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TThe left-leaning Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) lambasted the Cojuangco-Aquino families, for imposing martial rule in the Hacienda Luisita estate to break up the strike of the United Luisita Workers’ Union (ULWU) and the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU). According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “the measures done by the Cojuangcos’ and Aquinos’ run smack of the fascists methods by Cory Aquino’s political rival Ferdinand Marcos. It is very ironic that her family is employing the same methods on their own workers,” “Workers whose sweat and blood have largely contributed to the wealth of the Cojuangcos. Is this just? Now the family, is planning to destroy the whole gate of the hacienda to be able to disperse the striking workers. This is the height of hypocrisy, Cory is claiming to be the one who brought democracy back into the country, and now she is letting this happen,” added Ramos. As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, “The Cojuangcos’ are saying that they are willing to negotiate but the dispersals which they ordered says otherwise. This is duplicity of the highest order, even Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would be proud of her predecessors forked tongue,” “If the Cojuangcos and the Aquinos are really sincere in negotiating, then they should stop the dispersal operations, pull-out all the military and police in the hacienda and sit on the negotiating table. These are the actions that would build a conducive atmosphere for a good dialogue. Unless these are done or the demands of the workers are met, then we think that the strike would continue,” ended Ala. The ULWU and CATLU strike in Hacienda Luisita
started last Saturday at exactly 12 noon. Since then, two dispersal operations
have been done against the strikers. Their demands are simple reinstate
the retrenched workers, stop the retrenchments, stop land use conversions,
junk the stock distribution option and be given the right to till the land.
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KMP - 9 November 2004 |
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