NOVEMBER 16, 2005

The people of Hacienda Luisita continue to be killed, physically abused and terrorized within the year after the November 16, 2004 massacre at the picket line.

After the massacre, those killed were: Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Tarlac Chair(person) Marcelino Beltran, on December 8, 2004; Tarlac City Councilor Abelardo Ladera, on March 3, 2005; Aglipayan priest Fr. William Tadena on March 13, 2005; peasant leader Ben Concepcion on March 17, 2005; Florante Collantes, provincial secretary general of BAYAN MUNA Tarlac, on October 15, 2005; and the latest, the murder of Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU) president and Mapalacsiao barangay chair Ricardo Ramos on October 25, 2005.

Physical and psychological abuse by soldiers has become a daily occurrence. Just last night, November 15, Ricardo Flores and Henry Garcia, both from Barangay Balete were manhandled and punched by soldiers led by Sgt. Dennis Mendoza.

At dawn of November 14, eleven [11] striking workers were illegally abducted, hit with steel tubes and gun butts, kicked and punched, also by soldiers in Barangay Balete. Arnold Cunan, 37, and Marilou Ricardo, 29, were subsequently falsely charged with illegal possession of firearms.

The latest incident is an attempt to criminalize the legitimate struggle of the workers and the people of the hacienda. After causing injury and violating the basic rights of the workers, the Northern Luzon Command [NOLCOM] had the temerity to file cases on their victims. The criminalization of the workers’ legitimate struggle is the latest in the desperate attempt of the Cojuangco-Aquino family, the Arroyo government and NOLCOM to break the fighting will of the hacienda people.

Tragic as it may sound, we expect the barbaric and lethal attack of government troops on the workers to continue in the following days, weeks and months. In their vain attempt to cower the workers, the military has resorted to the crudest form of repression—physical elimination and injuries—in the guise of going after New People’s Army guerillas. At least fifty [50] union leaders and workers have death threats hanging over their heads. What they cannot intimidate, they kill.

We hold the Cojuangco-Aquino family, the Arroyo government and NOLCOM, particularly Gen. Jovito Palparan of the 7th ID, responsible for the recent and future attacks on the people of the hacienda.

The on-going reign of terror, not only in Hacienda Luisita, but in other provinces in Central Luzon is a result of the implementation of the “dirty war’ policy of the US government which the Arroyo government and NOLCOM implements to the hilt.

Death squads have recently proliferated not only in Tarlac but in the entire region. Huge sums of money have been paid to recruit hundreds of assassins, including active and retired army and police personnel, to carry out the killings. The transfer of Gen. Palparan to Central Luzon insures that the death squads carry out their unforgivable crimes against the people.

As we commemorate the anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita massacre, we pay the highest tribute to the thirteen [13] heroes and martyrs who gave their lives for the sake of the hacienda people’s righteous struggle for land, jobs, just wages. Their supreme sacrifice is a golden contribution to the Filipino people’s quest for a future where freedom, dignity, prosperity and justice reign.

We condemn the emergence of STATE FASCIM in its crudest, most barbaric form not only in Hacienda Luisita but in the rest of the country. State fascism is spawned by the semi-feudal and semi-colonial social system wherein the guns of the ruling classes are pitted against the defiant voices of the millions of poor and oppressed Filipinos.

In the face of the current dangers and hardships, we vow to pursue our struggle. We are confident that in the future, those who have committed crimes against the people will be meted justice they deserve.

Reference:
RENE GALANG, President
United Luisita Workers’ Union
Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City
CP No. 0918-572-7102