The Vancouver and Distruct Labour Council (VDLC) sent a letter to the office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 6, 2021, in support of the release of several unionists and labour organizers who were arrested in the Philippines on December 10th 2020, on International Human Rights Day.
Stephen von Sychowski, President of the VDLC, expressed concerns about the “intensifying campaign of criminalization and violence being carried out by the Duterte regime against the trade union movement in the Philippines”.
The letter from VLDC is firm with their call for “the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned trade union organizers, and other political prisoners held by the Duterte government”, as well as “respect for workers’ rights and human rights”.
VDLC’s support is timely. The intensifying criminalization and violence of legitimate criticism levelled against the Duterte regime has most recently been legitimized with the passing of the 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act and the formation of the Anti-Terrorism Council. This legislation is a legal front for the crimes that the Duterte regime has brought and will bring against the Filipino people.
VDLC’s support helps show that the whole world’s eyes are on the Philippines during this time.
You can read VDLC’s letter in full by downloading the PDF here: