Higit 50 aktibista pinagdadampot sa Labor Day

MAHIGIT 50 aktibista ang dinakip ng mga ototidad, na ginamit umanong dahilan ang enhanced community quarantine, ayon sa isang labor group.

Sinabi ng Kilusang Mayo Uno na pinagdadampot ang mga aktibista kahit pa sumunod sa physical distancing measures ang mga ito.

“This year, in keeping with the limitations imposed by the pandemic, protesters have focused on online rallies, social media posts and hashtags, and small, brief actions in workplaces or in the streets wherein all participants maintain social distancing and wear masks,” ani KMU chairperson Elmer Labog.

“However, even as the administration pledged to ‘reaffirm the government’s commitment to uphold the dignity of labor’, the Duterte regime — notorious for its anti-labor, pro-corporate policies and programs, such as its refusal to end contractualization — used Labor Day as an excuse to arrest activists, labor leaders, and relief volunteers,” dagdag niya.

Ayon sa KMU, 42 aktibista sa loilo City na ipinoprotesta ang pagkamatay ni Bayan Muna Iloilo coordinator Jory Porquia ang inaresto ng mga pulis. Sampung iba pa na nagmumudmod ng relief operation sa Marikina City ang hinuli rin.

Idinagdag ng KMU na dalawang tao sa Montalban, Rizal at ilang trabahador sa Laguna ang inaresto rin dahil miyembro umano ang mga ito ng New People’s Army.

“The police have also tried systematically to intimidate the members and leaders of people’s rights groups. On the eve of May 1, police vehicles were spotted on surveillance outside the KMU headquarters in Quezon City,” ani Labog.

“Local organizations have also reported police and military deployment across urban poor and workers’ communities in Metro Manila,” dagdag niya.

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