Peasants hold protests in Mindanao, remember massacre of farmers 23 years ago

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 22, 2010) - In commemoration to the 23rd year of the Mendiola Massacre, hundreds of farmers belonging to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Anakpawis partylist staged a march rally in Davao City in Mindanao on Friday and demanded justice and genuine agrarian reform in the Philippines.

“Today, we mark history as we deliver the strongest condemnation against the continuing exploitation of the poor Filipino peasants and the worsening landlessness within the framework of the bogus and inutile Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms,” said Pedro Arnado, chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas - Southern Mindanao and regional coordinator of the Anakpawis partylist.

More than 700 farmers from Davao City, Davao Oriental and Davao Del Sur provinces together with representatives from the various sectoral and cause-oriented groups also dramatized and reenacted the so-called Mendiola Massacre which occurred 23 years ago. The action also emphasized the farmers' demand for genuine land reform.

The groups’ protest march ended at in front of the congressional office of House Speaker Prospero Nograles, whom they were holding responsible for the passage of the extended CARP and for authoring the House Resolution 737 which seeks to allow 100% foreign ownership of Filipino land.

“Speaker Nograles committed the worst crimes against the Filipino farmers when he allowed the passage of CARPER and have initiated a resolution that wants to sell out our lands and resources to foreign capitalists. He has further betrayed the country by conniving with Gloria Arroyo's attempt to change the constitution,” Arnado said.

A similar protests were also held by thousands of farmers in different parts of Mindanao in solidarity with the peasant groups.

In Manila, more than 7,000 farmers are expected to march to the Mendiola Bridge where the culminating protest of the 10-day Caravan for Land and Justice will be held.

22 years after Mendiola Massacre, farmers still are landless and killings of peasants go unabated

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."