“Holding Villanueva and his lackeys accountable for their violations of human rights and agrarian reform policy is especially timely, given that Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. had nothing worthwhile to say about human rights and food sovereignty in his State of the Nation Address.”
“Deprived farmers are faced with violent reprisal when they assert their rightful claim to land. This exposes CARP as instrumental to landlords while the majority of our farmers remain landless, poor, and hungry.”
This, they said, has only been used to virtually rob them of their lands and turn the supposed “partners” under what appears to be a lopsided deal to a mere employee, receiving pittance.
“Since its inception, the ASEAN has never been for the interest of the people, but for profit and monopoly capital. It serves to strengthen foreign control over raw materials, labor and supply chains in the region at the expense of the people and nations of Asia Pacific.”
For more than 30 years, BTL farmers have been in a deadlock with the CMU administration over 517 hectares of land.
Protests in the countryside show growing clamor for genuine agrarian reform.
The peasantry may have found an ally in the President, but they know where lies their true strength in struggle.
“That is the reason why we cut the bananas, but if they [guards] will still enter even when there are no more bananas, then they are after the land.”
The bitter plight of Filipino farmers continues past the Aquino administration’s first 100 days and into October which the peasant movement marks as Peasant Month. By IBON Features | IBON FOUNDATION Posted by Bulatlat.com The First 100 Days Report of Pres. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino’s administration made no mention of its program for land reform. This…