Macapagal as peace advocate? Cheap propaganda gimmick, says Gabriela
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing.” This was how the militant women’s
group described President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she attended
the prayer for peace rally at the Luneta Grandstand and the meeting
of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kuala Lumpur.
“Mrs. Arroyo was a sore thumb at the Luneta peace rally where she
even justified the U.S. war on Iraq while other participants like
Bro. Mike Velarde prayed for the enlightenment of U.S. President
George W. Bush. Then at the meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, she
again puts the burden of peace on Iraq while opting not to say
anything about the U.S. plan of attacking even without a UN
resolution,” Emmi de Jesus, Deputy Secretary General of GABRIELA said.
The women’s group dismissed the President’s appearance on the two
occasions as mere propaganda. “Mrs. Arroyo just wanted to ride on the
snowballing peace movement all over the world. She realized that her
pro-U.S. stance has further isolated her from the majority of
Filipinos and the whole world who reject the U.S. war of aggression.
So now she resorts to cheap propaganda gimmickry,” de Jesus averred.
GABRIELA also deplored the fact that while the President tried hard
to present herself as a peace advocate even if a bit too late, she
has ordered a military attack on the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front. “Thousands have already suffered when she ordered the
continuation of the military operations against the MILF. More people
will be killed and displaced as the war continues to rage in
Mindanao,” de Jesus added.
The group joined the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and other
groups in a press conference at the St. Peter’s Cathedral to announce
their participation at the peace rally called by Bishop Teodoro
Bacani and Vice President Teofisto Guingona on February 28.
