Monday, January 4
Joe MacDonald, CUPE 4600:
Day 1 of our CUPE Global Justice Tour to the Philippines left me with a great deal to reflect on.
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- At the KMU office
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- At the BAYAN office
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- Delegation with Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna Representative in Congress
We visited 3 organizations with a common vision of building a critical mass of ‘pro-people’ initiatives to combat the repressive practice of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime in the Philippines. There is also a very tangible ‘buzz’ surrounding the upcoming May elections. While fundamental change is unlikely, the elections nevertheless offer an excellent venue to promote the pro-people movement at large.
The central message throughout the day was also clear, that advancing the struggle for national democracy and freedom are at the core of everything activist groups in the Philippines work towards. Although progressive organizations have made significant strides, they continue to face serious roadblocks in achieving the national democratic demands of the working class.
As a point of urgency and foremost recommendation of the Canadian delegation is the necessity of independent international observers in the upcoming May 2010 presidential election. The degree to which the international community can monitor various facets of the electoral process was reiterated and suggested as the most appropriate next step in our efforts.
The morning began with a visit just around the corner from our lodging in Quezon City at the BAYAN headquarters. BAYAN, or the “New Patriotic Alliance” is a multi-sector campaign centre, representing various groups from peasant farmers to health professionals to teachers unions in the Philippines. Established in 1985 under the Marcos dictatorship, the organization has played a role in two “people power” movements; 1986, Marcos; and, 2001, Estrada, ultimately toppling two discredited governments. While the base of unity for the multiple sectors is the common goal of a truly and sovereign country, BAYAN also provides disaster relief during the recent floods, coordinates strike action, and challenges the negative policies and actions of the government.
BAYAN also presented insight into the feudal and colonial legacy within the country, which is still largely in existence. With 6 out of every 10 pesos collected from taxes going directly to foreign debt repayment and the increasing disparity between daily cost of living and daily minimum wage, the number categorized as “poor” jumped by about 5 million people between 2003 and 2006. These are the issues BAYAN concerns themselves with on a regular basis. However, with the national elections coming up in May 2010, the organization intends to use the opportunity to promote their progressive agenda.
As has occurred historically during the election period, BAYAN expects the months leading up to the May 2010 elections to be characterized by a high level of political violence. As a result BAYAN reiterated their request for a strong international presence during the critical period that will usher in the next government following 9 years of repression under Arroyo.
The afternoon began with a visit to the office of Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna Representative in Congress. Rep. Colmenares provided an explanation of the country’s electoral landscape, including the partylist system (a system that provides representation to marginalized groups).
Bayan Muna partylist has passed seven bills into law, ranging from an anti-torture law to one concerning Public Attorney’s salaries’. While these are important achievements, Neri tells us that passing parliamentary legislation is not the sole concern of his party, that supporting and maintaining a connection with the mass movements in the country is critical; the life-blood of any progressive organization or party. He places importance on the struggle in the parliament and in the streets.
Neri Colmenares went on to give examples of both oppression and hope for the progressive pro-people movement over the last few years in the country. Bayan Muna has suffered a total of 157 killings within the party and due to their participation as a signatory on the call for GMA’s impeachment, they have been denied the “porkbarrel” funds that would otherwise be annually allocated for party projects since 2005.
Neri recalled his earlier years in the movement as a student activist when incarcerated during the Marcos dictatorship and the important role of international solidarity and the impact of letter writing campaigns during his time as a political prisoner
Neri left us with the message that encapsulated the struggle in two words: HOPE and TRUST. Hope that change is possible, and trust in the capacity of the Filipino people make it happen. This is what continues to motivate Neri Colmenares after 35 years of progressive activism.
The evening was again filled with inspiration and struggle, a meeting with Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) leaders including their National Chairperson, Elmer Labog. KMU is an militant trade union central representing hundreds of progressive labour organizations in the Philippines. Since 2001, under the Arroyo administration, KMU has suffered the loss of 93 of its members to extrajudicial killings.
The KMU struggles for workers rights across the country and is involved broad campaigns and struggles including against the oil price hikes, rights of overseas workers, and other basic needs in the Filipino.
Currently, KMU is concerned with an investigation conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2006, looking specifically at Conventions 87—Freedom of Association—and 90—the right to Collective Bargaining. The high level ILO investigation was initially requested on the grounds of the numerous extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances but also to address the political persecution of union activists on trumped up legal charges. Integral to the Arroyo governments counterinsurgency campaign has been to label progressive organizations such as KMU and their leaders and members as enemy’s of the state
The alliance also described to the delegation the effects of the global financial crises on the Philippines and highlighted the urgency of international observer’s mission of the upcoming May elections.
