KMU urges public to oppose Chacha’s economic plunder too; delivers workers’ voice in mammoth anti-Chacha rally today

Workers led by the Kilusang Mayo Uno joined various sectors and groups in condemning the proposed Charter Change in a giant Makati rally today.

“We have long been opposing the Chacha plans of the Arroyo regime as it will definitely intensify the oppression to workers and other marginalized. We are very glad that a wide spectrum of people is now united to stop the Chacha,” said KMU Executive Vice President Joselito Ustarez.

Economic plunder
“The Chacha does not only seek to extend the term of Arroyo and cohorts, but also to endanger our economy and democracy in the hands of big and foreign capitalists,” Ustarez said.

“Let us not be misguided by fake propaganda which claims that Chacha seeks to alleviate us from the financial crisis by easing restrictions of foreign ownership and operations in our nation. Because precisely, allowing 100% foreign ownership to our lands, resources, media, educational institutions, among others, only seek to protect the profit and stability of the capitalists. On the other hand, majority of the people will suffer from greater wage freezes, price hikes, unemployment, and others.

“Even now before the Chacha, people are already at the mercy of big business owners. They are free to illegally dismiss workers, pay mediocre salaries, abuse employees, price goods unreasonably, while preventing us to oppose through their influence in media and the educational system or through brute force.

“If the Constitution needs revision, it is to strengthen national industrialization, genuine land reform, and protection of our democratic liberties,” Ustarez added.

Retort to Chacha defenders
Ustarez also slammed Malacañang’s  remark to today’s demonstration that encourages people to just engage in dialogues instead of protests. House Speaker Nograles also echoed the message, and even said that no matter how many would protest in streets, their number will not count in House voting procedures anyway.

“Arroyo and her allies in Congress clearly undermine the collective voice of the people. They are well aware of the wide public opposition to Chacha, but remain stubborn to echo this in ‘plenary votes,’

“We should intensify our efforts to defy Chacha and other oppressive plans of the regime. We have already won the Senate side for now, but we still have a long way to go,” Ustarez added.