Arroyo out for vendetta

Filipino protester in New Zealand confirms arrest order

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center today said that the standing arrest order for Dennis Maga, spokesperson for the Free Ka Bel Movement and Secretary-General of the ANGLO-KMU is vendetta on the part of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who suffered back-to-back protest in her visit to New Zealand and Australia.

“Arroyo is known for her vindictiveness and we will not be surprised if she personally instructed the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) to arrest Dennis Maga once he gets into the country,” said Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU.

According to the KMU, they were informed by reliable sources from the BID that an arrest order has been issued for Dennis Maga once he arrives on June 2, 2007. “Dennis even e-mailed us and verified the information from his own sources inside the BID. He said in his email that they would create trumped-up charges and arrest him,” clarified Labog.

Maga’s case a challenge to Clark, Arroyo

“The case of Maga will serve as a litmus test on whether Arroyo’s word to New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark on respect for human rights will hold water. Any harassment on Maga will erase Arroyo’s ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ strategy when it comes to human rights,” opined Labog.

“We are also requesting PM Clark to issue a clear statement against the possible arrest of Maga. Many of our brothers and sisters in the trade union movement in New Zealand have expressed concern on Maga’s safety and have made commitments to pressure their own government to uphold human rights," said Labog.

June 3 an important day

Aside from the danger of suffering the same fate of illegally detained Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran, Maga worries about the possibility of not being with his son, Elijah on his 1st birthday.

Maga wrote on his e-mail dated May 30, 2007 “Ngayon pala ay birthday ng anak ko at plano naming na i-celebrate sa June 3 pagbalik ko pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari.” (Today is my son’s birthday and we plan to celebrate it on June 3 but because of the events, I do not know what will happen).

Click here for video of Dennis Maga protesting in front of Parliament in New Zealand.