A day before the 10th anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita massacre, survivor Florida Sibayan, now chairperson of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), led Luisita farmworkers in protests in Mendiola , Manila. Supporters from different people’s organizations marched along farmworkers with “blood-stained” yellow ribbons to mark a decade of injustice after the Hacienda Luisita massacre.

Farmers carried tarpaulin banners demanding justice for the Luisita massacre’s seven martyrs, as speakers from different sectors paid tribute to the life and struggle of Jessie Valdez, Adriano Caballero Jr, Jaime Fastidio, Jesus Laza, Juancho Sanchez, Jhaivie Basilio and Jhune David.

The Hacienda Luisita massacre is the bloody strike dispersal which occurred on November 16, 2004 — 10 days after farmworkers from the United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) and sugar mill workers of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU) launched the People’s Strike (Welgang Bayan) participated in by tens of thousands of Luisita sugar workers and their families during its peak.

Sibayan and the rest of the delegation from Hacienda Luisita minced no words and pointed directly to President BS Aquino’s criminal accountability for the massacre. Aquino was a Representative of the First District of Tarlac and active manager of the Hacienda Luisita estate during the time of the massacre.

“Upang mabigyang hustisya ang mamamayan ng Hacienda Luisita, kailangang panagutin – at patalsikin – ang kriminal at kurakot na Presidenteng asendero na si Noynoy Aquino, (To grant justice for Luisita’s people, Aquino should face accountability – this criminal and corrupt landlord President must be ousted from power),” says Sibayan.

Farmers burned an effigy of President BS Aquino clad in a soldier’s camouflage uniform and riding a wayward bulldozer, symbolizing the Cojuangco-Aquino family’s “Panloloko, pandarahas at pangangamkam” (Deceit, violence and land grabbing) now prevailing in Hacienda Luisita.

“Instead of implementing land reform and the Supreme Court ruling on Hacienda Luisita, the Aquino administration has been very busy terrorizing and arresting farmers, bulldozing crops and destroying the organization’s bungkalan, burning homes, and erecting concrete fences around vast agricultural lands in Hacienda Luisita. All Luisita villages are still militarized. Impunity remains,” says Ranmil Echanis, deputy secretary general of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA).

After the Mendiola program, AMBALA and  UMA  led a 30-vehicle caravan to Hacienda Luisita, composed of w orkers, students, educators and academic staff from  different universities, church people, cultural workers, migrants’ families  and other supporters. The caravan held short stops in Plaza Miranda in Angeles City and Capas, Tarlac. The delegation from Manila arrived early evening in Luisita and was welcomed by Luisita residents with thunderous drum music and a hundred burning torches. The people marched to the covered court of Barangay Balete for a solidarity cultural night.

Supporters decry the fact that ten years have passed after the massacre which killed 7 strikers and injured more than a hundred persons without any justice rendered to the victims. “Even reports from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) — which only surfaced in full this year — declare emphatically that state security forces unlawfully killed the strikers, that the police and military did not fire in self-defense as some in the government – including then Rep.  Aquino — have claimed,” says Echanis.

Echanis is referring to Rep. Aquino’s privilege speech delivered in Congress immediately after the Hacienda Luisita massacre. “Today, Aquino thinks it his privilege to use power as top government official and Commander-in Chief to go after Luisita activists. Aquino openly plunders government coffers through the anomalous Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) so that the murderous Cojuangco-Aquino clan may maintain control of Hacienda Luisita.”

Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr.  also laments the injustice to Luisita farmers: “None of the management of Luisita, who are relatives of the President, has been charged. The Ombudsman has reportedly dismissed the cases filed against the Luisita management, police and military. A crime was committed with seven dead, yet there appears to be no criminals. Instead of seeking justice for the victims, Aquino continues to champion the interests of the landowning class and the coercive state apparatus that brought about the Luisita Massacre.”

The protest caravan resumes the next day, November 16, the anniversary of the massacre, with an ecumenical service and program in front of Gate 1 of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac, the actual site of the massacre. November 16 is also Global Action Day to seek justice for Luisita massacre victims and International Day of Action Against trade Union repression to be participated in by agrarian reform and human rights advocates in at least 20 countries.

Online, supporters use the hashtag #HLMX for content regarding the Hacienda Luisita Massacre 10th year commemoration campaign.

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http://www.karapatan.org/ManiLakbayan+to+air+HR+issues+in+Mindanao+to+Manila

Davao City — Contingents from Southern Mindanao, Cotabato, and Socksargen kicked off Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2014 with a protest action in front of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Headquarters in Panacan, Davao City today.

Human rights victims, advocates, indigenous people, peasants, workers, church people, women and children are among the 300 participants who are now travelling to Manila in a month-long human rights campaign dubbed as ManiLakbayan ng Mindanao 2014. The group’s activities will culminate in Metro Manila on December 10, International Human Right Day.

With the theme, “Food and Peace in MindaNOW!”, the campaign aims to call the public’s attention to the human rights situation in Mindanao amidst escalating military operations since the first quarter of 2014.

There are 55 AFP battalions deployed in Mindanao supposedly to combat the insurgency problem. The troops double as Investment Defense Force (IDF) that serve foreign and large-scale companies, especially mining, that plunder the resources and destroy the environment.

The massive militarization in Mindanao resulted in gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian. These are concretely manifested in increasing incidetns of extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests with trumped-up charges against activists, military encampments in communities and schools, forcible evacuation, aerial bombings and other forms of violations.

To date, there are more than 500 leaders and members of progressive people’s organizations who are face trumped up criminal charges to prevent them from speaking out against plunder and repression.

There are already more than eight incidents of forcible evacuation in 19 Lumad communities in 2014 alone. This has affected more than 700 families or some 2,900 women, men and children.

The AFP’s combat operations include aerial bombings, artillery bombardments and strafing of homes and farms. The operations displaced thousands and killed innocent civilians.

Lumad schools are red tagged and are used for military encampments. Parents, teachers and students are harassed.

The other Manilakbayan contingent from Northern and Western Mindanao is set to converge in Surigao City where, a presscon will be held. From Surigao, the group proceeds to Tacloban, Leyte for a “Salubong” before going to Allen, Samar.

The Manilakbayan travels to the Bicol region, where a solidarity activity is set in Naga City and then proceeds to the Quezon Province where more solidarity activities await them. A ‘kampohan’ will be held in Manila from November 22 to December 8. The activities lined up in Metro Manila include mobilizations and representation in various government offices such as the Department of Education, Department of Justice, House of Representatives and the Senate. Manilakbayan also joins the rally in Mendiola on December 10 for the International Human Rights Day.

#food&peace4mindanao

#manilakbayan2014

REFERENCE:
HANIMAY SUAZO

Secretary General, KARAPATAN-Southern Mindanao

Convenor, Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2014

Contact No. +63932-198-6728

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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
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Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights

2nd Flr. Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101

Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146

Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. 

Church calls for resumption of GPH-NDFP Peace Talks

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines was devastated upon learning that Fidela “Delle” Salvador y Bugarin met her death at the hands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during their military operations in Lacub, Abra, between September 4-6, 2014.

“We needed to understand what had happened. After investigation, we must come to terms with a reality that, thus far, we have no witnesses who can tell us what happened.  The information released by the perpetrators of Delle’s gruesome murder, namely the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army is not reliable — in fact, they are clearly lies,” said Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, General Secretary of the UCCP.

“We have several facts, for the record.  First, Engineer Delle Salvador was and has been a development worker with an exemplary record that spans decades; she is a civilian.  She was not a New People’s Army fighter.  Second, Delle went to Lacub, Abra with an assignment for the monitoring and evaluation of development projects in the area.  Third, her autopsy reveals nine bullet wounds, a crushed skull that was contributory to her death, and various other wounds.

“The events and time of her death are suspicious.  All of these lead us to call for justice for Delle — as a faithful Church member who we saw in action in the ministry of the Church, we will not allow the lies of the military to be the last word.  We believe that Delle was extra-judicially killed and that likely she was also tortured.  This all happened during a military operation, which makes it both a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law,” said Bishop Marigza.

The murder of Delle Salvador was part of larger military operations, which also included the extra-judicial killing of Mr. Noel Viste, after he was used by the military as a human shield.  The Church expresses the concern for the community of Lacub, Abra.

“The United Church of Christ in the Philippines condemns the killing of civilians, development worker Engineer Delle Salvador and Mr. Noel Viste from Lacub, in the strongest possible terms.  The community of Lacub continues to be militarized, schooling of the children and many livelihood activities have been disrupted.  With farmers afraid to go to their fields and people afraid to leave their house, the community is suffering.  The violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated by the 41st IBPA in Lacub from Sept 4-6, 2014 terrorized the community.  We call for the pull-out of 41st IBPA from the area,” said Bishop Marigza.

“We need to re-establish a climate of respect for the human rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Lacub, Abra.  The violations of human rights and international humanitarian law should also be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.  This cannot be done while the 41st IBPA is a present and imminent threat in the community” said Bishop Marigza.

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has decided to use this horrific tragedy as a moment to think of peace.

“Delle was a peace and justice advocate.  She believed that development for poor and marginalized communities and sectors would help to build peace based on justice.  That’s how she became an advocate for Indigenous Peoples.  In memory of Delle, we urge, once again, the resumption of Peace Talks between the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front-Philippines.  Peace talks should seek to address the root causes of the armed conflict.  We invite the Filipino people to join us in raising the call for peace in our nation and to pursue peace based on justice together, ”  said Bp. Marigza.

Justice for Delle!  Justice for Lacub, Abra!

Reference:
Bishop Reuel N. O. Margiza
General Secretary
United Church of Christ in the Philippines

The family of Recca Noelle Monte, a member of the New People’s Army who was tortured and slain in the course of the combat operations of the 41st Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, in Lacub, Abra last September 4, 2014, has joined calls for the resumption of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Speaking at a forum in UP Manila sponsored by youth organization Concerned Students for Justice and Peace, Jang Monte, sister of Recca said, “We cry for justice and we like to exhaust all avenues to seek justice for our loved ones who were inhumanely killed and desecrated in this war. The resumption of the peace negotiations provides us with yet another venue where we can raise our concerns.”

Randall Echanis, peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, spoke at the forum on the background and current state of the peace talks. Also participating in the forum are Manobo youth from Talaingod, Davao del Norte, who are in Manila to demand the pull-out of military troops in their communities, and call to stop the attacks on alternative schools built by indigenous people communities.

Monte shared in the forum the autopsy report conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation on Recca, revealing that her body bore no bullet wounds and that she died of massive traumatic injuries. Her skull resembled that of a “crushed egg” and her legs bore multiple fractures. “This leads us to believe that she was indeed taken alive by the military and tortured until her last breath.”

Six other members of the New People’s Army who died in the same military operation bore distinct marks of torture and desecration, with their bodies riddled with bullets. Two civilians were also killed: Engr. Fidela Salvador, who was at the site to monitor projects being implemented by the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Service, and Noel Viste, a resident of Lacub who was among those who tried to retrieve the remains of those killed.

“The torture and death of Recca Noelle Monte, the desecration of her remains as well as those of her comrades in Lacub, Abra, and the death of civilians are clear violations of International Humanitarian Law. Addressing these violations and ensuring that perpetrators are meted with the full force of the law is imperative so that peace negotiations can resume,” said Jang.

She added, “For as long as these violations of IHL and the CARHRIHL continue with impunity, and for as long as the Philippine government refuses to address or even encourages these violations committed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines by way of rewarding erring military elements, the Aquino government is in fact proving to be the biggest hindrance to the resumption of negotiations and to peace.”

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Hustisya National Office
2/F #1 Maaralin cor. Matatag Streets
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City 1100 Philippines
Telephone: (02) 434-7486 | (02) 435-4146
Mobile: 0949-1772928
E-mail: hustisya.national@gmail.com

Issued by the Workers International Struggle Initiatives
and Commission 5 on workers Concerns, International league of Peoples’ Struggle

We, workers organizations from the Philippines, Australia, Venezuela, Argentina, Senegal, Canada, and the United States of America, call on trade unions and workers everywhere to mark November 16 as a day to protest vehemently against the continuing widespread attacks on trade unions across the world, which are attacks on our basic human rights.

Hacienda Luisita

On November 16, 2004, a 6,000-strong picketline of sugar mill and sugar farm workers at hacienda Luisita, Tarlac Province, the Philippines, was fired upon by the armed forces. Seven strikers were shot dead and at least 121 injured. Of the 121 injured, 32 suffered gunshot wounds, 11 were children or in their teens, and four were over sixty years old.

In the weeks and months after this, six more leaders were assassinated and two picketers shot and gravely wounded. No one has been held accountable for any of these killings. A farm union leader was killed in Hacienda Luisita in November 2013, as the workers’ struggle for the land continues.

Hacienda Luisita is owned by the family of the current President of the Philippines, and he was the manager of the Hacienda on November 16, 2004. Thus, the Hacienda Luisita is emblematic of the conditions of the workers and peasants of the Philippines.

On the 10th anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, let us all stand in solidarity with all workers facing trade union repression everywhere.

Global picture today

According to the International Trade Union Confederation:

• 1,951 trade unionists faced violence and 629 were unlawfully detained for collective action in 2013.
• The highest number of murders in a single country took place in Colombia where 26 trade unionists were killed in 2013, an increase of eight worker deaths from the previous year.
• Union leaders were murdered in ten countries including Cambodia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Mauritania, Egypt and Benin.

While the right to strike is recognized in most of the world’s 194 countries, laws and practices in at least 87 countries exclude certain types of workers from the right to strike. Eight countries in Central Africa and Somalia deny all workers’ rights.

Governments are acting in favor of big business – not their people who overwhelmingly support labor rights. The ITUC Global Poll 2014 measuring the opinion of the general public in fourteen countries found 75 percent of people supported the right to strike, but 37 countries in the last 12 months imposed fines or even imprisonment for legitimate and peaceful strikes.

Public opinion, by a massive majority of 77 per cent to 94 percent, supports laws that protect workers’ health and safety, a decent minimum wage, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to join a union.

Capitalists on anti-union offensive

The murder, arrest, jailing and sacking of union leaders, and the busting of strikes and unions, around the world demonstrates the intensity of the clash of interests between capital and labor, against the backdrop of the Great Recession now raging for its seventh year.

With the exception of many countries in Central and Latin America, capitalists dominate national politics and national governments, as well as the global institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. They operate by neo-liberal ideas which Reagan and Thatcher used in the 1980s to roll back the social democratic gains of working people following the Great Depression and World War II.

Workers and their unions must unite in education to challenge these ideas of aggressive exploitation and repression, and unite to take political action to defeat them. We have a world to win, to make safe and prosperous for the 99 per cent and future generations.

http://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-global-rights-index-2014

WORKINS is a network of trade unions, proposed at Commission 5 of the 4th International Assembly of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle in Manila in 2011, and launched at the People’s Global Camp against the WTO Ministerial, Bali, December 2013.

http://workins.wordpress.com/