Press statement

Reference:  Jigs Clamor (09177540697)

KARAPATAN to Sto. Tomas:  DOLE and the Cojuangcos are the ones who have blood in their hands

In reaction to statements that she was responsible for deputizing the military to intervene in the Hacienda Luisita strike, DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas yesterday said that she is not the one with blood on her hands.  Sto. Tomas said in television interviews that the instigators of the Hacienda Luisita strike are the ones who have blood in their hands.

Jigs Clamor, deputy secretary general of KARAPATAN said “Human rights organizations couldn’t agree more, but would like to make it clear that the real instigators that prompted Hacienda Luisita workers to go on strike are the Cojuangcos and their managers who failed to address the grievances of their workers.”

However, human rights organizations under the banner of KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights still hold the DOLE Secretary responsible for ordering the army in supporting the police to “resolve” the strike.  “This only shows the government agency’s militarist means of resolving legitimate people’s actions in seeking redress for their grievances.” Clamor continued.

Likewise, it is also clear that DOLE have never been pro-worker in resolving labor disputes. We view this as a connivance between the Cojuangcos and Secretary Sto. Tomas.

“In truth, the DOLE did not resolve the labor conflict when it issued an assumption for jurisdiction order while striking workers’ demands have not been ably met by management.  Instead, DOLE Sec. Sto. Tomas sent an army, which “resolved” the labor conflict with the massacre of workers,” Clamor added.

Article 19 of the CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law) states that the people have “the right to gainful employment, humane working and living conditions, livelihood and job security, to work and equal pay, to form unions, to strike and participate in the policy and decision-making processes affecting their rights and interests, and the right not to be denied these rights…”  

“Obviously, the striking workers have no gainful employment and are not receiving equal pay and the Hacienda Luisita have not met their workers’ needs.  We understand that this is what impelled them to go on strike. We also call for an impartial  investigation and justice for the victims of human rights violations committed by the AFP and PNP. They must be held accountable for this dastardly act,” Clamor concluded. n