Rally in front of the Philippine Heart Center

by various sectoral organizations demanding the release of Ka Bel

Press Statement

21 February 2007

DEMAND RELEASE OF CRISPIN “KA BEL” BELTRAN,

CONDEMN UNJUST IMPRISONMENT BY ARROYO REGIME

By Prof. Jose Maria Sison

Chairperson, International Coordinating Committee

International League of Peoples’ Struggle

We, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, hereby express our wholehearted solidarity with and support for the eminent labor leader and legislator Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran who was the first chairperson of the ILPS International Coordinating Committee and is now the honorary chairperson of the ILPS.

We demand that he be released immediately from his unjust imprisonment.  His right to life, liberty and parliamentary immunity must be respected.  He has been arbitrarily imprisoned since 25 February 2006 when he was falsely accused of rebellion.  A false witness claimed that he was present in a meeting on 20 February 2006 in a remote village of Batangas province to plot a military coup against the Arroyo regime while in fact he was in Congress participating in televised proceedings.

His health has deteriorated since his detention.  He is now 74 years old and suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments. For this reason, he is kept in a hospital room under tight security. And he is being required to pay personally for the hospital bills.  It is not only he who is being persecuted and cheated.  The people, especially the toiling masses of workers and peasants whom he represents in Congress, are being oppressed and deprived of representation.

Right now, Ka Bel is running for reelection as a member of Congress under the banner of the Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Party.  He is prevented from consulting the people, especially his constituency, and from campaigning for genuine national independence, the rights and welfare of the working class, land reform, economic development, social justice and other issues. The US-directed Arroyo regime knows no bounds for its cruelty to Ka Bel and the people for whom he fights.

We condemn the unjust imprisonment of Ka Bel and all the injustices done to him by the Arroyo regime and its imperialist masters headed by the US.  His persecution is a clear manifestation of the state terrorism being unleashed by the regime to repress the people and suppress their clamor for national freedom, democracy, social justice and human rights in all its dimensions.

We support the Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Free Ka Bel Movement in spearheading the nationwide protest actions on 26 February 2007 in the Philippines, including mass rallies, open air discussions and indoor fora, performances by mobile propaganda teams, wall posters and streamer hangings in factories and communities. We call on the ILPS-Philippines chapter to mobilize their forces in support of Ka Bel.

We urge all organizations of the ILPS outside of the Philippines to undertake any of the following actions:  1) Hold protest actions in front of the Philippine embassies and consulates; 2) Hold dialogues with Philippine ambassadors; 3) Send protest letters to the Philippine president and other concerned government agencies; and 4) Send solidarity messages to Rep. Crispin Beltran. You may undertake any other relevant actions you deem necessary and appropriate. ###

Download press stetement in Word format

► Download statement of Anakpawis

► Detained lawmaker marks anniversary of arrest; remains defiant of the Macapagal-Arroyo government charges of rebellion against him

► "Sinusuntok na ni Ka Bel ang mga pader sa tinding galit sa kasamaan ng gobyernong Macapagal-Arroyo"

► Palparan's party list ANAD involved in 2004 election cheating; mentioned in Garci tapes – Anakpawis Nominee Joel Maglunsod

► Palparan belongs behind bars, not in Congress; Bataan residents should think a thousand times before even considering electing Norberto Gonzales – Anakpawis solons1

► Comelec should investigate reports that the AFP is campaigning for Team Unity candidates, presidential son Dato

► Anakpawis provincial assembly launched in Batangas

Picket in Cebu City

Photos courtesy of KMU-Cebu

Picket at the Philippine Consulate in Bonn, Germany

demanding the release of Rep. Crispin Beltran

Photo courtesy of MIGRANTE - Europe

Duesseldorf 23rd February 2007

Report of the GFF on its Protest rally on 23rd February 2007

Freedom for Crispin Beltran and the militant opposition in the Philippines

With this challenge the GFF together with representatives of the Turkish organisation ATIK and others a first respectable protest action was started in front of the Philippine Consulate in Bonn.

Folks passing by reacted mostly very positive and supportive in the nearby free walking zone after initially being totally unaware of these 800 victims from the opposition in the Philippines and the rather arbitrary imprisonment of Crispin Beltran over a whole year.

Many said: "Of course our government cooperates with the Philippine government and does not publicize anything about the repression there."

We were even short of information material for distributen. Some 76 persons signed our protest note: We protest over the politically motivated killings and challenge the German Federal government to break of all relations with the Philippine government for the time being.

Delegates from GFF, ATIK, from the trade union of the public sector VER.DI and the MLPD addressed the audience before personally handing over to tho Philipine Consul Mr Auxilian a protest note signed by thirteen organisations. He had sent one of his aides to us protesting in front of his window, inviting us into the embassy for the handover. We appreciate this invitation, as the Philippine Embassy in Berlin had not been prepared to receive delegates from VER.DI delivering a protest resolution despite having been asked to do so by fax, mail and telephone.

Mr Auxilian stressed that his government has installed some commission to investigate thse cases.

GFF received a similiar information on 22nd February from the Philippine Embassy in Berlin in answer to our protest letter in November 2006. Mr Auxilian also emphasized that open critic blackens the worldwide image of the Philippine Governent. On account of this it would be necessary to deal with this critic and investigate and clarify these cases.

Before leaving the embassy we expressed our wish, that on account of his serious statement, we would hopefully soon hear in the news about Crispin Beltran' release.
 

At the moment the Philippine Government is under pressure as at this weekend the UN embassador in Manila has requested the government to give an answer about these political killings. There will also be protest rallies ofthe trade unions all over the country calling for the release of Crispin Beltran on 26th February. There will be even such protest actions worldwide an the anniversary of his detension.

Our rally today has been a good beginning. By offering coffeee, Tea and Boerek it was even possible to finance the expenses of our action. Our turkish friends of the New Democratic Youth gave with their live music our action special flair. And the personal letter from Crispin Beltran from prison hospital, sent to us for this special occasion emphasized that:

International solidarity worldwide is taking heed!

Launching the Free Ka Bel Movement in Bicol (FKBM-Bikol)

Daraga (Albay) Ninoy Aquino Park, Feb. 2, 2007

with Ka Bel's daughter, Ofel, and Rep. Krisel Lagman-Luistro as guests

<<= Ka Bel shared with his guests his views on the major issues and lamented the fact that the people's lives have been made more difficult by the Arroyo regime. One of the officiating priests took it from there and quoted from the Biblical lamentation, thus:

Ang aming mana'y ibinigay sa mga dayuhan,
at ang aming mga tahanan nama'y ipinagkaloob sa mga taga-ibang bayan.

Ang aming mga ama'y pinatay ng mga kaaway;
kaya balo ang aming mga ina.
Kailangan bayaran namin ang tubig na aming iinumin,
pati ang panggatong ay aming binibili,
Pinagtrabaho kaming parang mga hayop,
lhindi man lamang pinagpapahinga;...

This Anakpawis jeep which carries the public address system and other items for rallies also serves as a mobile wall for posting various Anakpawis campaign posters.

He sells taho and listens to the speeches