Current crisis shows unfinished work of EDSA People Power – Bayan
Nationwide protests are set to be held on February 25 as the nation marks the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship. This year, the Marcos-led charter change initiative takes center stage as various groups air their opposition to the measure. In Manila, anti-chacha groups will gather near the EDSA Shrine at EDSA corner Ortigas at 330pm. Rallies are also set in the cities of Naga, Legazpi, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu and Davao. Actions are also expected in the US, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong.
Unfinished work
The fact that the Marcoses are back in power and are aggressively pushing for Charter change is a grim reminder of the unfinished work of EDSA People Power.
The 1986 EDSA uprising ousted the US-backed Marcos dictatorship after years of struggle by the people, both armed and unarmed. However, the elite and foreign-dominated economic and political system remained. The basic problems of foreign domination, feudal exploitation and bureaucratic corruption remained even after the downfall of Marcos Sr. Because of these conditions, it took the Marcoses 36 years before they were able to return to power. Now it appears they are bent on holding on to power beyond 2028, through Constitutional revisions.
This generation’s version of “people power” must definitely oppose any attempts by the Marcoses to perpetuate and entrench themselves in power through Cha-cha. We must do everything to stop the elite and foreign-driven Cha-cha.
Fighting Cha-cha however is not enough. The current “people power” or mass movement must struggle to dismantle the oppressive ruling system. What the first EDSA as well as the second EDSA did not achieve, we must now continue to pursue. Genuine freedom and democracy, not just regime change, should be our collective goal.
EDSA taught us that the real power lies with the people. We must exercise that power towards fighting for fundamental changes in society.
#EDSA38 #NoToChaCha
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