Labor Center fears aid will only fatten a few peoples pocket

Aid will be used to fuel further human rights violations

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center expressed fears the Php 92M (USD 2M), additional US military assistance will only be used to fatten a few pockets and worse will be used to fuel more attacks on the opponents of the Arroyo regime.

“A regime known for its corrupt practices and human rights violations will grab this chance to make money from the people’s suffering and beef-up its war chest for its dirty war," said Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU. “Transparency International, a global anti-corruption watchdog, last June 2007 cited the Philippine Government as the 8th most corrupt government out of a total of 163 countries and you expect this regime to use every centavo to serve justice? We were not born yesterday.”

“How can the Arroyo regime solve extra-judicial killings when it continues to dismiss the Alston report and reports from other human rights organizations? Up to this day, the regime remains in complete denial of the involvement of security forces in the more than 800 cases of extra-judicial killings and almost 200 cases of enforced disappearances," opined Labog.

Labog also pointed out that justice should not be tied to money. “With or without financial aid, justice must be served to the victims of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances. Up until now, justice remains elusive for the hundreds of victims, especially for the victims of the Hacienda Luisita massacre.”

According to Labog, the money should instead be given straight to the families of the victims and serve as funds for the prosecution of their cases.