Representatives of various labor groups in Korea on Nov. 16 held a picket rally in front of the Philippine embassy in Seoul to protest the continuing killings and trade union repression in the Philippines..

Groups include the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU), Asia Pacific Labor Solidarity Link Korea (APWLS),  Migrant Trade Union (MTU) and the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea (KASAMMA-KO).

There were also representatives from  Gefont in Nepal, Taiwan, Labor Cyber Net in Korea, and the Seoul Guarantee Insurance Union.

Photos courtesy of:

Katipunan ng mga Samahang Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea

(KASAMMA-KO)

Stop the Trade Union Repression!

Stop Political Killing

Free Crispin Beltran Now

and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Resign Now!
Nov 16, 2006
11:00 am
Philippine Embassy Seoul Korea

These are the words that came up from the people who participated to the International Condemnation of the Trade Union Repression and Political Killing held in front of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul Korea.

The participants came from the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU), Asia Pacific Labor Solidarity Link Korea (APWLS),  Migrant Trade Union (MTU), Katipunan ng mga Samahang Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea (KASAMMA-KO), a representative of Gefont in Nepal, a representative from Taiwan, the group of the Labor Cyber Net in Korea, and the Seoul Guarantee Insurance Union.

There outrage regarding the Trade Union Repression and Political Killing in the Philippines were displayd in there faces and expressed in their speeches. According to the APWSL Convener, “We are profoundly saddened by the continuing brutal and senseless killings that victimize our comrades in the Philippines together with many Filipino people with genuine conviction who struggle for truth, love, justice, peace.”

Trade union suppression and political killing is not only the problem of the Filipinos --  it is the problem of all peoples in the world so let us unite to stop this nonsense of repression and political killing.

The most emotional speaker is the President of the Seoul Guarantee Insurance who visited the Philippines two years ago and had a personal experience at the Hacienda Luisita who said that because of the continuous trade union repression and political killing resulting in 756 victims including 64 unions leaders, members ang supporters of  Macapagal Arroyo have no moral authority to govern the Philippines anymore, therefore she must resigned now.

The outrage of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) also delivered today their disgusting to the Macapagal Arroyo regarding the continuous trade union repression and Political Killing they said while the country who has signatory of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, to the United Nations Covenant on civil and political rights and the International. Labor Organization Conventions 87 and 98, cannot ensure the spirit of that convention. It was so horrible.

At the end of the short program in front of the Philippines Embassy they submit their demand to the Embassy official and they said don’t just send this paper but our feelings too. The President of the Seoul Guarantee Union reiterated that he will only stop to call for the resignation of Macapagal Arroyo if she can stop the trade union repression, political killing and if she can free comrade Crispin Beltran now?

At the end of the program they shout once again, Stop Trade Repression, Stop Political Killing, Free Comrade Crispin Beltran, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Resign Now and Long Live International Solidarity: