PHILIPPINES: Police massacre protesters

On November 16, the Philippines army and police massacred 16 people, including a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, in Hacienda Luisita, in Tarlac, during a protest of striking workers. More than 5000 sugar-mill workers and sugar-cane farmers in the province have been on strike since November 6, protesting the sacking of 327 union members. Thirty-five protesters suffered gunshot wounds, 133 were arrested and hundreds more were wounded. The trade union movement is planning massive protests condemning the murders and demanding a full investigation of what happened, culminating in a major mobilisation on November 30. Messages of solidarity can be sent to <bmp_philippines@yahoo.com>. For more information, visit, <http://www.labourstart.org>.

From Green Left Weekly, November 24, 2004.

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From GLW issue 607