Workers and labor unions under the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today led the local protests for the International Day of Action against Trade Union Repression and Political Killings at Liwasang Bonifacio. Protesters will march to Mendiola in the afternoon to direct their demands to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whom they hold responsible for the rising cases of extra-judicial killings and enduring attacks against trade unions and workers.

“The signs of the times are clear - Arroyo’s political alienation will accelerate to cosmic levels if she will not heed the strong local and international clamor to put a stop to the killings and violation of rights. Arroyo’s status as among the Bush government’s most-favored ally will soon fizzle out. Bush’ junking already started in the last U.S. midterm elections. Arroyo will definitely earn her political fate,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

The group cited that labor unions from 12 countries and 13 cities worldwide including United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan, India and Hongkong will mobilize at Philippine Consulates and Embassies in their respective countries. KMU allies in Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Uruguay, Hungary, Indonesia, Nepal, Malta, France, Netherlands, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh have sent protest letters addressed to Malacanang encouraging Arroyo to stop the killings of Filipino activists.

“While international pressure against political killings in the Philippines is gathering force in many countries, the government resorts to provocation. Instead of answering point-blank the charges of military involvement and the superficial and sluggish government response to the killings, the PNP and AFP further antagonized groups monitoring human rights violations like KARAPATAN and Amnesty International.”

No stability under Arroyo

“Not even the capture of Sen. Gringo Honasan and the trial of Atong Ang can bring an impression of stability to the Arroyo administration. The situation of disturbance comes from Arroyo herself and her militarist leadership ways. She persists to be the main political and economic ‘destabilizer’ in the country.” Labog said.

“As Commander-in-Chief, Arroyo is directly linked to the human rights violations executed by the police and military elements against known critics of her administration. She cannot excuse herself by issuing superficial statements condemning the killings of activists, media workers and human rights advocates.”

The rally today also highlighted demands for the immediate release of Anakpawis Rep and KMU Chairman Emeritus Crispin Beltran who is still illegally detained by the government due to trump up charges of rebellion.

KMU to Brion: Remember the massacre at Hacienda Luisita

Meanwhile, in response to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Arturo Brion’s statement that workers protection and welfare are government priorities, KMU reminded the Labor Chief that the gruesome massacre at the Hacienda Luisita picket line in November 16, 2004 happened after DoLE issued an Assumption of Jurisdiction order (AJ) authorizing the police and military to disperse the striking workers from the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union and United Luisita Workers Union.

“The massacre at Hacienda Luisita which killed 7 workers is way too repulsive to forget in just a short period of two years. Either Brion has a selective memory problem or he is too afraid that foreign businesses might pull out investments after the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce and foreign companies expressed concern over the rising attacks against Filipino workers and political killings,” Labog said.

“Two years after the massacre, not even one suspect was arrested and punished. The killers were let off the hook and in fact have organized death squads to carry on with the attacks.”