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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Hacienda Luisita strikers to march to Malacaņang
By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- Some 3,500 persons from Central Luzon will troop to Malacaņang Thursday to express indignation over the bloody dispersal of striking workers at Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City that left seven dead.
Roman Polintan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Gitnang Luson (Bayan-GL) chairman, said thousands of protesters from the National Capital Region and Southern Tagalog would join the Central Luzon contingents in time for Friday's massive protest actions in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day.
The dispersal operation, the militant group said, also resulted in the wounding of scores of workers and the illegal arrest of 111 from the ranks of striking sugar mill and farm laborers.
The group's protest action on Thursday will banner the theme: "Lupa, Sahod, Trabaho at Karapatan, Hindi Kahirapan at Terorismo ng Rehimeng US-GMA! Katarungan sa mga Biktima ng Masaker sa Mendiola, Lupao at Hacienda Luisita at lahat ng Biktima ng Paglabag sa Karapatang Pantao!"
Militants are accusing President Arroyo of conniving with the Cojuangco-Aquino landlord clan by allowing Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas to order the military and police to use bullets in quelling the strike.
"The blood of those killed and wounded has drenched the doorsteps of Malacaņang and smeared the hands of the President. She should take full responsibility for this bloody carnage," Polintan stressed.
He added the incident only showed that the Arroyo government would not hesitate to use violence on defenseless people if only to protect the interest of the landlords and big business.
"This senseless violence bespeaks of the government's wanton disregard of the people's human rights which is inherent in its nature as a fascist regime. It thrives on state terrorism and repression," Polintan also said.
But Polintan said the government's most glaring violation of human rights is demonstrated by its anti-people and pro-foreign policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization that have mired the country in acute poverty and mass hunger.
"The government must be enjoying the spectacle of an impoverished people dying slowly of mass poverty and hunger," he observed. This gives the people no other choice but to fight in defense of their rights and interest and put an end to the Arroyo regime, he added.
Polintan said before proceeding to Mendiola, the contingents from Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan would hold protest actions at the Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac City.
He said groups coming from Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales would also hold demonstration at the Pampanga Capitol to dramatize their opposition to mining, militarization and demolition.
He added that the protesters will hold programs, mass and candle lighting, torch lighting, solidarity-cultural night and vigil.
Cultural groups from Tarlac will also present a skit depicting the Hacienda Luisita massacre and the heroic stand of the strikers.
(December 9, 2004 issue)
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