18/02/2023
STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION OF USSC AGAINST THE RED-TAGGING FORUM HELD AT THE CLSU AUDITORIUM THIS MORNING, FEBRUARY 18
The University Supreme Student Council, as the highest governing student body in CLSU, expresses its outright and strong condemnation against the red-tagging forum conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) held at the University Auditorium this morning, February 18.
Under the guise of promoting peace, the forum has blatantly red-tagged progressive youth and mass organizations, as well as legitimate partylists currently seated in Congress, such as Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, National Union of Students of the Philippines, and Kabataan Partylist.
Approximately 2,000 NSTP students, mostly first-years, were deceived into attending the red-tagging forum. According to reports, the CLSU NSTP Office did not notify students about the topic to be discussed in the forum ahead of time.
The primary speaker at the conference was said to be a retired AFP official, who was joined by alleged NPA surrenderees and the Hands Off Our Children Network—government agencies infamous for promoting state-sponsored disinformation and inciting violence against innocent citizens.
Students voiced their disapproval by chanting "boo" throughout the open forum segment of the discussion, which dealt their queries with lies, historical distortion, and misogynist statements. Also, disturbing audio-visual presentations that students say are distressing to their mental health were shown without prior notice.
We, the USSC, denounce this deceptive and harmful red-tagging incident, which is a blatant attack on youth and students.
Sielesyuans are currently dealing with a wide range of issues as the university transitions to full face-to-face classes, such as the need for improved college amenities, the struggle for internet connectivity, food services, lodging, and financial expenses—all of this while the country's inflation remains high, academic freedom remains threatened, SUC budgets are being cut.
Similarly, such red-tagging forums continue to occur now that ROTC, which is predominantly supervised by the AFP, is only an optional component of NSTP. Yet, with the current attempt to restore ROTC as a mandatory program in college, how can we trust the AFP with the security of students when human rights violations like this are being perpetrated by their own agency?
In line with our appeal last year, we ask the university administration to protect and uphold academic freedom and prohibit such activities from being conducted at our institution.
We also challenge all student councils, organizations, and students to join us in opposing any attack on youth and students exercising their democratic right to pursue genuine free and safe education, academic freedom, and sufficient budget for the education sector.
