This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 17, June 9, 2006
Peasant Protesters
Truncheoned, Hosed Down by Police BY
BULATLAT One protester was arrested
and some 20 others were hurt when police used truncheons and water cannons to
disperse a peasant rally which reached Mendiola (Don Chino Roces) bridge in
Manila this noon. Kilusang Magbubukid ng
Pilipinas spokesperson Carl Ala said that Andrew Zabarte, a member of a cultural
group, was arrested by the dispersal unit of the Western Police District, when
the latter blocked the marchers at España, Manila at 9 a.m.. Two other activists
from Rizal province who were taken by the police were still unaccounted for. It was another
cat-and-mouse game as the 2,000 protesters “re-took” Mendiola Bridge for the
third time since Malacañang issued its Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR)
policy. The marchers took to the sidestreets of Sampaloc, thru P. Noval and
Bustillos streets and reached Mendiola at 12 noon. The police dispersal unit
trained water cannons on the peasants, but failed to break their ranks, even as
scores were hurt and hit by police truncheons and shields. Police chased after
the protesters up to the LRT-2 Legarda station. The marchers retreated to
Bustillos where they held a program up to 1:30 p.m. Peasant leaders Noel
Matematico of KMP-Rizal and Lito dela Cruz of Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, suffered
head concussions and were brought to the hospital. Also wounded was Dr. Gene
Nisperos, secretary general of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD).
Some policemen were also
wounded as some protesters began hitting back. The peasants, who came from
Central and Southern Luzon, condemned the 18th year implementation of
the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, and were protesting calling for a
stop to the brazen killings of activists. Ala said that under Batasan
Pambansa 880, they were automatically granted a permit since the office of
Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza did not reply to their permit application to
march to Mendiola two weeks ago, which is a provision in. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Posted 1:45 P.M. June 9, 2006