the proclamation of Arroyo as president. These crimes were all perpetrated by people in power happened while the people were sleeping. Worse this time, while the Filipinos were celebrating the holidays, Gloria the Grinch stole Christmas and justice from Nicole and the nation," denounced Magtubo.
Magtubo further added, "America is acting as the Big Brother and Gloria doing her role as their little brown sister in this reality show—such imperialist arrogance of the Americans and such shameless puppetry by Arroyo."
"US colonial rule supposedly ended in 1946 but how come the Embassy can acquire custody of Smith in contravention of Judge Pozon’s ruling and as affirmed by the Court of Appeals that the convicted rapist remains in Philippine jails. Our laws, our courts, our constitution are ruthlessly swept aside by the US imperialists and their local puppets once it goes against their whims and wishes," Magtubo elaborated.
PM reiterated its demand that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) be immediately abrogated for being an affront to Philippine sovereignty and abetting US imperialist aggression worldwide. "The Subic rape case and the illegal transfer of Smith’s custody are the best arguments to revoke the VFA," Magtubo argued.
|
