International Day of Action

Dear comrades and friends,

On Sept 21, 1972, Marcos imposed martial law in the Philippines that saw the arrest, detention, harassment, persecution and killings of many political activists and ordinary masses in the country.

More than three decades after and despite the so-called lifting of martial law in 1981, the same situation still exists. Under the regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001 up to the present), over 730 were killed victimizing workers, peasants, women, youth, students, teachers,lawyers, members and leaders of party list groups, church people, human rights workers and

media people. Over 180 were forcibly abducted and thousands continue to suffer persecution as progressive and legal mass organizations are tagged as “enemies of the state” under the US-Arroyo’s war on terror.

On Sept 21, 2006, the Filipino nation will commemorate this historic day thru a nationwide protest action to demand an end to political killings and repression.

At the same time, the International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS) of which KMU is a member is calling for a Global Day of Action Against Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines.

Please join us in commemorating this day by launching protest actions or dialogues on Philippine Consulates and Embassies in your respective places. You can also send protest letters to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines demanding a stop to political killings and repression and to respect basic tenets of democracy.

We would greatly appreciate if you can inform us of the actions you would be taking on Sept. 21 in accordance to this call.

Thank you for your solidarity and support to the Filipino people’s struggle for genuine freedom and democracy.

In solidarity,

KMU International Department