HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Young Peasant Organizer,
690th Victim of Political Killings under GMA
Tito Marata, 26, chose
to serve the poor. He became a peasant organizer even though more
lucrative opportunities were open to him. But Tito’s life ended abruptly
as a lone assassin shot him four times while saying, “Giingnan na bitaw
ka nga hunong na sa imong trabaho.” (I already warned you to stop
your work.)
BY THE RURAL
MISSIONARIES OF THE PHILIPPINES
Posted by Bulatlat
He made an option to
serve the poor. He chose to serve the peasants even though more lucrative
opportunities were open to him. He committed himself to join the peasant
struggle for a land, for genuine peace and life’s fullness.
Tito Marata |
Tito Marata, 26 and a
native of Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur, was born to a low-income family. His
father worked as a skilled carpenter. His mother, a common housewife,
died two years ago. He was one of the nine siblings of the Marata
family. With his ultimate goal to gain knowledge and a good education,
Tito strived hard to finish college. He successfully graduated with a
degree in Mass Communication from Zamboanga del Sur-Misamis Institute of
Technology in Pagadian City.
Tito was known to be
a good son, reserved and hard working. He was an attentive listener to
stories and discussions on human concerns. In 2004, a year after
finishing his college education, he chose to work as an organizer of the
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Western Mindanao (KMP or Peasant Movement
of the Philippines).
|
While working for the peasant’s cause
and welfare, he engaged in campaigns such as the elimination or reduction
of the random weight allowance for “moisture content” automatically
subtracted by copra dealers from the produce being sold by coconut
farmers. This practice aggravated the situation of coconut farmers not
only in Western Mindanao but nationally as well. Prior to the success of
their campaign, 20 percent of the total weight of copra plus another half
kilo were automatically deducted purportedly for moisture content and the
weight of the sacks used. As a result of their efforts, this amount was
reduced to four percent and the local Philippine Coconut Authority-Misamis
Occidental signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) stating that the agency
would check copra dealers who will violate this agreement.
Tito also actively
participated in other peasant campaigns such as for genuine land reform,
against destructive mining operations, and against human rights
violations. They also campaigned against Charter Change, which would
allow foreigners to own land and for 100 percent foreign-owned
corporations to engage in mining and the exploitation of the country’s
natural resources; the development of residential, commercial and
industrial land; and the operations of basic utilities such as water,
electricity and telecommunications.
After a year of
committed work with the peasants, he was designated as Media Officer of
KMP-Western Mindanao. In his new position, he was responsible for writing
press-releases (and other media-related tasks) on issues concerning the
peasant sector in the area. Part of his job was being the link person of
KMP to the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), the organization
of church people committed to supporting the struggles and programs of
peasants. He also performed other tasks such as distributing school
supplies collected by the RMP for a Literacy program for Indigenous
children.
Tito was gunned down
by a lone assassin on June 17. He sustained four gunshot wounds on the
head and face while alighting from a motorcycle in Oroquieta City. The
lone witness to the incident said that he overheard the assassin saying “Giingnan
na bitaw ka nga hunong na sa imong trabaho.” (I already warned you to
stop your work.)
According to the
human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s
Rights), Tito is the 690th victim of political killings since
2001and the first after the government’s declaration of “all-out war”
against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) and the allotment of an
additional P1 billion ($19,087,612 at an exchange rate of $1=P 52.39) for
counter-insurgency operations. Karapatan also said the victims of
political killings are mostly non-combatants, the defenseless, the armless
civilians who dare to defend their basic economic and political rights.
The killings of
peasant leaders and their advocates is becoming rampant and is
intensifying.
If these people who
work for genuine peace and justice are targets of persecution, what does
this present government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo want for its own
people? Does she really want us to remain silent and be indifferent to
the plight of our less-privileged brothers and sisters who cry for land,
just wages, education for their children, social services and other common
needs to live fully as human? Is she sowing terror among the people to
stop them from voicing out their calls and demands?
While landlessness,
neglect and lack of social services, injustices, human rights violations
and political repressions continue; the resistance of the people who love
peace, justice and freedom will never stop.
We are now challenged
to show God’s love to our country, especially the least of our brethren.
This is possible only, if we chose to make a stand for justice, which is
made clear by Pope Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est, 28-A, stating
that, “The Church cannot and must not remain on the sideline in the fight
for justice!” Posted by Bulatlat
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