"End Ka Bel's illegal incarceration, end Arroyo's repressive leadership -- KMU"

This day marks the first year of Cong. Crispin Beltran's illegal detention under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration and workersnder the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) expressed their support to Ka Bel's wife Ka Osang and the entire Beltran family as they visited the Beltran household in an urban poor community in Kaunlaran St., Bgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City. "

Tomorrow, KMU, Anakpawis Party List and the Free Ka Bel Movement will lead a nationally-coordinated action of workers to demand the release of Ka Bel. Labor unions together with sympathizers, allies and friends of the detained solon will gather at the Philippine Heart Center for an ecumenical service and protest program. After the activities at the PHC, the groups will march to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to condemn the government's continued prosecution of progressive groups and party list organizations.

"We will not abandon the fight for Ka Bel's release. Not even the malicious tagging of the AFP against our organization will stop us from campaigning for Ka Bel's release. The campaign for his release is one of our top priorities right now," said KMU Secretary General and Anakpawis Party List nominee Joel Maglunsod.

Maglunsod visited Ka Bel early this week and they have discussed ways on how the older solon can campaign for the Anakpawis party list despite his detention. "Anakpawis Party List have filed petition for Ka Bel to campaign outside the PHC. We are expecting that Ka Bel can join as Anakpawis nominees officially file for candidacy at the COMELEC early next month."

"As of now, we are exhausting all legal means to free Ka Bel. But the government's stance on his case shows that Arroyo is very much afraid of Ka Bel and his capacity as a legislator and leader of the progressive people's movement. With this, we enjoin all democracy and freedom loving Filipinos to work in ending Arroyo's repressive leadership by upholding the ideals and principles of People Power 1 and 2. All dictators must be thrown to the dustbins of history.

Tactically, the people can help in overthrowing Arroyo's leadership by junking anti-people administration candidates from local to national level in the upcoming elections," the labor leader said.

"We are thanking all those who are continuously supporting the Free Ka Bel Movement Campaign for the past year. We are receiving steady stream of solidarity messages and letters from international organizations and individuals from all over Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Likewise, hundreds of thousands have signed the petition for Ka Bel's immediate release. We expect further international pressure on Ka Bel's case especially after we forwarded our demands to the United Nations through Mr. Philip Alston," Maglunsod concluded.