Anti-Arroyo groups call for civil disobedience

Group calling for the ouster of President Arroyo on Monday urged the public to mark the 20th anniversary of EDSA I people power revolt through civil disobedience. “It is the illegitimate presidency of Arroyo which deepens the political crisis in the country. It is high time to resolve this crisis through nationwide civil disobedience and withdrawal of support to Arroyo," Akbayan party list president Ronald Llamas said in a press conference in Quezon City. Llamas said civil disobedience, described as a non-violent resistance to laws and orders of a government in power, has started in different parts of the country. Akbayan, along with the Black and White Movement, Citizens for Concon, Laban ng Masa, Alyansa Tigil-Mina, and the Hyatt 10, have launched a month-long nationwide caravan against Charter Change, dubbed as “Citizens’ Pilgrimage for Truth and Reforms." The caravan was launched February 1 in more than 30 cities and provinces nationwide. Organizers expect 20,000 people to join the last stop of the caravan at the People Power monument along EDSA on February 22. Around 9,000 people from the Southern Luzon and Northern Luzon legs of the caravan would join other Manila protesters at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City on the morning of February 22 to march towards the People Power monument. Simultaneous actions and campouts are now being held in front of the departments of agrarian reform and agriculture and the National Housing Authority. Llamas said the withdrawal of support from the government of the military and the Church is vital to civil disobedience. Former education chief Butch Abad and social welfare secretary Dinky, both members of the Hyatt 10, urged the public to resist House of Representatives initiatives to push for Charter Change and the cancellation of the 2007 elections. They warned a constitutional crisis could arise if Malacanang pursues the people’s initiative mode to amend the Constitution.-GMANEWS.TV