[APWSLMembers 197] KMU March 1, 2006 News Release: Labor group calls for continued vigilance until PP 1017is lifted

[Kilusang Mayo Uno]

KMU NEWS RELEASE
March 1, 2006

Labor group calls for continued vigilance until PP 1017 is lifted

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) 
called on members of the media, lawyers, academic 
professionals and all progressive organizations 
and democratic-loving Filipinos to openly and 
aggressively continue the protests for the 
immediate lifting of Presidential Proclamation 
1017 after the Malacañang issued a statement on 
the state of national emergency this morning.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the 
Palace will decide to lift the state of national 
emergency within 24 to 72 hours, after hearing 
the reports from the Department of Justice (DOJ), 
Department of National Defense (DND), and 
Philippine National Police (PNP) regarding the 
state of destabilization plots, troop control, 
and general peace and order situation.

KMU National Chairman Elmer Labog said that 
different sectors should continue defiance of 
PP1017 on the streets, schools, factories and 
communities. We must carry on with the fight to 
defend democracy. It is apparent that Mrs. Arroyo 
is shaken by the strong protests by the different 
sectors opposite to her claim that the people 
accepted her proclamation calmly and peacefully."

The labor leader asked, "How else will the people 
react calmly as she claimed when the PP 1017 
bluntly attacked the democratic, civil and 
political rights of the people preceding rally 
bans and crackdown on progressive lawmakers? 
Arroyo's double talk on PP1017 as a decisive act 
to preserve democracy is rubbish. Workers are 
determined to fight Arroyo's brand of autocracy."

Countdown to March 8 protests
Women workers warn of defying rally ban on Int'l Women's Day

A week before the celebration of the 
international women's day, KMU Women's Department 
Secretary Nenita Gonzaga said, "Women workers 
won't be cowed and deterred on March 8 in 
assembling and expressing our abhorrence and 
anger to this administration's state of emergency."

"It is a shame that a woman-president should be 
the one to put democracy to yet another death. 
Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's proclamation and 
the preceding events of arresting Anakpawis Rep. 
and KMU Emeritus Chairperson Crispin Beltran 
further revealed her true skin as an anti-worker 
and anti-people president. But we should not be 
afraid, we should continue to fight," she stressed.

The labor leader said that the preceding rally 
bans and charging of progressive lawmakers were 
the same situation under the late dictator 
Ferdinand Marcos. She remembered that political 
repression was at its height at the same time 
when workers are being paid inhumane wages amidst 
spiralling prices of basic commodities and 
services. While workers conduct strikes to fight 
this miserable plight, the regime ban strikes and attack picket lines.

Gonzaga is a veteran-woman-labor-leader who also 
suffered repression during Marcos regime. She was 
a staff of National Federation of Labor Unions 
(NAFLU) during the martial law years 
when  Felixberto "Ka Bert" Olalia was the NAFLU Chairman.

Gonzaga was apprehended on Sept. 23. 1972, two 
days after the declaration of Martial Law on 
Sept. 21. She said the military took her 
primarily to frighten and bribe her to testify 
against Olalia. But she said that she remained 
steadfast and loyal to the workers cause.

Meanwhile, KMU International Department Secretary 
Tess Dioquino said that women workers from other 
countries are in solidarity in condemning the 
arrest of Beltran and other progressive 
lawmakers. National Alliance of Philippine Women 
in Canada,  Grassroots Women, Australian 
Manufacturing Workers, Filipino Resource Center 
(FRC), All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, 
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and 
individuals from Brussels, Belgium, Malaysia and 
many more expressed support for Beltran.###