Condemn the blacklisting and deportation of Anakbayan Switzerland Chairperson for activism after trying to enter the philippines
Anakbayan USA and BAYAN USA condemn the unjust detention, blacklisting, and deportation of Anakbayan Switzerland Chairperson Edna Becher. This is the first deportation of an activist under the fascist Marcos regime.
Edna, a Filipino-Swiss, arrived at NAIA on December 7 around 6 pm (Manila time) and was wrongly detained by immigration authorities for almost 2 hours, alleging that she was blacklisted due to accusations of involvement in “anti-government activities”. Her original plan was to stay in the Philippines for a month, visiting family and friends, integrating with Anakbayan members, and gaining a deeper understanding of the challenging conditions faced by the Filipino masses.
Edna’s deportation by the fascist US-Marcos regime sets a dangerous and baseless precedent and is a blatant act of criminalizing dissent under the Marcos regime, whether in the Philippines or abroad.
This follows the Senate-level witch hunt convened by Bato Dela Rosa, on “public order and dangerous drugs” which was a meager attempt to silence the youth who are justly rising up against the Marcos regime’s attacks on the right to education, to organize, and to livelihood.
Across the world, Filipino youth have no bright future when its so-called leaders have no plans to address the issues that plague our people, but instead export them as exploited labor overseas and then repress their rightful criticism. Therefore, it is our right to fight for a future where the democratic rights of the oppressed masses are restored through the advance of the National Democratic struggle.
Filipino youth and the National Democratic movement abroad will not be cowed into fear by these fascist attacks. Wherever we are, we will continue to fight for the genuine interests of the Filipino people in the face of political repression. Anakbayan USA and BAYAN USA call on all Filipinos and allies to condemn and hold the Marcos regime accountable for its continuing crackdown on the youth and human rights defenders.
#HandsOffEdna #YouthFightBack #StopRedTagging #ActivistsNotTerrorists #NoToCrackdown
