<br><br />
<br><br />Crispin Beltran, died on 20 May from an accident in Manila Philippines. He was 75.
<br><br />
<br><br />Criospin Beltran was known as Ka Bel by his many comrades and many more class conscious workers in the Philippines, in the Asia Pacific region and in the world.
<br><br />
<br><br />Ka Bel was elected to parliament as a representative of Anakpawis.
<br><br />
<br><br />
<br><br />But to us he will always be remembered as the person who led the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labour Center through many difficult years and many hard struggles. He established a tradition of uncompromising militancy and devotion to the working class.
<br><br />
<br><br />
<br><br />Ka Bel was against imperialist war and he was for the unity of working people across borders.
<br><br />
<br><br />
<br><br />He was a political and industrial leader in the Philippines workers' movement, and he was known and respected by many unions, workers' parties, and labour movement organisations across the world.
<br><br />
<br><br />Ka Bel was treted very badly by the Philippines Government many times and he was jailed. However he never lost his strenght, his political consciousness, his perspective or his ability to organise.
<br><br />
<br><br />Ka Bel will be sorely missed by his family and his friends, by his comrades in many countries, by the KMU and all its affiliated unions, by the activists in Anakpawis, Bayan and ILPS, by the many workers who knew him or relied on his work in Parliament, in union conferences and in workers' assemblies.
<br><br />
<br><br />We send our deepest condolences to Ka Bell's family and to all his friends and comrades.
<br><br />
<br><br />Farewell Ka Bell, we continue the struggle for the rights of all workers.
<br><br />
<br><br />On behalf of the members and affilates of AAWL
<br><br />
<br><br />In Solidarity
<br><br />
<br><br />Rev. Jang, Chang Weon(íåóãêª)
<br><br />
<br><br />Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links Korea
<br><br />APWSL Convenor(http://laborasia.net/)
<br><br />Korean Progressive Labor Network Center(http://nodong.net/)
<br><br />Representation
<br><br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
<br><br />Reconciliation £¦ Unification Mission Center
<br><br />Osan Laborer`s & Migrant`s Shelter
<br><br />ONE Korea
<br><br />Tel/ (82)-31-372-9301
<br><br />Fax: (82)-31-374-8582
<br><br />H.P.: (82)-19-263-7972 ³»¿ë ]----------
<br><br />>Á¦¸ñ : Updates on Ka Bel's internment schedule: Working class hero of the people
<br><br />>³¯Â¥ : Sat, 24 May 2008 06:17:55 -0700
<br><br />>º¸³½ÀÌ : "kmu id" <kmu.intl@gmail.com>
<br><br />>¹Þ´ÂÀÌ : "kmu id" <kmu.intl@gmail.com>
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Dear friends:
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) wishes to thank the overwhelming outpour of
<br><br />>compassion and support sent to the family of our beloved veteran labor
<br><br />>leader and liberation fighter Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran over the last few
<br><br />>days since his unexpected death on Tuesday, May 20. Your solidarity has
<br><br />>truly helped workers and progressive circles in the Philippines bear the
<br><br />>sudden cloud of grief that has beset all of us.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>The KMU-led tribute to Ka Bel the day after his death gathered over 2000
<br><br />>people from all sectors and backgrounds at the Philippine Independent Church
<br><br />>in Manila. Messages from the international community were acknowledged.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Given your continuing concern, we would like to inform you of some changes
<br><br />>to Ka Bel's internment schedule:
<br><br />>
<br><br />>May 23
<br><br />>Tribute by progressive party list groups sponsored by Anakpawis, Bayan Muna
<br><br />>and Gabriela Women's Party
<br><br />>
<br><br />>May 24
<br><br />>Remains will be flown to Bacacay, Albay in Bicol, his hometown, and will
<br><br />>stay for a two-day wake there. The KMU Bicol chapter together with our
<br><br />>allied organizations are preparing a hero's tribute to Ka Bel.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>May 26
<br><br />>Remains will be flown back to Manila and will stay for two nights at the
<br><br />>Philippine Independent Church.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>May 28
<br><br />>Tribute program at House of Representatives
<br><br />>Funeral march to burial place
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Messages of solidarity and condolences can be sent to Mr. Elmer Labog, KMU
<br><br />>Chairperson, at kmu.intl@gmail.com. We also wish to thank all those who have
<br><br />>already sent in their messages. We have forwarded them to the family of Ka
<br><br />>Bel and they are sending their appreciation for your solidarity during this
<br><br />>trying moment of their lives.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Financial donations for the funeral service and other related burial
<br><br />>expenses of Ka Bel are very much welcome. Please write us for inquiries on
<br><br />>how you can forward your donation. You may also call KMU at (632) 421-1049,
<br><br />>421-0986 and 421-0768.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Attached are some photos taken at the KMU-led tribute on May 21: Ka Bel's
<br><br />>hearse passes by a row of workers bearing flags of KMU and Anakpawis;
<br><br />>Beloved wife "Ka Osang" and one of their daughters view the remains of Ka
<br><br />>Bel; Unveiling of a mural painted by the Artista ng Bayan in honor of Ka
<br><br />>Bel.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Thank you.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>In solidarity,
<br><br />>Tess Dioquino
<br><br />>Secretary
<br><br />>International Department, KMU
<br><br />>
<br><br />>KMU statement
<br><br />>21 May 2008
<br><br />>
<br><br />>*The highest and most revered salute to Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran:
<br><br />>Working class hero of the people*
<br><br />>
<br><br />>"A hero serves the people to his very last breath."
<br><br />>Jose Maria Sison
<br><br />>
<br><br />>It is with this inspiring message that the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May
<br><br />>First Movement Labor Centre) and the whole Filipino working class mourn the
<br><br />>sudden demise of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Representative and KMU
<br><br />>Chairperson Emeritus Crispin Beltran. He died at 11:48am at the Far Eastern
<br><br />>University hospital in Quezon City yesterday due to severe head injuries
<br><br />>after falling 14 feet from the roof of his house, trying to do some repair
<br><br />>work. He was 75.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Affectionately known as "Ka Bel" by the multitudes in factories, workplaces,
<br><br />>urban poor, and migrant worker communities throughout the Philippines and
<br><br />>solidarity networks around the world whom he staunchly served, he has
<br><br />>withstood the test of time, pressure, even under political persecution, in
<br><br />>standing up to injustice in whatever form to fight for national freedom and
<br><br />>democracy in the Philippines, and for a just and fair society for workers
<br><br />>and people of the world.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>KMU expresses its deepest and sincerest condolences to the family of Ka Bel.
<br><br />>We join all comrades and friends in honoring him for his countless
<br><br />>contributions and achievements as a patriotic, anti-imperialist, and
<br><br />>democratic worker, labor leader, lawmaker, and activist. His working class
<br><br />>commitment inspires us to advance the fight for genuine, militant, and
<br><br />>anti-imperialist unionism.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>While we are enveloped in grief with the tragic loss of this highly esteemed
<br><br />>comrade, KMU is reminded of the legacy he has left behind which resonates
<br><br />>throughout the working class movement. From the time he worked as a young
<br><br />>taxi driver and becoming a labor leader in 1955, Ka Bel was instrumental in
<br><br />>continuing the labor movement's militant tradition and helped found the KMU
<br><br />>in 1980. After being arrested under the Marcos regime in August 1982, Ka Bel
<br><br />>escaped in November 1984 and organized among workers and peasants in the
<br><br />>countryside. He then selflessly stepped up into the chairmanship of KMU when
<br><br />>Rolando "Ka Lando" Olalia was brutally murdered in 1987. He was the
<br><br />>chairperson of KMU until 2003 when he was bestowed as Chairperson Emeritus
<br><br />>of the organization.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>As an elected representative of the party list group Bayan Muna (or People
<br><br />>First) in 2001, then later Anakpawis in 2004 and 2007, Ka Bel steadfastly
<br><br />>carried the interest of the workers to the halls of the Congress. Among the
<br><br />>bills he has filed are the PhP 125 daily wage increase for private sector
<br><br />>workers and PhP 3000 daily wage hike for public sector workers, the repeal
<br><br />>of the Assumption of Jurisdiction, the abolition of the Electric Power
<br><br />>Reform Act (EPIRA), the abolition of the oil deregulation law, a bill
<br><br />>against massive labor contractualization practices and many others. At the
<br><br />>time of his death, he was set to file a bill calling for the repeal of the
<br><br />>extended value added tax for oil products which is causing very high prices
<br><br />>of oil.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Ka Bel is also a true internationalist and carried the spirit of proletarian
<br><br />>internationalism to his heart. He became the founding chairperson of the
<br><br />>International League of People's Struggle, as well as a leader and member of
<br><br />>various international and regional formations. Unmindful of his old age and
<br><br />>deteriorating health condition, Ka Bel traveled to various countries upon
<br><br />>invitation of migrant workers and solidarity networks to speak at
<br><br />>conferences, fora and meetings on the plight of the Filipino workers and the
<br><br />>struggle of the working class against imperialist globalization.
<br><br />>
<br><br />>Please join us in paying the highest honors to this selfless and dedicated
<br><br />>man who served the Filipino people and the whole working class for more than
<br><br />>five decades of his life.
<br><br />>
<br><br />
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