[APWSLMembers 493] "End Ka Bel's illegal incarceration, end Arroyo's repressive leadership -- KMU"

[KMU International Department]

KILUSANG MAYO UNO
(May First Labor Center)
KMU NEWS RELEASE
February 25, 2007

"End Ka Bel's illegal incarceration, end Arroyo's repressive leadership 
-- KMU"

This day marks the first year of Cong. Crispin Beltran's illegal
detention under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration and 
workers
under the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) expressed their support to Ka Bel's
wife Ka Osang and the entire Beltran family as they visited the
Beltran household in an urban poor community in Kaunlaran St., Bgy.
Commonwealth, Quezon City. "

Tomorrow, KMU, Anakpawis Party List and the Free Ka Bel Movement 
will
lead a nationally-coordinated action of workers to demand the release
of Ka Bel. Labor unions together with sympathizers, allies and friends
of the detained solon will gather at the Philippine Heart Center for
an ecumenical service and protest program. After the activities at the
PHC, the groups will march to the National Intelligence Coordinating
Agency (NICA) to condemn the government's continued prosecution of
progressive groups and party list organizations.

"We will not abandon the fight for Ka Bel's release. Not even the
malicious tagging of the AFP against our organization will stop us
from campaigning for Ka Bel's release. The campaign for his release is
one of our top priorities right now," said KMU Secretary General and
Anakpawis Party List nominee Joel Maglunsod.

Maglunsod visited Ka Bel early this week and they have discussed 
ways
on how the older solon can campaign for the Anakpawis party list
despite his detention. "Anakpawis Party List have filed petition for
Ka Bel to campaign outside the PHC. We are expecting that Ka Bel can
join as Anakpawis nominees officially file for candidacy at the
COMELEC early next month."

"As of now, we are exhausting all legal means to free Ka Bel. But the
government's stance on his case shows that Arroyo is very much afraid
of Ka Bel and his capacity as a legislator and leader of the
progressive people's movement. With this, we enjoin all democracy 
and
freedom loving Filipinos to work in ending Arroyo's repressive
leadership by upholding the ideals and principles of People Power 1
and 2. All dictators must be thrown to the dustbins of history.
Tactically, the people can help in overthrowing Arroyo's leadership by
junking anti-people administration candidates from local to national
level in the upcoming elections," the labor leader said.

"We are thanking all those who are continuously supporting the Free Ka
Bel Movement Campaign for the past year. We are receiving steady
stream of solidarity messages and letters from international
organizations and individuals from all over Europe, North America and
Asia Pacific. Likewise, hundreds of thousands have signed the petition
for Ka Bel's immediate release. We expect further international
pressure on Ka Bel's case especially after we forwarded our demands 
to
the United Nations through Mr. Philip Alston," Maglunsod concluded.
###


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