Akbayan chides Bayan Muna & affiliates for falling into the AFP's 'divide & rule' strategy

Both KMU and Bayan Muna said earlier that the AFP is campaigning for AKBAYAN, a claim that Llamas finds “politically absurd”. He said that AKBAYAN’s independent stance as a democratic Left party has put it in the middle of abusive elements from the Left and the Right.

“We have spoken against and condemned abuses committed by the New People’s Army, and our principled stand exposed our local candidates and campaigners to harassment from the armed Left. Meanwhile, our anti-Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) position and our stand against extrajudicial killings, including this administration’s authoritarian tendencies, have made AKBAYAN a target of abuses from military forces, especially in rural areas,” Llamas added.

AKBAYAN likewise reminded Bayan Muna and KMU that effigies of AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros were burned by the AFP in its anti-communist programs in rural areas. The group added that Llamas, along with AKBAYAN leader and UP Prof. Randy David, was arrested and charged with sedition last year. “If Bayan Muna’s idea of campaigning is effigy-burning and warantless arrests, then that’s the kind of support that we get from this administration and from the military,” Llamas said.

“With heightened repression from the administration, it is necessary for all progressive forces regardless of ideological persuasion to have a larger worldview. Bayan Muna is not the sole victim of military harassment and extra-judicial killing. It must avoid sounding as if it has an exclusive franchise on these important issues. Indeed, a collective condemnation of all forms of election-related violence is necessary to ensure free and fair elections,” Llamas said.

For her part, AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros urged Bayan Muna and its affiliates to support AKBAYAN in its call for peaceful and honest elections. “Instead of making unfounded claims about AFP’s support for AKBAYAN, we encourage them to support collaborative efforts to ensure the integrity of the 2007 polls,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

The solon said that divisive vanguardism would only result in the victory of traditional representatives in Congress. “It gives pro-GMA forces more space to squeeze themselves into the party-list system, thus making a progressive system yet another arena for traditional politics,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

The solon also said that AKBAYAN Party-list has never relied on coercion to garner votes. “Our track record during and in between elections speaks of progressive citizens banding together to achieve political power. We are confident that we will win through our independent principles, pro-people platform, and the perseverance of our members,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

March 2, 2007