PLM statement on the death of UP student Kristel

Justice for Kristel Tejada! 

Justice for the Filipino youth!

In a genuine democracy, the state must ensure full support to education. If a student’s life is perished because of the State’s negligence to provide her free and accessible education, then that’s murder.

We in the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) mourn the passing of University of the Philippines-Manila (UPM) student Kristel Tejada, who reportedly committed suicide because the UPM administration denied her right to study because of her failure to pay the P10,000 tuition required for admission in the country’s state university.

We view her death not as a suicide, and it’s criminally vulgar to blame her and her family for her financial woes. We view her demise as State murder, for the State failed in its mandate to provide free education to its young constituents, and worse, it even denies the masses admission to its educational institutions because of the lack of capacity to pay the soaring tuition fees in state universities.

The death of Kristel Tejada is the most tragic thing that happened to our education system in recent memory—a system that measures the youth on their capacity to pay the cost of schooling, and the capacity to serve the dictates of the market upon graduation. This is unlike the alternative education system we have been long proposing—education that is accessible and free to everyone and will ultimately serve for the full development of society and humanity.

How can a minimum-wage, non-regular cab driver, like Kristel’s father, afford a supposedly State-subsidized college education worth (at a discounted rate) P10,000? How can a common market vendor afford the voluminous papers and readings needed to cope up with school? How can a factory worker pay for the laboratory and miscellaneous fees for his son?

And UP, as supposedly the premier state university of the land, could not consider these real-life predicaments of the masa student who only yearns for quality education to bail herself, her family, and her class from the strangling claws of poverty! Nay, it blatantly turns a deaf ear to this noble yearning!

What’s worse, Malacanang even admitted that it is “helpless” in preventing the rise of tuition while the Commission on Higher Education gave the convenient excuse of “studying” the incident and to wait for the result of police investigation.

What can we expect from a government blind to the basic necessities and rights of the poor? Can we expect a hacendero to lead the government to be responsive to the masa? Can we expect capitalists and technocrats to lead a state university in pushing the government to fulfill its constitutional obligation in providing free and accessible education at ALL LEVELS, when their measure of poverty is based on abstract figures and concept?

We must hold President Noynoy Aquino, the Commission on Higher Education, Congress and Senate, and the UP Administration accountable for murder on the death of Kristel Tejada. Their continued insensitivity to the issue just adds insult to injury.

Let us bring justice to Kristel Tejada by starting a strong and consolidated movement that will push for free education to all, in all levels! If this is realized in poor countries such as Cuba and Venezuela because of their people’s united action, then we must do it in the Philippines.

EDUCATION IS A RIGHT! IT MUST BE PROVIDED BY THE STATE FOR FREE! JUSTICE FOR KRISTEL TEJADA!

March 17, 2013

Contact person: Merck Maguddayao 09267101392

PLM statement on the Sabah carnage

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) condemns the assault on Lahad Datu by the combined forces of Malaysian armed forces, commandos and Marines that led to the death of 12 members of the Sulu sultan's security forces and the death of two Malaysian policemen. Our Filipino Moro brothers camped out in Lahad Datu onlu to dramatize the claims on Sabah.

We hold the Philippine government equally responsible for neglecting to give them protection during the 'standoff period' with the Malaysian military that lasted for almost a month. Instead of protecting the lives of our Moro brothers, President Aquino added insult to injury by ignoring the sultanate's claim (despite it being the basis of the Philippine government's claim to Sabah) and even threatening to do them harm if they would not leave the encampment.

President Aquino should have used the occasion from day one to undertake negotiations between the Malaysian government, the Sultan's family and followers, and the Philippine government. The spokesman of Sultan Kiram has stated that there was no effort on the part of the Philippine government to intervene by leading a negotiation.

We assert that the Philippine claim to Sabah has its merits and should not be abandoned by the government. More so, the government should not have abandoned the security and lives of our Filipino Moro brothers during this period.

However, we believe that the claim should be pursued in a peaceful manner through firm diplomacy of the Philippine government.

And the final solution to the Sabah claim should also consider the demands and interests of its inhabitants, be it Malaysians, indigenous people or Filipinos who have lived there for a long time -- even the disadvantaged groups that have been historically displaced and exiled to other places because of the conflict.

We believe that this democratic process is the only way to prevent a useless war and carnage between Malaysia and the Philippines.

Sonny Melencio

Chairperson, PLM  

PLM statement on the passing away of Commandante Hugo Chavez

The beacon has passed away. But the light within us will guide us.

We shall continue the journey.

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) joins PhilVenSol (Philippines-Venezuela Solidarity Network) in remembering and honoring the life and struggle of Commandante Hugo Chavez. He inspired us, and millions of poor people around the world, to dare to struggle and dare to win the fight for socialism in today’s world, in this 21st century.

President Chavez has proven to everyone that there is an alternative to the rotten neoliberal order that capitalism offers today. His achievements mute the trumpets of the capitalist world; capitalism represents old order that dehumanizes people and jeopardizes the existence of our very own planet. Chavez’ accomplishments have been a great boon to the lives and livelihood not only of the Venezuelan people, but of the people of Latin America as well.  

Chavez represents a new type of socialist leader, whose vision and action inspire and mobilize people to take matters on their own hands. With this style of leadership, we are confident that the Bolivarian Revolution that Chavez has led will continue because he has trained big number of leaders of his caliber who will lead and can continue the fight for socialism in Venezuela, in Latin America and in all parts of the world.

Mabuhay, Komandante Chavez!

Tuloy ang Laban para sa Sosyalismo!

March 6, 2013