[APWSLMembers 409] Protest Letter to the President

[Umesh Upadhyaya]

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

Rt. Hon'ble President

We,as the trade union confederation express our grave concern 
on the rampant trade union and political repression in the Philippines.

It is terrible that 64 of activists in the trade 
union movement and informal workers association have been killed 
since 2001.  They as we have been informed 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 right to life and
must not have any 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 
attacked with impunity under the guise of counter-terrorism.

We are deeply concerned at the continued illegal detention of KMU 
Chairperson Crispin Beltran who was arrested was arrested without
warrant on the basis of trumped-up charges dating back two decades and
already 
quashed by the Philippine courts.  He should 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 the Filipino workers' right to 
organize, to bargain collectively, to exercise other democratic 
rights and to live a life with dignity.

We appeal you, as the President, 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. Hope you will take steps for immediate
reform 


Thanks for your attention.

With best regards

Name Umesh Upadhyaya
Deputy Secretary General
GEFONT-Nepal



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