Prayer vigil in Australia marking HL massacre 2nd anniv

Photos courtesy of MIGRANTE - Australia





Sydney Protest Actions on Second Commemoration of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre [ Nov 16 2006]. On 16 November 2006 at 12 noon , Philippines Consulate in Sydney - over 60 Australian trade unionists braved inclement weather to call on the Philippine Government to stop trade union repression and political killings in the Philippines. Trade unions present were Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Construction, Forestry, Mining and Electrical Union (CFMEU), Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU). Migrant Filipinos, most of them are members of trade unions were also present and representing Migrante-Australia , Philippines-Australia Youth Organisation (PAYO), Philippines-Australia Women's Association (PAWA). Members of the Action for Peace and Development in the Philippines (APDP-Solidarity Group) PAUL joined the rally. Mark Lennon, Unions New South Wales' Assistant Secretary spoke and read a letter of protest to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [GMA] from Sharan Burrow, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Tom Uren, former Minister of the Hawke Government and Australian Labour Party Deputy Leader in the 1980s addressed the rally and emphasized the importance of workers and unions working together and supporting each other all over the world. Greg Maniego, Filipino, and member of AMWU thanked all the trade union members and all who joined of the rally and expressed support for the trade union and workers in the Philippines. Greg and the rest of the workers at the Trafalgar Building Construction Company are still on strike and fighting for rights at their workplace. There are 8 Filipino workers at Trafalgar who joined that strike and 4 of them were at the rally. Greg called on all Filipinos and workers in Australia to support the Philippine trade union movement Other speakers were Roger Jowett, PAUL Chairperson (former National Secretary of RTBU) and Robyn Fortescue - AMWU NSW Branch Assistant Secretary and representatives of CFMEU and MUA, Mal Washer, from the CFMEU. All the speakers urged the Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) to release the labour leader and Philippine Congressman Crispin Beltran immediately. They expressed their solidarity and support to the families and workers at Hacienda Luisita. Speakers mentioned the inspiration they drew from the courage and strong will of those affected by the massacre on 16 November 2004. The Philippine Vice-Consul, Ferdinand Victoria came down to receive the letters to GMA from ACTU and all trade unions present. The Philippine Consulate will send the letters to the office of GMA. The Philippines-Australia Union Links' (PAUL) Secretary - Peter Murphy had worked with trade union leaders to organize the protest. In the morning, prior to the protest, a video of the massacre was shown to union leaders and workers at the auditorium of Unions NSW, to remind everyone of the awful tragedy that was to be commemorated, and the issues at the heart of the protests. The protests continued with an evening vigil outside the Sydney Town Hall in George Street, Sydney, for a period of 2 hours from 5 to 7 pm . Over 20 protesters displayed photographs of some of the murdered victims of the Arroyo regime. Memorial candles and lights illuminated the memory of those lost to the people and the future of the Philippines . The protesters included workers, Filipino-Australian migrants, students and academics. Thousands of people passed by this busy intersection in the heart of Sydney's central business district, and several hundred stopped to read the testimonies of the victims featured in the display. Three hundred flyers with the statement of the organizers of the rally were distributed. There was strong reaction from passers-by. More and more of Australia's diverse population are aware and concerned about the state terrorism in the Philippines against the Filipino people.# [Report from the Philippines Australia Union Link (PAUL)]


On 16 November 2006 at 12 noon , Philippines Consulate in Sydney - over 60 Australian trade unionists braved inclement weather to call on the Philippine Government to stop trade union repression and political killings in the Philippines.