- Nick Kelly and Jared Phillips
from The Spark July 2007
In May 2007 Philippines trade unionist Dennis Maga undertook a speaking tour of New Zealand. Maga’s visit was used to raise public awareness of the imprisonment of urban workers’ leader Crispin Beltran (known as Ka Bel) and of state repression taking place in the Philippines under the rule of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This repression includes imprisonment, and violent attacks and assassinations against unionists, workers, progressive politicians, and human rights activists. Dennis’s visit was planned to coincide with Arroyo’s official state visit to New Zealand.
Unite Union, the National Distribution Union, Action Research Education Network Aotearoa, Philippines Solidarity Network, Workers Party, Northland Tangata Whenua, and Global Peace and Justice Auckland were the key organisations and groupings involved in planning Dennis’s three-week visit.
Maga’s schedule included many activities, two of which captured high- profile media attention in New Zealand and in the Philippines. On May 28 Maga, surrounded by supporters, stood in a cage on the grounds outside of parliament while President Arroyo ate a state lunch with NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark. This became the single- most prominent headline in the Philippines. On May 29 Maga, along with Auckland and Northland activists, protested against President Arroyo’s presence at the government’s inter-faith dialogue in Waitangi. This drew further media attention and sparked debate when Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of the conservative NZ First party, announced that the protestors should apologise for embarrassing Arroyo. A third activity, which did not draw significant media attention, but was nevertheless a highlight of the tour, was the protest staged by workers at the Progressive Distribution centre in Mangere. Dozen’s of workers stopped-work, assembled outside the workplace, and demanded the release of Crispin Beltran.
Before Dennis returned to the Philippines in early June it became clear that he would be returning to a situation in which the government would be seeking some form of retribution against him. Crispin Beltran made the following statement:
`Dennis Maga is now the subject of a manhunt because he caused Pres. Arroyo embarrassment when he placed himself inside a steel cage in a symbolic protest against the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines and my continuing detention. Next thing he knows he might be charged with rebellion or inciting to rebellion. Legally, neither the PNP (Philippines Police) nor President Arroyo have any legal leg to stand on and use to justify Maga’s arrest; but given the vindictive nature of the Arroyo presidency and its brutal record of human rights violations and abuse of civil rights, anything is possible. We cannot put anything past this government.’
The New Zealand Rail and Maritime Union, The New Zealand Postal Workers Union, and the Association of University Staff Victoria University Branch have written letters to Helen Clark calling on the government to help protect Dennis Maga. Professor Jane Kelsey, NDU leader Laila Harre, and Unite Union General Secretary Matt McCarten have also been advocates for Dennis’s safety.
Maga’s tour was successful in two ways. Firstly, it raised the issue of Crispin Beltran’s imprisonment at an international level. Activities like this have led to Beltran’s near-release and the quashing of the phoney `rebellion’ charges that the government brought against him. A Free Ka Bel Movement statement pointed out that `We owe this not to the Supreme Court but to the local and international mass movement that caught the world’s attention and created overwhelming international pressure on the Philippine government to free Ka Bel.’
Maga’s speaking tour was also successful for workers and left-wing organisations that were involved in New Zealand. It showed that injustices can be highlighted very successfully when workers’ organisations collaborate genuinely in popular front work. Maga’s visit has helped to build relationships in New Zealand and has created a wider group of organisations and individuals that will continue to work in solidarity with the oppressed in the Philippines.
