[APWSLMembers 406] KMU sign-on letter

[Kilusang Mayo Uno]

SIGN ON LETTER: STOP TRADE UNION AND POLITICAL REPRESSION IN THE PHILIPPINES!
RESPECT THE FILIPINO WORKER'S TRADE UNION AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS!

H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: <mailto:corres at op.gov.ph>corres at op.gov.ph / 
<mailto:opnet at ops.gov.ph>opnet at ops.gov.ph


We, trade unions, workers organisations, migrant organizations, 
support groups and concerned individuals, express our grave concern 
on the rampant trade union and political repression in the Philippines.

In particular, we are outraged that 64 of our colleagues in the trade 
union movement and informal workers association have been killed 
since 2001.  They are part of the more than 750 victims of political 
killings in the Philippines recorded as of Sept 2006.  We strongly 
condemn and denounce political killings as the worst form of 
political repression. It is an outright violation of an individual's 
right to life.  Political killings violate all norms and 
international standards for the respect of human rights and has no 
place in a democratic society.

We are equally alarmed of other cases of trade union and human rights 
violations such as abductions, harassment, intimidation, grave 
threats, illegal arrest and militarization in the workplaces and 
communities.  Workers who assert for their democratic rights and 
fight for social justice and transformation are being branded as 
terrorists, communists and "enemies of the state" and are being 
attacked with impunity under the guise of counter-terrorism.

We are deeply concerned at the continued illegal detention of KMU 
Chairperson Emeritus and Anakpawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran who 
was arrested without warrant on Feb. 25, 2006, a day after a state of 
emergency declaration.  Ka Bel was arrested without warrant on the 
basis of trumped-up charges dating back two decades and already 
quashed by the Philippine courts.  We demand that Ka Bel be given 
justice and that he be freed from his illegal detention.

As a signatory to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, to the 
United Nations Covenant on civil and political rights and to the 
International Labor Organization Conventions 87 and 98, the 
Philippine government must ensure that the Filipino workers right to 
organize, to bargain collectively, to exercise his other democratic 
rights and to live a life with dignity is recognized and respected.

We then call on you, as the President and the Commander in Chief of 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to take concrete steps to stop 
the political killings, harassment, intimidation and all forms of 
trade union and political repression committed against leaders, 
members, organizers and supporters of trade union organizations and 
informal workers associations as well as other legitimate 
organizations in the Philippines.

We will continue to monitor the situation in the Philippines and will 
be urging our respective governments to withdraw support and stop 
giving financial aid to the Philippine government, until political 
killings and other forms of human rights violations in your country 
are stopped.  We refuse to use our money to aid the Philippine 
government and become an instrument to attack and kill our Filipino 
brothers and sisters who are fighting for social justice.

Thank you for your attention.

Respectfully yours,

Name
Organisation
Address & contact data


Cc:


Hon. Chairperson Dr. Purificacion Quisumbing
The Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Building, Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City
Fax: +632 929-0102, Email: <mailto:drpvq at chr.gov.ph>drpvq at chr.gov.ph

Hon. Sec. Avelino Cruz
Department of National Defense
Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA, 1110 Quezon City
Email: <mailto:snd at dnd.gov.ph>snd at dnd.gov.ph
Fax: (+632) 911 6213

Sen. Manny Villar
Senate President
Rm. 602 GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 80 loc. 6507 - 09 / 6511
Direct Line: (632) 552-6715
Fax No.: (632) 552-6734
Email:            <mailto:mb_villar at yahoo.com>mb_villar at yahoo.com
Website: <http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph>www.mannyvillar.com.ph

Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr.
Speaker of the House
Rm. MB-2, House of Representatives, Quezon City
Phone: 931-5001 local 7446, 9315071 to 9315073

Hon. Arturo Brion
Secretary
Department of Labor and Employment
7th Floor, DOLE Building
Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila, PHILIPPINES
Phone:  (632) 527-300 loc. 701-704, 706-707
Fax:  (632) 527-2121; (632) 527-2131; (632) 527-5523
Email:  <mailto:osec at dole.gov.ph>osec at dole.gov.ph





-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/496 - Release Date: 10/24/2006