Nov. 16, 2010 marks the 6th anniversary of the infamous Hacienda Luisita massacre in which at least seven farm workers were shot dead in an attempt to disperse their strike in 2004. This year, we commemorate the massacre under a regime whose family owns the more than 6,000-hectare of sugar estate.

On the eve of the commemoration of the massacre, the premiere showing of a new short film entitled Ang Pagbawi sa Luisita (The Reclaiming of Luisita) was held. The film depicts the continuing struggle of the Hacienda Luisita workers to claim the land that is rightfully theirs, their collective efforts to till portions of the land, and the continuing maneuvers of the Cojuangco-Aquino landowning clan in complicity with the Philippine government to avoid land reform.

Tomorrow, we will be holding a caravan to Hacienda Luisita, in which various sectors led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) will participate. The caravan is another testament of the people’s support for the struggle of the Hacienda Luisita farm workers. This solidarity action comes in the heels of President Benigno Aquino's move allowing US military forces to conduct military exercises in the hacienda under the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.

At the same time, KMU will lead a protest action in Mendiola, near the presidential palace, to condemn the Aquino government's protection of landlord interests and to demand the free land distribution of land to farmers as against schemes, such as the stock distribution option, which only denies land to farm workers. An effigy of a scarecrow, with the words "Noynoy Aquino, scarecrow to farmers" inscribed on it, will be paraded and burned at the rally.

As we commemorate this day, we also honor the many martyrs and supporters of the trade-union movement who offered their lives in defense of their right to life and livelihood, to jobs and justice. We remember the many worker-martyrs around the world who became victims of state and capital's repression. As the world continues to reel from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, workers continue to be victims of capital's continuing and insatiable drive for ever-greater profits – to further exploit the workers and peoples of the world.

Around 101 workers around the world have been killed in 2009, according to ITUC survey.  Colombia continues to be the most dangerous place for trade-unionists with the Philippines coming in at second. Under the new regime, 22 political activists have already become victims of extra-judicial killings. This means more than 4 activists being killed monthly in the first five months of the Aquino regime. The latest victim is Caloy Rodriguez, a public union leader in Southern Luzon.

Please join us in commemorating and honoring the worker-martyrs of Hacienda Luisita and all worker-martyrs of the world. We call on you to issue a statement against trade-union repression, conduct discussions on this topic, send solidarity messages to families and/or organization of victims, conduct information dissemination campaigns, hold protest actions and/or cultural activities, and call on your respective governments to respect labor rights starting tomorrow and for the whole of November.

Let us pledge to keep the fire burning. Let us continue to carry the torch of struggle that our fallen martyrs and comrades have held until their last breath. Together, let us build a better and humane world where the fruits of our labor are equally shared, where a living wage and decent working conditions are a reality, where the exercise of labor rights is respected and even encouraged, where labor has a primacy over capital, where the exploitation and oppression of workers no longer exist. Our continuing struggle is our best tribute to our worker-martyrs.