arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

We, Filipinos working and living in the Netherlands and our Dutch friends and allies, vehemently condemn the reign of terror perpetrated by the Macapagal-Arroyo government against the people of the Philippines, particularly those belonging to the progressive people's organizations.
The recent brutal murders of Ricardo Ramos, president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU) on October 25, 2005, and the killings of Francisco Rivera, BAYAN and Bayan Muna leader in Pampanga, his friends Dr. Angel David, a dentist, and Mr. Jon Sabas and Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON-Bulacan) and ANAKPAWIS-Bulacan chairman Federico De Leon on October 26, 2005, are the latest of government-sponsored assassinations of leaders and members of organizations opposed to government policies.
It is no coincidence that the killings in Central Luzon escalated when General Jovito Palparan took over as head of the 7th Infantry Division currently stationed in Tarlac. Gen. Palparan leaves a trail of blood wherever he goes: Mindoro, Eastern Visayas and now Central Luzon.
Ricardo Ramos was head of the sugar mill workers union currently involved in a labor dispute against the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita Inc. The union has been on strike since November 6, 2004 to protest the termination of 326 ULWU officers and members and to push their demands for higher wages and benefits. Philippine army soldiers used armored personnel carriers and gunfire to break the picket lines killing several strikers and wounding scores of others.
The Cojuangco clan is as much to blame and should be held accountable for the death of Ramos. They stood to gain the most from the death of the militant labor leader who had just led his union to win a partial victory for the payment of back wages to striking workers by the estate's management. Ramos had been receiving constant death threats since the collective bargaining negotiations with the Hacienda Luisita management collapsed early this year.
The extra-judicial killings of Ricardo Ramos, Francisco Rivera, Dr. Angel David, Mr. Jon Sabas and Federico De Leon are the latest in a wave of summary executions targeting leaders of progressive people's organizations and labor unions over the past months. The victims are among the most outspoken critics of the government's political and economic policies such as the “Calibrated Preemptive Response” (CPR) and the EVAT (Expanded Value-added Tax). These terror tactics are meant to sow fear among the people and silence the growing popular opposition to the Macapagal-Arroyo government.
Since she took office in 2001, state terrorism has already claimed the lives of over 400 activists, journalists, human rights lawyers, church people and members of progressive political parties and people's organizations. By coddling human rights abusers in the military like General Jovito Palparan, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has created a culture of impunity and repression in the country against any and all legitimate dissent.
Summary executions and other forms of human rights abuses continues unabated, despite the UNHRC's admonition in 2003 for the Philippine government to adopt and enforce measures to prevent such human rights violations as extra-judicial killings (in keeping with articles 6 and 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), to conduct prompt and impartial investigations, and prosecute and punish the perpetrators. In direct contravention of this admonition, the Macapagal-Arroyo government's “calibrated preemptive response” policy is paving the way for more repression and curtailment of the people's democratic and civil liberties.
We, Filipinos in the Netherlands, together with our Dutch friends and allies, join CATLU, Kilusang Mayo Uno, BAYAN and BAYAN MUNA and other progressive Philippine organizations in demanding that the government immediately launch a full investigation into the brutal murder of Ricardo Ramos, Francisco Rivera, Dr. Angel David, Jon Sabas, Federico De Leon and all other victims of summary executions and bring the perpetrators of these most heinous crimes to justice.
We wish to call the attention of the Dutch government to the rampant human rights abuses happening in the Philippines, that at the very least, they may express concern over these troubling developments.
We stand in solidarity with the workers of Hacienda Luisita in their just demands. We stand in solidarity with progressive people's organizations in the Philippines in their call for justice for the victims of all political killings and human rights abuses committed under the Macapagal-arroyo administration. We call on Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to respect human rights and uphold civil liberties as we demand that the criminal perpetrators among them be made accountable to the Filipino people.
JUSTICE FOR RICARDO RAMOS, FRANCISCO RIVERA, DR. ANGEL DAVID, JON SABAS AND FEDERICO DE LEON NOW!
STOP THE KILLINGS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND PROGRESSIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES!
Signatories:
Gloria Step down Movement - Netherlands Chapter
Kabalikat
Kaisa ng Bayan
Liga ng Kabataang Pilipino - Netherlands (LINKAP-NL)
Migrante - Netherlands
Migrante Party List - Netherlands Chapter
Netherlands-Philippine Solidarity Movement
Pinay sa Holland-GABRIELA
31 October 2005