Letter of Support from Australian Manufacturing Workers

From: Julius Roe
Date: Feb 27, 2006 11:00 AM
Subject: REPRESENTATIVE CRISPIN BELTRAN
To: cbrpe@philembassy.au.com

TO HER EXCELLENCY
MS CRISTINA G ORTEGA

Dear Ambassador,

On behalf of the 150,000 members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers we
ask that you urgently convey to your Government our alarm at the supression
of democratic protest in the Phillippines. No information has been publicly
released and no action has been taken consistent with this action being
necessary to supress a coup or threatened coup. No military commanders have
been arrested. The only action taken has been against those participating in
legitimate democratic protest action.

We particularly call for the immediate release of the democratically elected
member of the Congress Crispin Beltran. This honorable representative is
well known to the Australian trade union movement and his dedication and
integrity are beyond question. Only dictatoriships detain members of
Parliament. Only dictatorships suppress democratic protest. Representative
Beltran is, we know is suffering from high blood pressure and this
unjustified detention is putting his life at risk.

We are alarmed at the damage to the reputation of the Phillippines which
these actions will cause.

We hope that the Phillippines Government will listen to the voices
internationally and domestically who are calling for the restoration of
democracy, an end to the State of Emergency and the release of Crispin
Beltran.

Yours sincerely

Julius Roe
National President
Australian Manfacturing Workers Union.