At least 2 workers fall victims to injustice every day in the region

"Since Arroyo's cheating the elections in 2004, her fascist administration has victimized at least two workers every day here in the Southern Mindanao. These violations include grave threats, harassment and intimidation, union busting and restriction to organize, violations of economic rights and right to demonstrate peacefully and red tagging. All victims, circumstances, motives and capacity point to a sole perpetrator: the desperate and fake administration of Gloria Arroyo with no agenda but capitalist interest and perpetuation in power."

This was revealed by Omar Bantayan, secretary general of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region during the press conference held today. The labor leader culled the information from affidavits of victims and documented reports from fact-finding missions such as the Labor Solidarity Ecumenical Mission and the International Labor Solidarity Mission in August and May this year, respectively.

Reports from the militant labor center's Trade Union and Human Rights Desk revealed that for the past two years, there are a total of 50 documented incidents of worker's rights violations committed by the military, the local police, their employers or leaders in their local governments. In Southern Mindanao from 2004-2006, a total of 1,880 individual cases have been reported.

Most notable of these 50 cases is the fact that half of such—or a total of 27 incidents—occurred during the last six months of 2006. Most victims came from the agricultural municipalities of Maragusan and Compostela in Compostela Valley Province and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Norte. Other areas include the manufacturing industries of Panabo City and Davao City.

In Panabo City, for example, 13 workers from Stanfilco Plastic Plant were called by elements of the Philippine Army to attend a seminar at Camp Panacan in July 23, 2006. In the so-called seminar, they were shown 'Knowing the Enemy,' a documentary by the AFP that red-tags militant organizations such as the KMU. This harassment took place soon after workers had begun organizing under KMU.

In Sta. Cruz, Rodolfo Duran, president of Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Franklin Baker, was called for questioning at the barangay hall of Brgy. Coronon, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur by the 39th IB. 1st Lt. Bruce Tucong discussed the organizational structure of the "local communist movement" of which NAMAFRA—in the 39 th IB's estimation—was a part of. Duran is currently the external vice president of KMU-SMR. He was also asked to facilitate meetings with other union officials for the brigade.

From 2004-2005, elements of the 36th IB and 28th IB held many "purok meetings" in Compostela and Maragusan that branded the genuine unions of Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa OsMiguel (NAMAOS), Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa San Jose (NAMASAN), Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (NAMASUFA) and Maragusan United Workers Union (MUWU) as fronts of the New People's Army and the Communist Party of the Philippines. All these unions are local affiliates of National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU-KMU).

"These are but few of the cases monitored by the KMU-SMR here in the region," said Bantayan. "This culture of impunity against workers under the guidance of genuine, militant and anti-imperialist unionism is widespread in the country. Wherever they go, the fascist elements of the AFP terrorize the people who assert for democratic rights. They are doing this in the guise of counter-terrorism or counter-insurgency measures. That was what happened during the Martial Law years, and the fake and desperate administration of Arroyo is doing a complete rerun."

The labor leader called all labor organizations, advocates of human rights and other organizations to participate in the National Day of Protest Against Political Killings and Repression on November 16, 10:30 in the morning at Camp Panacan, Davao City.