APL holds solidarity picket for ULTRA tragedy victims

The Alliance of Progressive Labor today holds a solidarity picket in front of the ULTRA Sports Complex to commemorate the victims of the Wowowee stampede that killed scores and injured hundreds two weeks ago.

The sad reality of this tragedy is the horror of an even greater tragedy. And that is the continued sell-out of this country's economy that has led millions more into perpetual poverty. The very same poor people who were lining up for the possibility of winning a few thousand pesos at the popular tv game show.

More than being victims of corporate greed and ratings wars, the victims of the ULTRA stampede are victims of government's continued pursuit of liberalization and privatization at the expense of jobs. Instead of pursuing the creation of sustainable jobs with decent wages, government continues to open up the economy and leave the welfare of its citizens to the mercy of the market.

In the face of massive losses of jobs, the continued increase in prices of commodities and cost of living, a culture of mendicancy is perpetrated by shows such as Wowowee. Malacañang and the Lopez family should stop grandstanding and face the facts. They are equally to blame for this horrific turn of events. Their neglect and selfishness have turned the country into a nation of beggars, where the poor are falling all over themselves for crumbs from allegedly service-oriented networks like ABS-CBN.

The truth has to be disabused from ABS-CBN's claim that Wowowee is a form of public service. The TV station is earning from this show, and whatever it says it has to own up to its culpability for the unnecessary deaths. Reports that ABS-CBN has been making the round sof victims and survivors offering amounts in exchange for waivers against a possible class suit is a typical corporate maneuver to outwit legitimate claimants against an injustice it has inflicted on hapless innocents.

At the same time, Malacañang and its illegal occupant shoudl be made to pay for the sad state of the economy that drove tens of thousands of people to ULTRA casting their luck with bayongs and raffle boxes. Get the economy right where it counts -- the people, and stop flaunting the intangible and inequitable growths demonstared by the GDP or the GNP. That growth hasn't reached those people it should. And for as long as the likes of GMA are in power, it won't be long until another ULTRA tragedy happens again.