“We challenge Filipino students to look beyond Noynoy’s attack on activism and join the League of Filipino Students.”
This was labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno’s reaction to Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s insinuation in a speech at the Ateneo de Manila University that the LFS, a student activist organization, is run like a dictatorship.
The LFS is celebrating its 34th anniversary today, 11 September.
“This is a cheap shot from a president whose cuts on the subsidy for education and other social services are being criticized by LFS and other activist organizations,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.
“While some rich haciendero was simply basking in the glory of his parents’ struggle against Marcos, the LFS was at the forefront of the fight against the dictatorship, despite severe repression,” he added.
KMU said the LFS fought for the democratic demands not only of Filipino students but of the Filipino workers and people.
“Through the years, the LFS has rallied students to the side of workers and farmers in fighting for economic, as opposed to mere political, democracy,” Labog said.
“That means it has fought for genuine land reform and national industrialization – which have been opposed even by the most deceitful of leaders who claim to be democratic,” he added.
“The LFS fought alongside the Filipino workers and people in ousting the Marcos dictatorship, in evicting the US bases in the country in 1991, and in waging other battles,” he said.
On 16 September, the country will mark the 20th anniversary of the rejection by the Senate of the US Bases Agreement.
“The best way to get to know LFS and other activist organizations is to join them. Noynoy should not be emulated in expressing disdain for what he does not know,” Labog said.
“We hope that Filipino students, including Ateneans, will look beyond Pres. Aquino’s cheap shot against activism and look at the principles and advocacies of activist organizations,” he added. Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson
