Student activists to be main targets of troop deployment in schools
The Kabataan Partylist today criticized government plans to redeploy military troops in Metro Manila schools for the class opening, saying it is intended to target progressive student organizations, student councils and publications that are critical of the Arroyo administration.
“This rehashed plan is no different from the vilification and terror campaign earlier instigated by the military against progressive groups in several baranggays and schools in Metro Manila last elections in the guise of peace caravans and humanitarian missions,” Kabataan Partylist President Raymond Palatino said.
“We have all the reasons to be apprehensive about this plan. Two Kabataan poll watchers were murdered in Camarines Norte last May following the brutal killings of known student leaders Cris Hugo, Farly Alcantara and Reimon Guran in other parts of Bicol. UP student activists Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan have gone missing to this day. All evidences and witnesses point to one common perpetrator – the military.”
“How could students feel secure with soldiers lurking around the campus knowing they could be the next target of abduction or physical elimination?,” he pointed out.
“Whether in full battle gear on in plain clothing, their mere presence sends a chilling effect among students, faculty and school personnel. We fear that this could lead to an escalation of human rights violations against known student activists and even members of student councils and campus publications. This might also have an impact on the psychological well-being of students.”
Palatino said the planned deployment of military troops in schools is dubious and highly irregular.
“Ensuring the students’ safety and peace and order during the opening of classes has always been a policeman’s job. This will only result into the duplication or redundancy of tasks and responsibilities which means additional expenditures on the part of the government.”
“We suspect the deployment is not only meant for the opening of classing but is intended to be permanent in line with the implementation of the draconian Human Security Act otherwise known as the Anti-Terror Law.”
Meanwhile, Palatino said student groups are prepared to oppose the troop deployment through legal and even “extra-legal” means.
He called on the Commission and Human Rights to look into the matter and appealed to lawmakers to conduct an immediate investigation as Congress resumes its session next week.
“Military troops have no place in academic institutions. Schools are not war zones. We will not allow this government to transform our schools into military barracks and make students their target practices.
“If they will continue with the deployment, they will certainly get a dose of what their Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon got when he went to the UP, and even more. Rotten eggs are nothing compared to the hundreds of innocent people they’ve ordered killed for the last five years.”