JUSTICE OVERDUE. Farmers converge Thursday, January 22, 2009 in Davao City in the southern Philippines to join nationwide calls for justice for 13 peasants slain in what has been called the “Mendiola massacre”, which happened during the Aquino administration 22 years ago today. The Mendiola massacre, also called Black Thursday by some Filipino journalists, was an incident that took place in Mendiola Street in San Miguel village in Manila on January 22, 1987, in which state security forces violently dispersed a farmers' march on Malacañang Palace. Many were also wounded when government anti-riot forces opened fire on the marchers. (Davaotoday.com Photo / Jonald Mahinay)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 22, 2009) - The clamor for justice over the massacre in Mendiola Bridge that led to the murder of 13 farmers and injury of 39 others twenty two years ago still echoes today in the streets.
Like the more than 20,000 farmers who were protesting in Mendiola, Manila on January 22, 1987, landless farmers from all over the country hold protest actions in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform and other government agencies Thursday because the situation has far worsened and the institutionalized killing of farmers has gone unabated over the years, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)–Southern Mindanao.
“Social injustice has become a state policy through the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. With more than 7 out of 10 farmers deprived of land, farmers have been enslaved by big landlords and transnational corporations which own vast tracts of agricultural lands turned into cash crop plantations,” Tony Salubre, KMP-SMR Secretary General, said in a statement.
He also lambasted the six-month CARP extension which was passed under the speakership of Cong. Prospero Nograles saying it is a mere “consuelo de bobo” to appease the farmers clamoring for genuine land reform.
“The six-month CARP extension does not provide any concrete benefit for farmers. CARP beneficiaries continue to be besieged by amortization payments and high-interest rates, the monopoly of land by big landlords and TNC's, land and crop conversion, food insecurity and the repressive state policies that are used to silence us,” Salubre said.
KMP instead called for the passage into law of HOUSE BILL 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) which aims for free land distribution to farmers and farm workers.
Meanwhile, farmers from the Davao City 's farming districts condemned the unabated killing of farmers under the military's counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya 2.
“The death of our colleague, leader and friend Celso Pojas still cry for justice. After his death, the killing of other farmer–leaders went unabated. This attack on farmers and members of farmers' organizations clearly shows that the armed forces serve not the interest of the poor masses but that of the rich," he said.
Last year, at least at least 5 other farmers have been reported killed by motorcycle gunmen in bonnets. After Pojas, other victims of political killings were Danny Qualbar, from New Bataan, Compostela Valley; Rolando Antohilao, from Kapalong, Davao Del Norte; Isabelo Celing, from Monkayo, Compostela Valley; and father and son Rodrigo Panugan Sr and Rodrigo Panugan Jr. from Davao del Sur.
As of November last year, 933 were victims of extrajudicial killings in the country. Of these 528 are farmers and 129 are KMP leaders.
Salubre said: “As long as the problem of land remain unresolved, farmers will continue to struggle for their right to claim the land that is due them, despite the state's weaponry and fascist ploys that kill their ranks."
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