Ni TILDE ACUÑA Bulatlat.com 1. Batayang pangangailangan ang bigas sa bayang agrikultural. 2. Kapag natuyo ang sakahan, magkakaroon ng kakulangan sa bigas. 3. Magsasaka ang nagtatanim, ang nagbabayo, ang nagsasaing. 4. Panginoong maylupa at usurero ang labis kung kumain. 5. Kapag El Nino, tag-tuyot. Kapag tag-tuyot, tag-gutom. 6. Kapag krisis, dapat tulungan ng gobyerno ang…
Filipinos and foreigners responded to the call for a Global Day of Action for Land, Food and Justice. They condemned the April 1 violent dispersal of farmers’ barricade in Kidapawan City and called for immediate aid for drought-stricken Filipino farmers.
One week after the violent dispersal of farmers’ barricade in Kidapawan City, progressive groups and supporters held a protest in Manila. They condemned the silence of President Benigno Aquino III on the issue.
“Just like the people of Eastern Visayas who suffered from typhoon Yolanda, the farmers in North Cotabato were also abandoned by the Aquino regime in the midst of El Niño.”
“Bumaba na sila dahil wala naman slang nagagawang kabutihan para sa mamamayan lalo na sa mga mahihirap na tao… Nagmasaker sila ng mga taong walang ibang kahilingan kundi bigas.” (They should step down because they are not doing anything good for the people, especially the poor…They massacred those who were only asking for rice.) — Nora Aunor
“Kung walang baril dun hindi nangyari yung may namatay at may naputukan (If there were no guns used, no one would have died or have suffered from gunshot).”
“The situation would not have escalated into a bloody tragedy if the government had admitted their lapses and heeded the call of the farmers.”
“It is preposterous that a church compound – a sanctuary for many victims and those seeking the kind intervention of the Church – has been made into a military/police camp since April 1.”
“This goes to show how the people can do even more than this regime.”