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Detained labor leader says 'We will win'

Under the guise of supporting the Bush administration’s “war on terror,” the ruling elite of the Philippines is conducting a vicious and deadly attack on all voices calling for economic and social justice in that country where most people live in desperate poverty.

The government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stands accused internationally of complicity in the deaths and “disappearances” of hundreds of trade unionists, peasant leaders, human-rights lawyers, women’s-rights advocates, youth and urban poor organizers and indigenous activists.

For example, from January to November 2006, paramilitary death squads or Philippine armed forces murdered at least 185 progressives from various movements and organizations. There have been more than 800 political killings during Macapagal-Arroyo’s five years in office.

The level of repression is similar to the reign of terror experienced under the brutal, corrupt U.S.-backed regime of Ferdinand Marcos—which was brought down in 1986 by a massive popular resistance and armed struggle.

Arroyo is seen as a willing collaborator with international capital and a servant to U.S. militarism as she seeks to expand the entry of foreign business interests into all areas of the Filipino economy and to reintroduce large numbers of U.S. troops onto Philippine soil.

These violations of provisions enshrined in the 1986 post-Marcos Constitution have created a tremendous outpouring of dissent throughout the Philippines, expressed through many strikes and job actions, demonstrations, land seizures, and continued armed resistance.

It is in the context of this explosive political situation that the arrest and detention of famed Philippine labor leader Crispin Beltran took place on Feb. 25, 2006.

Beltran, known throughout the country as Ka Bel, is highly respected for his more than 50 years of dedication to the interests of poor and working people.

Imprisoned and tortured under the Marcos regime, he served as chair of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) or May 1st Movement from 1986 to 2001 after the brutal assassination of his predecessor. During the years of the Marcos dictatorship, when strikes were illegal and unions considered “subversive,” the KMU stood as the champion of workers. It has grown to have tens of thousands of members in many sectors, particularly at factories and plantations owned by foreign corporations.

Ka Bel was elected to the Philippines House of Representatives in 2001. He promptly introduced various pieces of progressive legislation, including a bill to increase wages for workers. He openly challenged the fraudulent results of the 2004 presidential election of Macapagal-Arroyo and exposed her corruption-ridden government’s pro-business, anti-worker policies.

On the day before 20th anniversary celebrations marking the “People’s Power Uprising” that drove out Marcos, celebrations expected to draw millions of people across the country, Arroyo claimed that people were plotting a military coup against her. That day, Feb. 24, 2006, she declared a “State of National Emergency,” banning all demonstrations and public gatherings and permitting the roundup of activists.

The next day, Crispin Beltran was arrested. He was charged with treason and sedition for allegedly conspiring with disgruntled elements of the military to overthrow her government.

When it became clear that these charges were unsubstantiated, especially since no military officers were similarly charged, the government substituted a decades-old warrant issued during the Marcos era to keep Beltran incarcerated.

Although the Corazon Aquino government—the one that followed Marcos—had already dismissed these old charges and a March 2006 ruling by the Philippines Supreme Court had declared all arrests made under the phony “State of National Emergency” to be unconstitutional, Ka Bel is still in detention.

The 74-year-old activist suffers from ill health. He is currently under guard at a hospital in Manila.

When two members of an International Action Center delegation met with him for more than two hours on Dec. 18, 2006, Ka Bel reached across the bed to shake hands and warmly greeted the U.S. activists as if they were lifelong friends. He spoke a while and then asked for questions. He had the history of the Philippines at his fingertips. He could sketch out the relations between the classes and the role of U.S. imperialism so that anyone could follow. It was easy to see why he was a hero to millions of workers and farmers.

His legislation to raise wages passed the House of Representatives in December 2006 and is now awaiting action in the Senate.

Demands for his immediate release have come from organizations and individuals around the world.

To support freedom for Crispin Beltran (Ka Bel), his supporters ask people to please write to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Malacanang Palace, JP Laurel St, San Miguel, Manila, Philippines or e-mail corres@op.gov.ph.

Ka Bel maintains an optimistic and determined spirit, declaring his firm conviction to visitors that the people, the toiling masses of the Philippines will win.

The writer was part of an International Action Center delegation that met with Crispin Beltran for several hours last Dec. 18.