SIKLAB-Canada
Statement

National alliance of overseas Filipino workers in Canada join international demands for release of Congressman Crispin Beltran

March 9, 2006

SIKLAB – Canada (Advance and Uphold the Rights and Welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers – an alliance of overseas Filipino workers in Canada) joins the growing demands of patriotic and nationalist Filipinos abroad to free Philippine Congressman Crispin (“Ka Bel”) Beltran.  Talagang kapal ang mukha ni President Arroyo – for how dare a President who cheated and lied to cling onto power – aka the fake President Arroyo – jail a democratically-elected leader of the people!

On February 25, 2006, Congressman Beltran of the progressive sectoral party-list Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) was arrested without warrant and detained on trumped-up 21-year-old charges of rebellion.  This cowardly act came barely a day after Arroyo declared a state of emergency through PP 1017.  Despite the lifting of the state of emergency, a unanimous Congress resolution granting him protective custody and concerns about the 73-year-old’s failing health, he remains unjustly detained in Manila in Camp Crame.

During his 2 terms in Congress since 2001 and during his term as chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May First Movement – the largest trade union center in the Philippines), Ka Bel has consistently demanded that Arroyo step down for her cheating the Filipino people in the 2004 elections and her anti-people policies like the E-VAT that keep Filipinos poor and exploited.  Such anti-people policies force us to migrate abroad for the survival of our families.  It is precisely because of Ka Bel’s unflinching stand for the rights and welfare of the ordinary people that he represents – mga manggagawa, magsasaka, mangingisda at iba pang mga maralita sa nayon at lunsod – that the Arroyo regime keeps him detained.  This is merely a desperate attempt to try to cover up the sins of the government in not uplifting the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

But we will not be fooled!  Alam natin ang kototohanan!  Ka Bel is a symbol for us of the struggle of our kababayan to build a genuine justice and peace in our beloved homeland so that we do not need to be wrenched apart from our families in order to work abroad.

Ka Bel holds a special place in our hearts as overseas Filipino workers in Canada.  In 1995, Ka Bel traveled to Vancouver, B.C., to help launch SIKLAB – Vancouver as a new organization to advocate for the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers.  In 1997, he joined anti-APEC activities in Vancouver and met and listened to the stories of many overseas Filipino workers and their families.  In 2005, he sponsored House Resolution #643, calling for the Philippines Congress to investigate abuses of Filipino women under Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).  Through these brave efforts, Congressman Beltran showed his genuine concern for us, his kababayan abroad, who are mostly workers displaced from the Philippines because of its chronic economic and political crisis.

Now, we call on all our kababayan to show their concern for this outstanding Filipino.  Let us unite to demand Ka Bel’s immediate freedom.  Palayain si Ka Bel!

We also call for a stop to the harassment of the Batasan 5, Ka Bel’s colleagues in Congress – Ka Paeng Mariano, Ka Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Joel Virador and Teddy Casino.  Together, they garnered 2.7 million votes in the last election.  Yet, they remain trapped inside the House of Representatives under threat of warrantless and illegal arrest.

Finally, we also vow to continue to educate, organize and mobilize the overseas Filipino community about this immoral regime.  We are resolved more than ever to unite firmly with the people back home to demand the immediate ouster of Arroyo and to put up the people’s transitional council.  We know that through these struggles one day the Philippines will truly be a just and peaceful society where all peace-loving and patriotic Filipinos can return home to.

Free Ka Bel now!  Palayain si Ka Bel!

Stop the harassment of the Batasan 5!

Oust the fake President Arroyo!  Form the people’s transition council!

Long live our people’s struggle for national and social liberation!

Statement issued by:

SIKLAB-Canada (Advance and Uphold the Rights and Welfare of  Overseas Filipino Workers) with member organizations in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Winnipeg.

Contact:
SIKLAB-Vancouver: Glecy Duran at 604-215-1103 or siklab@kalayaancentre.net.
SIKLAB-Toronto: Marco Luciano at siklab_ontario@yahoo.ca.
SIKLAB-Montreal: Carreon  at 514-344-2709.