Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Burnaby, B.C. – Over fifty concerned Canadians vowed to take immediate action to condemn the rapidly deteriorating situation of human rights and democracy in the Philippines last night at a local community forum, “Building People to People Solidarity.”

Here are some more photos.

Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President of the B.C. Region for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), one of the evening’s co-sponsors, cited the growing concern of trade unionists over the worsening political repression in the Philippines.

The Philippines is considered the second most dangerous country for trade unionists (second to Colombia). Since 2001, 83 workers, trade unionists, leaders and advocates have been killed. They are part of the documented 855 extra-judicial killings since 2001.

• Send an email to the Canadian & Philippine governments, demand justice and human rights now!

“We encourage our members to write letters to the Philippine President to protest the government’s recent arrest of Bayan Muna (People First) Congressman Satur Ocampo - a progressive opposition party parliamentarian.”

May Farrales of the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines spoke about the significance of the Permanent People’s Tribunal: Second Session on the Philippines being held this week (from March 21 – 25, 2007) in Den Hague, Netherlands.

“It is the communities themselves who are speaking out and naming the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the perpetrators of the political killings,” Farrales explained. “It is those communities who have requested the Tribunal find the U.S.-backed Arroyo government guilty of violations of human rights.”

Dr. Constancio Claver was a highlight amongst the panel. Dr. Claver, a practicing physician, shared his experiences as the survivor of an assassination attempt last year.

“I sustained severe wounds to my left arm and to my abdomen,” Claver reflected. “But while I was the target, it was my wife who sustained seven gunshot wounds and shielded me. She did not survive the attack and died on the operating table leaving our three children motherless.”

Dr. Claver is the chairperson of the political party Bayan Muna (People First)-Kalinga chapter and also part of the Cordillera People’s Alliance, and Hustisya! (Victims of the Arroyo Regime United for Justice).

Ted Alcuitas, member of the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines and a delegate on the Canadian fact-finding mission in the Philippines in November last year, spoke of the killing and repression of trade unionists such as Jesus Buth Servida, union organizer at Yazaki-EMI who was killed in Cavite province on December 11, 2006.

“When Arroyo says striking workers are ‘terrorizing factories’ it in effect gives the military, police and company goons the impetus to gun down workers at the factory gates,” stated Alcuitas.

Jen Efting, staff of the Hospital Employees Union and Bus Riders’ Union organizer and also a delegate to the mission, shared the mission’s recommended actions. One of which demands that Canada critically reexamine the Canadian International Development Agency directive on foreign aid and consider directing funds to peoples’ organizations in the Philippines or to Canadian organizations that are working on Filipino peoples issues as part of strengthening genuine people-to-people solidarity.