International Women's Day: 'State of urgency to relieve Arroyo from post' declared

Women's groups yesterday commemorated the International Women's Day with the declaration of a "state of national urgency" to relieve President Arroyo from her post.

Some 200 women members of different women's groups led by Gabriela Women's Party marched from Plaza Independencia to Colon street for a rally where they declared their own "People's Proclamation 0308 or the state of national urgency".

Kaira Zoe Alburo, Gabriela-Cebu spokesperson said that there is an urgent need to oust Arroyo because the country is severely suffering from political and economic crisis.

She added that there is also urgent need to stop the political persecutions which occurred after the chief executive issued Presidential Proclamation 1017 declaring the state of national emergency.

According to Alburo, it is very ironic that the country has a woman president who is also the "number one violator of women's rights."

After the declaration of PP 1017, several officials of progressive organizations and representative of party-list groups, including Gabriela representative Liza Maza were arrested and are now placed under the protective custody of the House of Representatives.

With the imposition of the state of national emergency, Alburo said that suppression of civil liberties has worsened and women's rights are threatened.

"Gabriela is working within the bounds. Rep. Maza is the only women's group representative in the Congress. It is very hypocritical for the government to say that it is honoring and protecting women's rights but not actually doing it," Alburo said.

Alburo added that every year, women are commemorating the International Women's Day but there is no improvement on the condition of women.

"Abuse on women is still very common, especially those in the urban poor sector," she said.

During their rally, members of Gabriela and other women's groups wore red shirts to show the struggle of working women and their courage to free themselves from violence and repressions. - Wenna A. Berondo