URGENT ACTION: 71 LABOUR RIGHTS ADVOCATES PUT ON ARREST LISTS BY PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

On October 3, 2008, the terror felt among labour activists in the Philippines grew even stronger. In addition to the arrest of Remigio Saladero, which MSN alerted you to earlier, another 71 people including well-known human and labour rights advocates were put on an arrest list by the Philippines government. Emmanuel “Manny” Asuncion, who is a board member of the Workers’ Assistance Centre (WAC) — a close ally of MSN — was included in the arrest order. At this point in time, Manny has not been arrested but there is increasing concern that he will be. WAC advises that the list of those to be charged was created without any due process or investigation period. continue reading