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Crispin
Beltran, fondly called “Ka Bel’’ by his
many supporters, stands at the helm of the militant and
progressive labour movement in the Philippines. Ka Bel was elected to Congress in 2004 as Anakpawis Partylist Representative. As the chair of the trade union federation Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), he is recognized in at least 83 countries, as well as the International Labour Organization and various trade secretariats of the United Nations. For the last 16 months the ailing 74-year old has been under state detention in a Manila hospital. On 24 February 2006, Ka Bel had joined others to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the people’s uprising against the Marcos dictatorship. Earlier that day, the besieged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had declared a state of emergency, claiming an alleged coup to overthrow her, and banned all demonstrations. The next day, Ka Bel was arrested on trumped up charges based on a Marcos-era warrant for rebellion that dated back to 1985, even though that case had been quashed in 1988. Under the harsh and repressive conditions of martial rule, Ka Bel had helped organise the Federations of Unions in Rizal and the Philippine Nationalist Labor Organizations until the KMU was formed in 1980. Marcos arrested Ka Bel and other labour leaders in August 1982. In November 1984, he escaped from prison and worked incognito with workers and peasants in the countryside. Ka Bel was officially ‘released’ by the Aquino government in 1986. When it was clear these charges would not stick, Ka Bel was charged with incitement to sedition, relating to the 24 February 2006 rally. This was followed by further unsubstantiated charges of rebellion. His various show trials could drag on for years and his health is deteriorating as he languishes under military guard in hospital. Even though he is absent from the parliament, his work there continues. Ka Bel devoted his last five years as a people’s lawmaker to lobby and campaign for the passage of pro-worker, pro-poor bills. On 20 December 2006 the lower house passed a pro-worker, pro-poor bills that legislates a P125 across-the-board wage increase for all workers nationwide. Despite his detention, Ka Bel remains an outspoken advocate of human rights and a sharp critic of the government’s repressive policies and practices. Five other progressive congressmen also face charges of attempting to incite a rebellion on 1 May 2006. After being given refuge for 70 days in the House of Representatives, they were eventually granted bail. One, Satur Ocampo, was later charged with further offences relating to murders in Leyte province that occurred when he was in jail under Marcos. After bizarre late night attempts to spirit him from Manila to Leyte a judge intervened to quash the warrant. The persecution of the leftist congressmen is only one aspect of the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines. Since Arroyo’s administration took power, 837 extra-judicial killings have been documented. The situation has been compared to that of Colombia. Many of those killed are members of left wing political parties and have been deliberately targeted in order to prevent their election to congress on 14 May. UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston has noted government and military complicity in the targeting of left wing activists. “The executive branch (of the Philippine government), openly and enthusiastically aided by the military, has worked resolutely….to impede the work of party-list groups and to put in question their right to operate freely” This has meant not only the killing of activists, but the criminalisation and imprisonment of Congressmen Satur Ocampo, President of Bayan Muna and Ka Bel. 130 members of the political party Bayan Muna have been killed. Alston noted “a passivity, bordering on an abdication of responsibility,” in the way the government and its officials “approach their responsibilities in relation to such human rights concerns”. “Those government officials who must act decisively if the killings are to end still refuse to accept that there is even a problem,” he said. An agreement was brokered between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Philippines government two weeks ago and a motion was filed for Ka Bel’s release. Despite these promises Ka Bel is yet to be freed. The government seems intent to keeping him from campaigning for re-election. Ka Bel has stressed the importance of political intervention to secure his release and an end to the current violence and repression. "There is no basis to have my case arraigned. I am being detained by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration purely out of political spite and repression," he said. In a message to New Zealand last year, he said: “I would like to thank Helen Clark, who has been the only Asian leader willing to raise these issues directly with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It means a great deal to us. I appeal to Helen Clark to continue these efforts at the ASEAN, and if Arroyo’s planned visit to New Zealand in May proceeds, to urge her to make the Philippines a civilised country, because it is not civilised now.” Ms Clark has pledged that New Zealand would “continue to encourage the Philippines, wherever opportunity arises, to work towards fully protecting the fundamental human rights of all its peoples and releasing individuals who appear to have been unjustifiably imprisoned.” It is time to follow through on that promise. Update: On 1st June 2007, the Philippine Supreme Court has "ordered the dismissal of rebellion charges against six party-list representatives, collectively known as the Batasan-6, and four civilians in connection with the alleged conspiracy to topple the Arroyo administration on February 24, 2006". See Inquirer article . |
