THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008

Memorial Meetings for Ka Bel to be Held US-Wide

“Whenever death may surprise us, it will be welcomed provided that our battle cry reaches some receptive ear, that another hand stretches out to take up the weapon, and that other men come forward to intone our funeral dirge with the staccato of machine gun and new cries of battle and victory." ~ Ernesto "Che" Guevarra

Los Angeles - Nationwide memorial meetings to mourn and honor Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran will be held in different cities in the United States from May 21 to June 9, 2008. Ka Bel was an ANAKPAWIS Representative, Chair Emeritus of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May First Movement), and former Chair of the International League for People’s Struggle (ILPS).

Mario Santos, Alliance Philippines National Coordinator, made this announcement in San Francisco after the meeting with representative from International ANSWER on May 22. According to Santos, the memorials for Ka Bel will be held on May 27 in Queens, New York, May 28 in Los Angeles at Remy's on Temple Art Gallery in Historic Filipinotown and San Francisco, and on June 9 in Seattle. Progressive Filipino forces in Chicago will hold a memorial on May 24.

"Alliance Philippines will honor Ka Bel as an internationalist fighter and a hero of the Filipino working class. He left an indelible mark and made far-reaching contributions to the Filipino people, its working class and the whole nation," Santos said.

According to KMU sources, there will be memorial meetings for Ka Bel in the Philippines and abroad, and on May 27 his remains will be cremated.

Alliance Philippines welcomes donations and condolences for Ka Bel’s family from our comrades, allies and friends.

Ka Bel, lagi kang mabubuhay sa ala-ala ng masang Pilipino!

Ka Bel, you will always live in the memories of the Filipino people!