Campaigns: Erap Watch     ERAP, OUSTED! - VICTORY STATEMENT The Filipino People Has Ousted the Criminal President Estrada! Long Live the Filipino People’s Power! Onward with the Fight for A Free, Just and Democratic Philippines! In 1986, we have toppled a tyrant. Today, we have done it again. Never has our confidence wavered that Estrada will be ousted. The cause for truth and justice, backed by the powerful movement of the “masa” (masses) and various social strata and institutions of Philippine society, has been the propelling force to assure the victory of People’s Power II. The Erap Resign Network Hong Kong (ERN-HK) is jubilant together with the entire progressive and conscientious Filipino people at this hour of our collective victory. We have always maintained that it is the people marching to the streets in the thousands and millions who would ultimately cast the die of Estrada’s fate. It is this mass siege of Malacañang, EDSA and town centers in major provinces that has created the snowball defection of the military, previously pro-Estrada cabinet members, traditional politicians and even senator-judges and ultimately force the President to step down. Estrada’s political isolation and defeat has been brought about by the broad anti-Estrada front successfully mounted by patriotic and progressive forces in the Philippines. People Power II gave flesh to the call, indeed echoed months back, “Oust Erap!” Overseas Filipinos take pride with the success of the campaign to force Estrada’s resignation or ouster. The distance to our motherland became inconsequential as Filipinos abroad rallied together with the rest of the anti-Estrada forces back home. Let it be known that progressive Filipinos around the globe, particularly in Hong Kong, did not remain silent nor paralyzed by inaction. Our contribution is thus marked and cherished. Estrada’s downfall has been a significant step in the Filipino’s quest for a free, just and democratic Philippines. If ever justice will be served, Estrada and all his cronies should then be tried and punished for their crimes to the people. The greater challenge now is whether Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration, as the constitutional successor, would heed the People’s Agenda articulated by different multi-sectoral groups. We did not boot out a criminal president to accommodate another. We hope that the message of People Power II is clear for whoever would betray again the hopes of the Filipino people for freedom, social justice, peace and democracy: NEVER AGAIN! 20 January 2001 Erap Resign Network - Hong Kong c/o Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers St. John's Cathedral, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR Tel no.: 2522-8264, 2810-4379 Fax no.: 2526-2894 E-mail: erapresign@hongkong.com     Search our site: advance search             Back to top           1995 - 2001 (c) copyright The Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (HK) Society e-mail: mission@migrants.net website: http://www.migrants.net