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Press Statement
20 May 2008
For reference: Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel. No.: 97472986
A champion of Filipino workers at home and abroad
HK OFWs mourn Ka Bel's passing, extol his life
We mourn his death. Even more, we extol his life.
Filipino workers in Hong Kong condole with the family, friends and
colleagues of Cong. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran for his passing. We grieve
for the loss of the much-loved and respected Ka Bel.
Ka Bel is the epitome of a people's servant. His simple life and long
record of upholding the rights of the Filipino workers - both at home and
abroad - shows his devotion to the working class and other oppressed
peoples.
He never wavered in his principles and he never let go of the peoples'
struggles. Even when he was elected as congressman, he was never tempted
by the powers and riches that his office could have brought him. He
remained militant, uncompromising in principles and immersed with the
people he served.
Until the end, he was a true unionist, a real activist, and a genuine
patriot for the Filipino people's cause for freedom and democracy.
The support of Ka Bel to the plight of Filipinos abroad can never be
denied up to his time as a member of the House of Representatives.
When he served as vice chairperson of the Committee on Labor and
Employment, Ka Bel was one of the staunchest advocate for OFW rights
inside the Congress. He came to Hong Kong several times as invited speaker
to major events of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
as well as to seek audience with the OFWs for our demands.
Thus, in the First Filipino Women Migrant Workers' Summit in HK in 2006,
more than 100 organizations united in a resolution against his arrest and
incarceration that time for concocted charges against him by the Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo government. Even after his release, he was a constant
target of political harassment by the GMA regime.
He's message then was clear: never give up. We never will.
Ka Bel has always been with the poor and has never let go of carrying the
voice of the people.
On Sunday, Filipino workers in Hong Kong shall hold a mass and a program
as tribute to Ka Bel. There will also be program within the week to be
attended by local trade unionists, human rights advocates and other local
people who recognize the contribution of Ka Bel to the struggle of the
Filipino people as well as his strong solidarity to people in other
countries.
Ka Bel shall always be remembered in the people's struggles. It will be so
among the Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong.
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Message of Tribute
for Ka Bel from Filipino Migrants in Hong Kong
We mourn his death. Even more, we extol his life.
Filipino migrants in Hong Kong pay the highest tribute to a true leader,
champion and hero of the working class – our beloved Crispin “Ka Bel”
Beltran. We extend our deepest and sincerest condolence to Ka Osang and
their children for the loss of a husband and a father.
We are one with all Filipino freedom fighters in grieving for his death.
Ka Bel is the epitome of a peoples servant. His simple life and long
record of upholding the rights of the Filipino workers both at home and
abroad shows his devotion to the working class and other oppressed
peoples.
In the times Ka Bel was with us in Hong Kong, we were always warmed by his
smiles, ready jokes and easy camaraderie with everyone. He was selfless in
sharing what he new and sincere in knowing the plight of migrant workers
and of our work.
We owe it to Ka Bel for bringing the voice of the Filipino migrants inside
the Congress. When he served as vice chairperson of the Committee on Labor
and Employment, Ka Bel was one of the staunchest advocate for OFW rights
inside the Congress.
During the time of his arrest and eventual detention, we strived hard to
contribute to the pressure for his release. We deeply-appreciated how he
took time and effort to send us a video message after he was freed.
Ka Bel will always be remembered. A family man, a respected and honest
statesman, a man for the others, a man that lived up to his class – Ka Bel
will always be an inspiration for everyone, be it in the Philippines or
abroad, working towards a truly free and democratic society and for a
world without oppression and exploitation.
We shall miss Ka Bel. For the service he gave and the life he lived, we
will take into our hearts his message: Never give up.
He never did and we never will.
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK);
Migrante Sectoral Party – HK (MSP-HK); Gabriela Women’s Party – HK (GWP-HK);
Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society (ATIS); Cordillera Alliance – HK (Corall-HK);
Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU); United Pangasinan in HK (UPHK);
Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW); Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge (BHMWR);
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
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