IMA’s “Migrants, STAND! (Speak the Truth, Never Again to Dictatorship!)” Webinar

The shadows of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s Martial Law, declared in 1972, still loom over the Philippines. While the Filipino people fought valiantly to overthrow that regime, subsequent administrations have often traded one form of oppression for another, enacting policies that continue to inflict pain upon the nation. In commemoration of this dark chapter, IMA held a powerful solidarity webinar on September 18, 2023, gathering over 70 participants in a collective act of remembrance and resistance.

The webinar delved into the intricate web connecting the Philippines' Martial Law era to the present-day fight for human rights. Attorney Edwin Dela Cruz of Migrante International and the International Seafarers' Action Center served as a guide, weaving together the history of Martial Law with the rise of the labor export program. He described how this program, meant to alleviate economic woes, ironically decimated the national maritime industry, leaving Filipinos vulnerable to exploitation overseas.

Carlos L. Maningat, a renowned Filipino researcher and activist, then cast a light on the parallels between the past and present. He highlighted how the Anti-Terror Law, a tool of the current administration, mirrors the tactics of Martial Law. This insidious legislation allows for the jailing of dissenters, the silencing of opposition, and the curtailment of fundamental freedoms, eerily echoing the darkest days of dictatorship under a different guise.

Reactors from INDIES and MIREDES International shared their own experiences with fascism and repression. Kurniawan Sabar from INDIES depicted the ongoing struggle for human rights in Indonesia, where the people grapple with a government prioritizing foreign investors over their own well-being. Manuel Hidalgo of MIREDES International, on the other hand, traced the historical echoes of oppression in Latin America, where countless citizens were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.

As the webinar concluded, a collective cry resonated from the participants: "Junk the Anti-Terror Law!" "Never Again to Martial Law!" "Oppose Historical Revisionism!" These powerful declarations served as a stark reminder that the fight for freedom is an ongoing one, demanding vigilance and unwavering resistance against all forms of oppression, past and present.