Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 17:42:36 +0100 (MET) From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki) Subject: M-I: BMP Philippines Alert 3 > BMP Philippines Alert 3 > From Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Solidarity of Filipino > Workers) > =============================================================> > Following are the latest updates from the Philippines regarding the > arrest of BMP chairperson Filemon "Popoy" Lagman and the continuing > harassment of workers and activists as the official APEC summit comes > near: > > 18 November/Tuesday > > There were reports of new arrests of activists in Metro Manila today. > Most are student activists who were pasting anti-APEC posters on the > streets. > > Popoy Lagman continues his hunger strike. He has not been taking any > solid food since his arrest last Tuesday night (12 November), and > appears pale and weak during today's court hearing in Marikina. The > hearing was reset for some unknown reason. > > Following is Popoy's statement released to the media: > > "What is six days of incarceration compared with the still unrectified > injustice perpetrated against my desaparecido brother, Hermon, a labor > and human rights lawyer, during martial rule when Fidel V. Ramos was > the Philippine Constabulary Chief? Only his assailants and whoever > ordered him to be salvaged [summary execution in Filipino parlance -- > BA] know how heinous was the crime they had committed. Only labor > knows how much it lost with the enforced disappearance of Hermon. > > "What is six days of deprivation of due process compared with the > unabated violations of labor standards and unfair labor practices > unredressed by government because of defective labor laws and > oppressively long legal processes? While I have Edcel and his > progressive colleagues and my expert lawyers to defend me, labor is > virtually bereft of competent and dedicated legal defenders. While I > have a name that draws the attention of government and the public, > countless anonymous victims of violations of local labor laws and > international conventions are left unattended to, vulnerable to and > defenseless against errant and criminal employers who go unpunished. > > "What is six days of hunger compared with the year-round crunching of > stomachs of millions of Filipino masses? > > "What does government fear about me? Government is not afraid of > Popoy. Government is afraid of a unified labor which I, the Bukluran > ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and the Kapatiran ng mga Pangulo ng > Unyon sa Pilipinas (KPUP) struggle for. > > "My arrest and incarceration are a treachery not against Popoy but > against the working class. > > "A unified and militant labor is the greatest barrier to government's > bargain sale of Filipino labor to foreign investors. There is no > other way by which APEC member Philippines can conform with the > demands of liberalization and attempt to compete in the global market > but to lure foreign investors by cheap labor. This, and other anti- > labor schemes, more particularly the systematic emasculation of unions > a unified labor will oppose, with or without Popoy." > > Aside from letter to the Philippine embassies/consulates and to > President Fidel Ramos urging the release of Lagman, the BMP is asking > for solidarity messages and endorsement of the SLAM APEC conference > on November 20-25. The conference, participated in by 2,000 union > presidents across the country and some international delegates, will > be held at the RubberWorld complex in Novaliches, Metro Manila -- a > factory which has recently closed down and displaced 10,000 workers. > > The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Philippines has > assumed jurisdiction over all industrial strikes in the country. DOLE > also issued a warning to terminate the employment of workers who will > go on strike, for whatever reason, during the official APEC summit. > > Manila Cardinal Sin of the Philippine catholic church issued a strong > rebuke against APEC. He said that the institution should instead > serve and work for the interests of the poor in the region. > > Solidarity Updates in Australia > > The National Secretary of Forest and Forest Products Division of CFMEU > sent a message of solidarity to the BMP workers. > > The Democratic Socialist Party of Australia is organizing a picket- > rally at the Philippine consulate office in Sydney (301 George St.) on > Friday, November 22, at 4:30 pm. The action is to protest the arrests > in the Philippines and the "clean-up drive" (demolition of urban poor > houses) before the Manila APEC summit. Everyone is invited. > > ====================================> For more information, please contact: > > Sonny Melencio > International Officer, BMP > c/o LINKS, Green Left Weekly > Ph. (02) 9690-1230 > Fax (02) 9690-1381 > Email links-AT-peg.apc.org > > > > > > --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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