Labor Center welcomes EU election observers, but says they may be too late

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center welcomed the idea of election observers coming from the European Union who wants to see "fair, transparent, orderly and peaceful elections" in the Philippines but warned that they may be “searching for gold at the end of the rainbow.”

“If the EU observers will only arrive come the month of May, they will only see the tip of the iceberg of election-related violence which has been hounding Philippine politics for decades,” stated Lito Ustarez, Executive Vice-President of the KMU.

“Many of the cases of election-related violence happen way before the actual election date. According to the police record, 46 cases election violence as of April 8, 2007 has been documented. The past election of 2004 saw the record of election violence rising to 141 cases compared to that of 2001 with 111, 50 in 1998 and 79 in 1995,” said Ustarez.

“This number will further be compounded by the continued extra-judicial killings of activists and journalists. Last week, Arthur Orpilla at Dionisio Battad, both members of ANAKPAWIS Partylist were found dead in Lallo, Cagayan Valley. It will not be in the realm of impossibility for this election to be the most violent,” warned Ustarez.

“The Arroyo regime may even create an ‘election tour’ specifically for the observers so that they may see a ‘fair, transparent, orderly and peaceful elections.’ This will be done to create an illusion that democracy in the Philippines is of the highest order,” said Ustarez.

The labor leader also suggested to the EU election observers to get in touch with non-governmental organization and civic groups who are working to promote a clean and peaceful elections to “acquire a wider account of the situation.”