Asian Farmers Condemns Martial Rule in Pakistan

Reference:
Danilo Ramos, APC Secretary General
Tele-fax: 632-9284184
E-mail: apc_secretariat@yahoo.com

Manila, Philippines – The Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) condemns the police that brutally fired tear gas and dispersed lawyers protesting yesterday against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule. The emergency decree aimed primarily at heading off any Supreme Court challenge to Musharraf prolonging his eight-year rule since he took power in a 1999 coup.

Musharraf is also head of Pakistan's army and suspended the constitution on Saturday ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on whether his recent re-election as president was legal. He ousted seven independent-minded Supreme Court judges, put a stranglehold on independent media and granted sweeping powers to authorities to crush dissent.

“Musharraf's leadership is threatened by the Islamic militant movement that has spread from border regions to the capital, the reemergence of political rivals, including former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and an increasingly defiant Supreme Court. Since late Saturday, between 1,500 and 1,800 people have been detained nationwide in Pakistan and in yesterday’s rally, about 20 were injured, at least two bleeding from the head and were treated in a waiting ambulance before being spirited away.” said Danilo Ramos, APC Secretary General.

“What is happening in Pakistan is a glimpse of a brutal leadership of Musharraf who is hunger in power. Just like in the Philippines, the regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is hell-bent in clinging into power even if her regime is increasingly isolated. Its popularity ratings continue to fall. Rallies and demonstrations calling for the ouster of Arroyo for imposing intolerable sufferings on the people are the order of the day.”, added Ramos.

“We call on the Asian peasants and other anti-imperialist league to strengthen its ranks to onward the struggle against imperialism and its local puppet governments in Asia. History will prove that Musharraf's action is destined to fail. We support Pakistani peoples' just struggle for a genuine peace and democracy in their motherland.”, ended Ramos. #