Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has joined the list of international personalities supporting calls to junk the anti-terrorism law in the Philippines.
In a tweet on Monday, 17-year-old environmental activist Thunberg threw in support for Filipino climate activists who have been speaking up against the controversial measure.
Thunberg retweeted a Fridays For Future post which supported fellow climate activists in the Philippines.
“Please support the climate activists in the Philippines! #JunkTerrorLaw,” Thunberg said in her Twitter post.
Fridays For Future is a movement that began in August 2018 when Thunberg and other young activists began a school strike for climate.
“The anti-terror law puts climate activists and environmental defenders at risk of being tagged as terrorists,” Fridays For Future warned.
Aside from Thunberg, youth climate groups from different countries including Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, Portugal, Taiwan, and France, among others, have also posted about the Philippines’ anti-terrorism law in response to the global movement.
Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020— signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday— will impose stiffer penalties for “terrorists” and those found to be helping or engaging in related acts. It also allows suspects to be arrested without warrant and detained without charges for up to 24 days.
Some critics also argued that it may be used to target those who simply express criticism against the government.
However, a number of local security officials as well as lawmakers have repeatedly dismissed these claims, saying citizens have enough safeguards under the Constitution.
Thunberg captured the world’s attention beginning in August 2018, when she started sitting alone outside the Swedish Parliament with a placard demanding a stronger response to climate change.
Thunberg has since become a youth leader advocating for environmental policies all over the world.
The young activist was chosen by Time magazine cover as its Person of the Year in 2019./Stacy Ang
