Killing of Ricardo Ramos

14th November 2005  

Jose Cojuangco,
President/Manager,
Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT)
Brgy.Central, Tarlac City,
Philippines. 

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacanang Palace,
Manila, Philippines. Patricia Sto. Tomas

Labor Secretary
Department of Labor and Employment
Manila. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
Quezon City. 

Avelino Cruz,
Secretary Department of National Defense,
Quezon City. The Secretariat, NDFP-Human Rights Monitoring Committee
Quezon City. 

Dear Sir / Madam, 

Killing of Ricardo Ramos 

We are outraged and shocked to hear of the brutal murder of Bro.Ricardo Ramos, President of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labour Union ( CATLU ) on 25th October 2005. We strongly condemn this barbaric and horrendous murder of Ricardo Ramos who was shot dead by unidentified assailant. We believe that the killing is politically motivated as he has received death threats and has been under constant surveillance and harassment since CATLU and United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) went on strike on 6th November 2004 to protest the termination of 326 ULWU officers and members, and to push their demands for higher wages and benefits. It is clear that Ricardo Ramos's death is the most recent in a series of politically motivated killings. It is public knowledge that the intensified military presence in the area was upon "special request" by the Cojuango clan to "terrorize the people and to prevent them from joining and supporting the strike". Philippines is in a state of undeclared martial law, with members of progressive people's organizations becoming targets of state terrorism. Since January 2005 there have been more than 35 murders of activists, journalists, human rights lawyers and defenders, church people, and members of progressive political parties and organizations. Since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took office in 2001, there were 414 cases of political killings of mass leaders and activists and 4,210 human rights violations, as documented by the 70 international delegates of the International Solidarity Mission 2005. We, the Coalition of Agricultural Workers International strongly demand that :

• a full investigation be carried out into Ricardo Ramos's brutal murder
• the perpetrators be brought to justice
• the Armed Forces of the Philippines and President Arroyo be held accountable for the seemingly endless killing of progressive people.

We stand in solidarity with CATLU and ULWU in their just demands. We stand in solidarity with progressive organizations in the Philippines in their call for justice for all the political killings and human rights abuses. Due to the heinous crime and seriousness of the matter, immediate action must be taken and ensure that justice is done without fear or favour. Sgd. for and on behalf of CAWI :-

c.c    i.    Centra Azucarera de Tarlac Labour Union.          ii.    KMU International Dept.