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1 May 2003
Even as President Gloria Arroyo leaves the declaration of labor holiday to
employers, the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) poured in tens of
thousands in the streets of Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro
today, May 1. Echoing the cries of their forerunner, the Union Obrero
Democratica (UOD), the APL bannered the theme of this year's celebration "Isandaang
Taon ng Tagumpay at Pakikibaka: Wala Pa ring Soberenya, Sistema pa rin ang
Problema."
Josua Mata, secretary-general of APL, underscored the problem of US
occupation, especially of Mindanao. "After asserting its superpower status
in the Middle East by invading Iraq, now the US is set to keep the Asian
peoples reminded of its dominance, by bringing in troops to the
Philippines via the Balikatan 03-1. Of course, our own President Arroyo is
shameless in inviting the US to our shores in exchange for the dollars
that would never come," said Mata.
"The US poses itself as the angel of death in allegedly fighting global
terrorism, by prescribing laws in countries like the Philippines similar
to the US Patriot Act, but that would in fact kill organized labor,"
decried Congressman Mario Aguja of the Akbayan Political Party. "The
anti-terrorism bills should instead be the ones killed in the
legislature," he stressed.
Such "mass killing of human rights and organized labor" is dramatized in a
mass die-in by some 10,000 participants to the rally, which started at
Welcome Rotonda. Various groups such as AMEND, Amnesty International, CATW,
Bisig, Pandayan, Padayon, and Kaalagad, took part in the die-in. "We are
lying down in the searing grounds leading to Malacanang, to protest the
blatant disregard by this government of the fundamental rights of workers.
DTI Secretary Mar Roxas even had to consider the proposal of the Filipino
Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCCI) and the Japanese
Chamber of Commerce and Industries, for a ten-year moratorium on labor
strikes and extension of the contractual period to two years,” according
to Mata.
The multi-sectoral Task Force May 1 also criticized the "no permit, no
rally" policy for May 1, saying that "this government has been consistent
in trampling upon fundamental rights to organize and assemble, more
especially since Bush, through its messenger Powell, invited us to be part
of its unilateral campaign against terrorism." Further, "The labor leaders
Ka Isabelo de los Reyes and Ka Andres Bonifacio might turn in their graves
as their very ideal of freedom -- or Kalayaan -- is being disparaged by
this government."
Task Force May 1 co-convenor Jessica Soto of Amnesty International stated
that,“our freedom and our rights are under attack.” Referring to the
Anti-Terrorism Bill, Soto said, “these ‘terror bills’ undermine the
Filipino peoples' legitimate struggle for reform and social equity.”
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