Nov. 16 is Global Day of Action vs Trade Union Repression to Commemorate Massacre in Luisita

 Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy 17Nov2014

 

The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) joins trade unions and labor centers all over the world in marking November 16 as global day of action against trade union repression to commemorate the 10^th year anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita massacre.

“The people of Hacienda Luisita led by the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) continue to stand against state violence and repression as starkly demonstrated by the ruling class Cojuangco-Aquino clan in the massacre of peasants in Mendiola and Hacienda Luisita,” said Ranmil Echanis, deputy secretary general of UMA.  

AMBALA is UMA’s local affiliate in Tarlac.

Survivors and kin of massacre victims gathered with supporters for an ecumenical service in front of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Gate 1, the actual site of the massacre ten years ago. Many Luisita survivors subsequently became victims of state sponsored terrorism and repression, particularly during the past year when the Aquino government implemented sham land distribution.

“AMBALA has been under constant attack from the Aquino regime with continued militarization in all Luisita barangays, filing of numerous trumped-up charges against AMBALA members and leaders, and even violent assaults, murder and murder attempts perpetrated by the Cojuangco-Aquino family.”

According to the Workers International Struggle Initiatives (WORKINS) and Commission 5 on workers Concerns of the International league of People’s Struggles (ILPS), which initiated the global action, Hacienda Luisita is emblematic of the conditions of the workers and peasants of the Philippines. On the 10th anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, WORKINS encouraged “all (to) stand in solidarity with all workers facing trade union repression everywhere.”

Workers organisations from the Philippines, Australia, Venezuela, Argentina, Senegal, Canada and the United States of America constitute the above-named formations.

The Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights (SIGTUR), Coalition of Agricultural Workers International (CAWI), and other groups outside the Philippines also endorsed this global day of action.

SIGTUR is an alliance and a movement of democratic unions in the Global South or Latin America, Africa, Asia and Australia. It has members in 35 countries in 4 continents. This includes the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), and Philippines foremost labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), among others.

CAWI on the other hand is a coalition of people’s movements, trade unions, NGOs and other support networks representing agricultural workers, peasants, small farmers, dalits and fisherfolk. UMA is a member of CAWI.

Other groups that will launch commemorative activities include the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP); Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of the Human Rights & Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP); United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-Migrante); Hwaseong Migrant Service Center in Korea; and FIRST Union in New Zealand. These include film showings, cultural activities and honoring the Hacienda Luisita martyrs.

It was in Columbia University, New York that President Aquino was confronted by Fil-Am youth Joelle Lingat, who spent time with Hacienda Luisita farmers during her stay in the Philippines.  She told Aquino: “I’ve been to HaciendaLuisita, I have seen firsthand the continuing plight of farmworkers & families of those massacred”.

Aquino is also questioned by other rights advocates abroad alarmed with the climate of impunity in Hacienda Luisita and the country as a whole.  Luisita farmers point to Aquino himself as one of the main perpetrators of the Hacienda Luisita massacre. Aquino’s labor policies also lean toward repression the rights of working people in the Philippines.

 “Victims demand Aquino to face criminal accountability for the massacre, but they do not expect justice to prevail under a corrupt and murderous haciendero President.  Luisita farmers can only pin their hopes in the movement to oust Aquino, “ said Echanis.