Four  delegates from the NZ Council of Trade Unions and the  Philippine Solidarity Network of Aotearoa in New Zealand (PSNA) went to the Philippine Embassy on March 20 to express concern at the alarming increase in deaths of union leaders in the Philippines and the arrest of veteran political and union leader Rep. Crispin Ka Bel Beltran.

They are (l-r) John Maynard, Rod Prosser, Ross Wilson and Ken Findlay.

Ross Wilson is the President of the NZ Council of Trade Unions (CTU).

John Maynard is a Wellington worker, unionist and activist in the Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links network, with long ties to the Philippines.  --->>>

Rod Prosser is a Wellington filmmaker and unionist, who ahs made several documentaries in the Philippines and was last there in the August 2005 International Solidarity Mission to focus attention on the human rights crisis.

Ken Findlay is a retired Wellington unionist, with ties to the Philippines and Ka Bel going back decades. He visited Ka Bel when the latter was imprisoned under the Marcos martial law dictatorship. In 1999, when the Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa toured Ka Bel through the country, Ken accompanied him throughout the North Island.

John, Ken and Rod are members of PSNA.
 

Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa
Box 2450, Christchurch, New Zealand
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz 
www.converge.org.nz/psna

MEDIA RELEASE

 20 March 2006

Union protest at Philippines Embassy

“Unionists met with Philippines’ Government diplomats today to express concern at the alarming increase in deaths of union leaders in the Philippines and the arrest of veteran political and union leader Crispin Beltran”

“The Philippines is now second only to Colombia as the most dangerous country in the world for unionists” CTU president Ross Wilson said.

“Union rights are human and political rights and New Zealand unionists organise internationally to draw attention to abuses where they occur” he said.

Todays activity organised by the Asia Pacific Solidarity Links Aotearoa is an important symbol of hope for unionists in the Philippines.