Emergency Rule Lifted in Philippines, Democracy Still Under Siege

Posted to the IUF website 07-Mar-2006

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Philippine President Arroyo formally ended emergency rule on March 3 with the lifting of Presidential Proclamation 1017. However, trade union and civil rights groups have drawn attention to continuing restrictions on the right to assemble and ongoing media restrictions. The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), which launched the February 24 appeal for international pressure on the Arroyo government to lift the emergency measures which was posted on the IUF web site, has warned of the "creeping imposition of martial law." On March 6, a public rally to celebrate International Women's Day was forcefully dispersed and over a dozen participants arrested. The APL has called for public rallies and campaigns to continue until Arroyo is forced from office.