Stop the killings and persecution of the struggling Filipino people!

In the wake of our commemoration of the second anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre last November 16, 2004, Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region calls on the Filipino people and all working class in the world to collectively show our condemnation of the continued campaign of impunity of the Arroyo administration against our struggles for economic relief, social justice and national democracy.

Today, we gather in front of one of the most rabid anti-people detachments of the fascist Armed Forces of the Philippines here in the region as a sign of our demand to put an end to the killings and seek justice for the 764 victims of state-sponsored terrorism. As the dire result of the Arroyo administration’s anti-insurgency campaign against revolutionary groups, thousands of Filipinos fell victim to its endemic character of fascism.

The Arroyo administration, in its desperate attempt to perpetuate itself in power amidst prevalent calls for its ouster, has consistently undermined not only its own reactionary justice system, but insulted the cry for justice of the Filipino people. Cases after cases of violations have been lodged against its mercenary AFP and Philippine National Police since Arroyo was catapulted to power by a popular mass uprising. “Walang utang na loob,” this is what the Arroyo administration stands for in the midst of this escalating injustice against our people.

After losing the confidence of the masses, Arroyo relied on force and solicited support from local and foreign capitalists and its US imperialist boss. As a consequence, Arroyo signaled the widespread violations of our democratic rights and national patrimony.

Unions around the country under the genuine, militant and anti-imperialist KMU were terrorized by elements of the military, repressed in their workplaces by capitalist interests and left vulnerable by the ineptness of the Department of Labor and Employment. Workers rights and welfare were side-stepped by the pitch for globalization and the government’s promotion of cheap and semi-skilled labor force.

That the political killings and repression in the Philippines should alarm not only Filipinos but also foreign trade unionists and rights groups and assemblies is a fact not fresh to the Arroyo regime. Ever since, red flags have been raised here and abroad regarding the dismal state of our trade union and human rights. Many cases have reached the ire and condemnation of the international community—the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, the Nestle-Philippines and the Cavite Economic Processing Zones violent dispersals, the political killings of activists, media men and even church people have all received denunciation from foreign governments and institutions. This “strong republic” that Gloria Arroyo sings praises over is no more than a supposed democratic state that gloats on economic development insignificant to the poor and represses and persecutes legitimate dissent of its struggling people.

As a show of solidarity, protest actions are being held today at Philippine embassies and consulates by workers, allied trade unions and other sectors in Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Let us channel our rage against this spate of killings and repression in our campaign to oust the bogus and fascist regime of Gloria Arroyo. The working class and the entire Filipino people have nothing to rely on but our concerted action to demand justice, forward our economic interests and uphold our sovereignty as a nation that consents neither the continued existence of a fascist pseudo-democracy nor an illegitimate government that the Arroyo administration entirely is.