#StopTheAttacks: Stop the crackdown of activists

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Randall Echanis was stabbed to death inside his home in August 2020. Now, his daughter Amanda, who just gave birth was illegally arrested & planted with firearms & explosives. Randall & Amanda are both red-tagged by the government. So don't you ever say this is harmless.

Hindi pa man nakakamit ang hustisya para karumal-dumal na pagpatay sa Anakpawis leader at NDFP Peace Consultant na si Randy Echanis - ang anak naman nitong peasant women organizer mula sa AMIHAN-Cagayan na si Amanda Lacaba Echanis ang hinuli at inaresto.

Echanis is currently detained at CIDG Region 2 headquarters, according to Anakpawis.

Not another Reina Nasino. Not another Baby River. 

Free Amanda Echanis and her month-old baby boy! Stop the crackdown of activists in Cagayan Valley!

AMANDA, 34, is a peasant women organizer under AMIHAN Cagayan provincial chapter & the daughter of assassinated peasant leader and peace advocate"Ka Randy Echanis. 

On December 2, Amanda Echanis was illegally arrested along with her month-old baby boy by the combined forces of AFP-PNP in Baggao town, Cagayan and was charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunitions and Illegal Possession of Explosives. 

AMIHAN Cagayan Valley and its provincial chapters are usual targets of red-tagging by Duterte's fascist forces in the past years, and Amanda Echanis, was red-tagged as a high-ranking official of New People's Army.

Free Amanda Echanis and her month-old baby boy! Stop the crackdown of activists in Cagayan Valley! 

Various organizations from different sectors condemned the arrest of Echanis and the simultaneous raid of Adviento’s home and are calling for Echanis’ release from wrongful detention.

"We assert that (Amanda) Echanis was arrested on planted evidence. She just gave birth to her first child. We call on her immediate and unconditional release on just, humanitarian grounds," Anakpawis Partylist said.

Today, the AFP and PNP also illegally raided the home of Isabelo 'Buting' Adviento, a fellow peasant-leader of Echanis. They were merely conducting relief operations for affected communities in Cagayan. 

Joint police and military forces of the 29th IB illegally also arrested Datu Danilo Kalinawan in the early hours of December 2. State elements trooped to Datu Kalinawan's house in Barangay Cawilan, Tubod, Surigao del Norte.

Red-baiting is dangerous. At the least, you will be attacked, threatened, and intimidated; and at the maximum, you will be gunned down.

Farmers are the usual victims of state-instigated red-tagging, harassment, and surveillance. Members and leaders in hinterland villages are accused of being people's militia or Milisyang Bayan members.

Many were even forced to surrender under the AFP's institutionalized money-making scheme E-CLIP or Enhanced Community Livelihood Integration Program that entices villagers to surrender and give false information linking progressive groups and organizations to armed groups.

Every firearm, ammunition, and explosive supposedly confiscated or surrendered to the AFP and PNP have monetary equivalent, a minimum of Php65,000 for each firearm. Racket ng militar at pulis ang E-CLIP.

AFP units and battalions have made a big-time racket out of this E-CLIP Balik Loob scheme. Ranking officials of the NTF-ELCAC are masterminds of this E-CLIP racket and red-tagging.

The most convenient charge that can be lodged against illegally arrested activists is the crime of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. This is mainly due to the fact of unavailability of posting bail as a matter of right. 

THIS IS STATE TERRORISM!!!

Just last August, peasant leader Randy Echanis, Amanada Echanis' father, was morbidly murdered. His grieving family & colleagues were harassed. 

Last October, Baby River died after being separated from her young activist mother Reina Nasino.  The burial was closely guarded.

"Some of the most decent, authentic, and brave people of the country are being red-tagged. If you put me with them, I will be honored. " - Sis. Mary John Mananzan

Marapat pakinggan ng gobyerno ang panawagan ng mga aktibista, suriin kung ito ay mali at nagdudulot ng kaguluhan. Ngunit anuman ang maging pagtingin nila sa mga pagkilos, hindi naman nito mapipigilan ang mamamayan na ipaglaban ang karapatan nila. 

As we celebrate International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, join us as we demand for the immediate release of all men and women human rights defenders unjustly incarcerated!

Grab a virtual placard and join the online protest! Mangalampag para sa agarang pagpapalaya nila!