By MIAGAO, Iloilo – Students from the University of the Philippines Visayas in Miagao, Iloilo found support in the Academic Employees Union against vilification of their legitimate organizations.
In a statement this afternoon, the All UP Academic Employees Union Iloilo Chapter strongly condemned the redtagging of legitimate and legal students’ organizations as “fronts of the New Peoples Army.”
“This act of redtagging is simply stupid,” wrote the Union in its statement. Redtagging posters were pasted in a passengers’ waiting shed in front of the entrance of UPV Miagao campus. The posters tagged as NPA fronts the following organizations: Anakbayan, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, Kabataan Partylist, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students, Oikos Ecological Movement, Samasa Organization and the National Union of Students of the Philippines.
“This act is dangerous in times when critics often times became victims by military-police operations of the State. These wrongful accusations endanger our students who are standing for the rights and welfare of the Filipino people,” continued the Union.
The Union added that redtagging “suppresses the freedom of critical mind and their right of students to organization inside the campus.”
The Union pledged its full support for the students in their continued fight for human rights.
“We are with you, your faculty and staff, and REPS in your struggle for the future of our country.”
The Academic Union called on the UPV administration to strengthen its security system and to conduct an investigation of the incident.
“We will not allow the entry of elements that will sow fear and bring harm to our students, teachers and academic community,” stressed the Union./www.panaytoday.net
