Dear friends, 

It is with great regret that we inform you of the violence that continues to haunt witnesses and victims of the Hacienda Luisita tragedy with the killing of Marcelino Beltran a supporter of the peasant workers struggle in Hacienda Luisita as well as a witness who has sat on congressional hearings related on the matter.

His death was meant to silence him about his knowledge of the tragedy as well as to sow fear among those who continue to support the peasant-workers' cause.

We strongly condemn this tragedy as it happened two days prior to the commemoration of the international human rights day.

Three years ago on the same day December 8, 2001 a national minority leader Nicanor delos Santos was also killed by soldiers in Rizal, Philipines.

Your immediate action is once again needed.

In solidarity,

KARAPATAN-National Office
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights

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UA Date: 	09 December 2004 

UA Title: Witness of Hacienda Luisita tragedy shot dead by soldiers in front of his home in Tarlac, Philippines

UA Case: 	Summary Execution 

I. Victim/s: 

· Marcelino Beltran
· 53 years old; married with eight (8) children
· Male
· Peasant
· A resident of San Sotero, Sta. Ignacia Tarlac City, Philippines
· Chairman of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon or AMGL (Alliance of Peasants in Central Luzon)

II. Place of Incident: 

In front of his home in San Sotero, Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac, Philippines 

III. Date of Incident: 

08 December, 2004 at around 9:00 pm 

IV. Perpetrators: 

More than 10 uniformed soldiers 

V. Account of Incident: 

On December 08 at around 9:00 PM Marcelino Beltran or Ka Marcing as he is often called by his colleagues was busy preparing the food that they were going to bring the next day on the way to Manila where they will hold a vigil at the foot of Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola Bridge) near the Malaca?ang Palace. While busy cooking he heard the dogs bark unceasingly and told his son to see what the reason was. When his son went back, he reported to his father that he did not see anybody or anything that would cause the dogs to bark uncontrollably. But the dogs didn?t seem to stop, so Ka Marcing went down to check it himself. On the way down he heard somebody call him ?kasama, kasama...? (?Comrade, comrade??).

His wife and kids didn?t think that he was in any danger, because they heard him talking with some people they thought were just his colleagues. It was a few minutes later when they heard the gunshots.

As they scrambled down the house they saw the armed men leave and the bloodied body of Ka Marcing slumped in front of their home. He was still alive and told his family that it was military soldiers who shot him. He also fought back the difficulty he was feeling then by saying ?kaya ko to, wag kayo mag-alaala.? (?Don?t worry, I can survive this.?)

His family brought him to the clinic of a Dr. Antonio, which was the nearest they thought he could get treatment or first aid but when they got there they saw two soldiers on a motorcycle who asked them if they had brought a wounded person from San Sotero. Ka Marcing?s son denied that they had brought his father to the clinic and told the soldiers that the injured person was from Calapayan. Since it was no longer safe in that clinic they moved Ka Marcing to a nearby hospital. But they lacked the facilities and transferred him to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital, 20 kms. away. Ka Marcing expired on the way to the hospital. He suffered four gunshot wounds on his arm, thigh, stomach and back.

Prior to his death, Ka Marcing joined the strike of peasant workers at the Hacienda Luisita to give them his and his organization?s support. He was a witness to the tragedy that befell seven (7) workers and injured several hundred others.

Incidentally, Ka Marcing was supposed to celebrate his 54th birthday on December 10, the same day we will commemorate the International Human Rights Day.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: 

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for: 

1. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into the summary execution of Marcelino Beltran ;
2. The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime of summary execution committed.
3. The immediate and proper indemnification of the family/relatives of the victims; and
4. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of its provisions.

You may send your communications to: 

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 
President of the Republic 
Malacanang Palace, 
JP Laurel St., San Miguel 
Manila Philippines 
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80 
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968 
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462 
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] 

Hon. Teresita Deles 
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process 
7F Agustin Building I 
Emerald Avenue 
Pasig City, Philippines 
Voice: (+632) 636 0701 to 0766 
Fax: (+632) 638 2216 

Hon. Avelino Cruz 
Secretary, Department of National Defense 
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo 
E. de los Santos Avenue, 
Quezon City, Philippines 
Voice: (+632) 912-9281 
Fax: (+632) 911 6213 

Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing 
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights 
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex 
Commonwealth Avenue 
Diliman, Quezon City 
Philippines 
Fax: (+632) 929 0102 
Email: [email protected] 

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government official to our address below. 

URGENT ACTION Prepared by: 

KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People?s Rights)-National Office 
43 Masikap St. Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES 
Voice: (+632) 435 4146 / Fax: (+632) 928 6078 
Emails: <[email protected]> / [email protected] 
Website: www.karapatan.org