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he Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA) joins the global
outpouring of grief and sadness at the news of the tragic death of our
good friend and comrade, Congressman Crispin Beltran, universally known as
Ka Bel. In a life of death defying militant political activism spanning
half a century, there was no greater champion of the oppressed Filipino
workers and the wretched poor who comprise the great majority of that
country’s people.
If there are any positives to be taken from his sudden death, they are
that he lived to 75 (despite everything that that the Filipino State and a
variety of serious health problems threw at him); that he died at home, a
free man and a serving Congressman and from natural causes (none of which
seemed likely to be his fate as recently as this time last year when he
was the Philippines most high profile political prisoner, facing the
prospect of life imprisonment – if he didn’t die first). He did not die as
a result of brutal torture and murder, which has been the fate of so many
Leftwing activists and union leaders, including Ka Lando Olalia, his
immediate predecessor as head of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU – May First
Movement trade union confederation). He was not abducted, never to be seen
again, which has also been the fate of so many victims of the systematic
regime of State terror.
Ka Bel was well known to many in New Zealand because of his two decades as
leader of the KMU, which included indefinite imprisonment without charge
or trial during the Marcos martial law dictatorship in the early 80s (he
escaped and lived underground, organising workers and the poor, for a
couple of years until resurfacing after Marcos had been overthrown). He
was visited in detention by veteran Kiwi unionist Ken Findlay and they
forged a lifelong friendship – when PSNA toured Ka Bel through NZ in 1999,
it was Ken who hosted him in Wellington and drove him all round the North
Island .
I’d known Ka Bel since I first went to the Philippines , in 1987. I have a
vivid memory from one 80s trip of a group of Kiwi anti-bases delegates
having a rip roaring night out in a Manila karaoke bar with Ka Bel and
colleagues from the KMU Executive. In 1991 I and Paul Watson (of the NDU
and a colleague on the PSNA Committee) were the NZ delegates to the annual
KMU International Solidarity Affair. As I’ve already mentioned, PSNA
hosted Ka Bel for his fortnight long NZ speaking tour in 1999 – he spent
several days staying with Becky and I in our Christchurch home, plus I
accompanied him to Nelson. He was an absolute pleasure to host.
And just last August Becky and I, while in Manila visiting family, had the
great honour of being able to attend the official event to celebrate Ka
Bel’s release from 16 months of utterly false imprisonment on trumped up
charges. He was delighted to see us again and we were just glad to see him
free again and so obviously in fighting spirits. Nothing frightened him –
he got the biggest laugh in his typically stemwinding speech when he
detailed how he’d seriously contemplated escaping by disguising himself as
a doctor (because of his age and poor health, he was detained in hospital
– at his own expense. PSNA raised several thousand dollars to help with
the extortionate hospital bills). Sadly, that was to be the last time we
will see him but he was in unforgettable form when he spoke that day and
if that has to be our last memory of an old friend and comrade, it’s a
great one.
People have expressed disbelief that a 75 year old would be up on the roof
of his house (he died as a result of falling off it – he was up there to
fix a leak). But that doesn’t surprise me. He was very much down to earth
and hands on. When he stayed at our place in 99, the car decided to play
up the day we had set aside to take him sightseeing. Proclaiming himself
to have been a Manila taxi driver for 16 years decades ago, he plunged
under the bonnet in an attempt to fix it (in the end the AA did the
trick). Just as many of our discussions were about everyday practical
things as they were about the high octane politics of the Philippines . He
had an insatiable curiosity about all manner of things and he found both
New Zealand and its people fascinating.
The Philippines has lost a great man who was a much finer leader than any
of the Presidents who make it their mission to oppress, exploit, assault,
abduct, torture, imprison, frame and murder workers and the poor. The
world has lost one of the finest exponents of genuine grassroots activism
and leadership, a man who lived what he preached, namely to be at one with
the people and to serve the people. His friends and comrades in New
Zealand have lost a mate, one who exemplified working class
internationalism and whose courage and principled militancy made him an
inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Murray Horton
Secretary
PSNA
Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa
Box 2450, Christchurch , New Zealand
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz
www.converge.org.nz/psna
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