Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, criticized the adoption of Joint Resolution No. 19 extending CARP for another six months. The resolution removed the compulsory acquisition of land and opted for voluntary offer to sell and voluntary land transfer schemes as modes of land distribution.
Mariano is pushing for the passage of House Bill 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) as an alternative to CARP. The bill provides for free distribution of land to landless farmers.
Repression vs peasantry
Ocampo said repression against peasants persist. He said that under the Arroyo government, farmers became victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, ‘legal offensives’ and other rights abuses.
According to KMP, of the 933 victims of extrajudicial killings, 528 were farmers. One hundred nine leaders of KMP have also been killed. The group also revealed that 129 peasants are among the victims of enforced disappearances, including Nilo Arado, a member of the KMP’s National Council.
Kasama-TK’s Lacandazo said that in Southern Tagalog, 63 farmers have been killed.
Arrested peasant leaders include Randall Echanis, KMP deputy secretary general for external affairs.
Protesters burn pictures of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Photo by Angie de Lara)
Echanis’ son Ranmil told the crowd that his father was arrested on January 28, 2008 for trumped-up charges of multiple murder in connection with an alleged mass grave in Leyte. Ranmil said his father was being held incommunicado when the alleged crime took place. The old Echanis remains detained at the Manila City Jail pending the Supreme Court decision on his case.
Lacandazo said that regional and provincial peasant leaders are among those charged with multiple murder and other crimes for allegedly participating in New People’s Army (NPA) raids in Lemery, Batangas and Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental.
Among the respondents are Orly Marcellana, secretary general of Kasama-TK; Renato Alvarez, acting chair of Kasama-TK; Rommel Valdez, peasant leader in Cavite; and, Rogelio Galit, spokesperson of Kasama-TK.
Gloria must go
Ocampo said Arroyo’s sins against the peasantry and the Filipino people constitute grave crimes. “Hindi na dapat pang magtagal si Gloria Arroyo kundi lalong lulubha ang kalagayan ng magbubukid.” (Gloria Arroyo must not be allowed to remain in power any longer otherwise the situation of peasants would only worsen.)
“Kung isinara na nila ang impeachment bilang ligal na paraan para mapaalis si Gloria sa pwesto, mamamayan ang gagawa ng paraan,” (If they are closing down the impeachment process as a legal means to oust Gloria from power, the people would find other means.) Ocampo said further.
In November last year, Arroyo’s allies at the House of Representatives killed the latest impeachment complaint against President Arroyo.
Protesters set into fire an effigy of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo(Photo by Ronalyn Olea)
Teresita agreed, “Sama-sama nating patalsikin si Gloria Arroyo.” (Let us collectively oust Gloria Arroyo.
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Maza urged the audience to oppose the sinister moves of the Arroyo government. She said that the House of Representatives is set to tackle on Tuesday House Speaker Prospero Nograles’ proposal to lift the restriction on land ownership for foreign corporations.
House Resolution No. 737 seeks to allow 100 percent foreign ownership of land.
Carmen Deunida, chairperson emeritus of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) slammed the proposal. “Pilipinas ito, atin ito.” (This is Philippines. This land is ours.)
Deunida said Filipinos are not the real squatters in the county but the big foreign corporations who occupy vast tracts of land.
Continuing struggle
Gili said, “Noon pa, lupa na ang dahilan ng digmaan… hanggang hindi nalulutas ang suliranin sa lupa, patuloy na lalaban ang magsasaka.” (The problem of land has historically been the root of the armed conflict…while the problem of land has not been solved, the peasantry would continue with their struggle.)
Lacandazo said, “Sa kanayunan, hakbang-hakbang na ipinatutupad ang tunay na reporma sa lupa sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagkilos ng mga magsasaka.” (In the countryside, genuine land reform is being implemented step-by-step through the collective action of peasants.)(Bulatlat.com)
