Editor's Note: Published on page A17 of the Nov. 16, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
HACIENDA LUISITA, Tarlac, Philippines -- Violence marred the police dispersal of a workers’ strike at the Hacienda Luisita, resulting in injuries to strikers and policemen.Leaders of the strike said at least 200 protesters were hurt. Police said 30 of their men were also injured in the violence.
Violence erupted at 10:45 a.m when 1,000 policemen in anti-riot gear moved in to disperse around 4,000 strikers and their sympathizers, who were massed up in front of the Hacienda Luisita gate.
The pushing and shoving escalated into nightstick beating, stone throwing and stabbing.
Among those severely wounded was Ricardo Ramos, Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (Catlu) president, who was hit with a stone in the head. He was rushed to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital for treatment.
Rene Galang, United Luisita Workers Union (Ulwu) president, was hit with a police truncheon and suffered bruises in the right arm.
Also seriously hurt were two police officers who were taken to a nearby mobile hospital.
In
a statement sent to the Inquirer, Jose Romasanta, Luisita spokesperson, said the dispersal operation was a "legitimate exercise of state power.""The work stoppage is illegal and Left-inspired," he said.
"Only a handful (of workers) have been participating in it. An overwhelming number of the people at the picket line are outsiders who came from as far as Nueva Ecija ... and have nothing to do with the business operations of CAT and Hacienda Luisita."
The strikers repulsed the police’s attempt to disperse them after a 15-minute scuffle.
Police regional director Quirico de la Torre said they were ordered by the Department of Labor and Employment to disperse the striking workers and their supporters who had barricaded the seven gates leading to the CAT.
Senior Supt. Amado Panado, police deputy regional director for administration, said the protesters used ice picks to stab two police officers.
The workers were demanding higher wages and better benefits, but Romasanta said the agenda was "to cripple the business operations of the two firms."
PDI Central Luzon Desk