Philippines unionist fears for his life after Wellington protest

Dennis Maga protested on Monday in a steel cage outside Parliament in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A prominent Philippines trade unionist says he fears he may be assassinated or arrested when he returns after a protest in New Zealand about human rights abuses.

Dennis Maga has been protesting since Philippines president Gloria Arroyo arrived in New Zealand on a state visit.

In Wellington on Monday he stood in a cage outside The Beehive as Ms Arroyo and Prime Minister Helen Clark held a media conference.

Mr Maga said his country needed to stop humans rights abuse and free prominent left-wing lawmaker Crispin Beltran who has been in prison for more than a year on what his supporters said were spurious coup plotting charges.

Today Mr Maga said he feared he would be assassinated or arrested for his stand in New Zealand. His wife had told him today his home in the Philippines was under surveillance and may be raided.

He said he had been told the information that he would be arrested when he returned home had been "100 per cent confirmed."

He said he was discussing with union supporters in New Zealand about not returning home.

"I am really worried for my family's safety because they might invent a charge against my father and my wife and my family just to pressure me to return to the Philippines," he said.

He said human rights abuse was continuing in his country.

Mr Maga was brought to New Zealand by the National Distribution Union and today about 200 union members walked off the job at the Progressive Distribution Centre for about 20 minutes in protest at the treatment Mr Maga was getting in his own country.

- NZPA