Local militants decry crackdown of Myanmar protestors

A militant group on Thursday lamented the recent crackdown of the Myanmar government against its protestors.

In a statement, Bayan Secretary-General Renato M. Reyes, Jr.  said, "The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan condemns the violent crackdown on protesters in Myanmar by the ruling military junta."

"We express international solidarity with the Burmese people in their assertion of their rights to peaceful assembly and the airing of their grievances," Reyes said.

He noted that as a people who witnessed Martial Rule and political repression under the Marcos dictatorship and now under the current Arroyo regime, the group sympathizes with the yearnings of the Burmese people for democratic reforms.

"We too are very familiar with the face of repression and thus understand the just cause being pursued by the Burmese people," he said.

He likewise warned the United States and other governments to refrain from using the Myanmar crisis to impose their own imperialist agenda in Burma and the Southeast Asian region.

"We are conscious of the contradictions between the Myanmar government and the US government (and its allies). We are carefully watching the moves being taken by the US and its allies regarding this crisis," he said.