DEMOCRATIC SPACE
No Justice Yet for Slain Luisita Union Leader

BY RENE GALANG
Posted by Bulatlat

One year after Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union [CATLU] president Ricardo Ramos was assassinated last October 25, 2005, his killers are still at large and justice still eludes his family and fellow workers.

In fact, one of the suspects, Roderick Dela Cruz, a soldier of the Northern Luzon Command has been issued a warrant of arrest since June yet he is still scot-free and is being seen going to the villages in the hacienda. 

In spite of testimonies of witnesses identifying him as one of two soldiers who allegedly carried out the brutal crime, the case against the other suspect Romeo Castillo, also a soldier of the Northern Luzon Command, has been dismissed.  

This is the kind of justice that workers, farmers and other poor people get from a government that serves only the interests of landlords, big business and foreign exploiters and that protects the military and police when they violate the basic rights of the people. 

We condemn the US-Arroyo regime, the military and the courts for coddling and protecting the killers of Ramos. 

We hold the US-Arroyo regime, the Cojuangco-Aquino family and the butcher Jovito Palparan responsible for the murder of our beloved union leader. Ramos is among the first victims in the reign of terror unleashed by Palparan in Central Luzon. So far 109 civilians—all leaders and members of militant organizations have been killed since Arroyo became president. About 70 percent of the killings occurred when Palparan was assigned to the region in September 2005. 

The people of Hacienda Luisita will continue to struggle for land, jobs and justice even in the face of the most brutal attacks from the US-Arroyo regime.

We will continue to fight for our rights until justice has finally been served on the killers of Ramos and the other victims of extra-judicial executions and violations of human rights. 

We will carry on the struggle until genuine prosperity, justice and peace for workers, peasants and other working people have been achieved. Posted by Bulatlat

Rene Galang is the president of the United Luisita Workers Union 

 
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