STUDENTS of De La Salle-Lipa denounced the red-tagging of youth organizations during a webinar on peace and development for first year learners.

The Lavoxa Group of Publications pointed out that there will be “no peace and development in propagating climate of fear.”

It issued the statement after one of the speakers in the forum claimed that student organizations such as Anakbayan, Kabataan Party-list and League of Filipino Students are directly affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army.

He also noted that “progressive youth organizations are groups with goals of antagonizing the government.”

Lavoxa urged school officials to not provide platforms for state propaganda “under a regime widely known for its disregard of human rights.”

“DLSL must recognize this necessity in forming critical thinkers that actively participate in matters of public concern through free thought and speech and must not be participatory in propagating a climate of fear,” it said.

Stressing that speaking out on injustices is part of a democratic society, the campus paper said that students “should not be penalized nor feared.”

“The Lavoxa Group of Publications strongly condemns the conduct of the ‘Campus Peace and Development Forum’ webinar by the Philippine Air Force among Lasallian students which aimed to campaign against criticism directed towards the government and to warn against progressive groups by claiming that they promote terrorism,” it said.