Colored-Water cannons Against Protesters Depict Martial Law Tactics- Maza

Assistant Minority leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep.Liza Maza today warned the Arroyo administration from again using draconian measures to thwart the nationwide protest during PGMA’s ninth and final SONA. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) exposed its plan to use yellow water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters joining the real “People’s SONA” on the streets.

“These schemes depict those of the Martial law days. It is just contemptible how this current government would resort to almost anything to suppress our civil rights. Apparently, this could be used to tag and arrest protesters against PGMA’s plot for Con-Ass,” Maza said.

The Gabriela solon recounted that during the Marcos dictatorship, authorities used colored water cannons to quickly identify those joining the protests.

“This tactic will surely backfire on the Arroyo administration. Instead of brutally gagging the people joining the protests, they should listen to their call,” Maza added.

“Malinaw na malinaw sa mga surveys at maging sa mga konsultasyon na aming isinagawa sa iba’t ibang probinsya ang pagtutol ng mamamayan sa nilulutong Con-Ass at Cha-cha sa Malacanang. Kailangang itigil na ang ganitong plano dahil lalo lamang itong magbubunga ng matinding kahirapan at krisis,”

Yesterday, the 8-member progressive partylist bloc announced their plan to boycott PGMA’s ninth and final SONA as a manifestation of protest on GMA’s plot to prolong her stay in Malacanang through Con-Ass. Instead, Maza and other progressive partylist representatives will join the nationwide march and protest on July 27.  ###