Farmers demand agrarian reform, end to farmer killings
(Farmers and various progressive groups gather at Mendiola for the Lakbay Magsasaka. Photo by Angelika Ortega, Dapitan Post)
Around 4000 farmers all over the country trooped to Mendiola on October 25 for “Lakbay Magsasaka.”
Various peasant groups marched along España Blvd. to call for “genuine” agrarian reform and end to killing of farmer leaders.
“Kami [sa Makabayan bloc] ay nakikiisa sa panawagan na ‘stop the killing of the farmers’ at siyempre [sa panawagan] sa hustisya para sa lahat ng biktima ng political at extrajudicial killings,” former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rafael Mariano said in an interview with Dapitan Post.
Human rights group Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights recorded the killings of 91 activist farmers from July 2016 to Sept. 2017, the first 14 months of Duterte’s term.
As of Aug. 31, some 81 farmers have been killed out of 88 victims of extrajudicial killings in the country, Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights reported.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chairman, moreover, urged the execution of “genuine” agrarian reform in the country.
“Hindi magkakaroon ng pundamental na repormang panlipunan at ekonomiya kung hindi mapapatupad ang tunay na repormang agraryo at pambansang industralisasyon,” Mariano said.
The former secretary said “genuine” agrarian reform signs include cutback of land taxes, increase in the price of farmers’ products and the wages of the farm workers, and development in the production of goods.
The protesters also demanded the passage of House Bill (HB) no. 555 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill.
“Until now thousands of hectares of land are under the control of hacienderos,” Anakpawis Partylist Representative Ariel Casilao, who was also present in the rally, said in a gathering of farmers in Naga City last Oct. 23.
The bill, which was filed by Casilao, along with Carlos Isagani Zarate, Emmi De Jesus, Antonio Tinio, Arlene Brosas, France Castro and Sarah Jane Elago, seeks to distribute free land to tillers and would cover all agricultural lands, regardless of the crops.
Thomasians, youth groups welcome Lakbay Magsasaka delegates
Thomasians and several youth groups welcomed on Wednesday the peasant groups at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
“Kami po ay nakikidalamhati sa mga pamilya’t mahal sa buhay na namatayan na magsasaka. Napaka-importante ng mga magsasaka sa Pilipinas; sila ang bumbuhay sa mga nasa siyudad, pagdating sa pagkain, pagdating sa mga pangangailangan natin sa pang-araw-araw,” UST Simbahayan Community Development Office Director Mark Abenir said in an interview with Dapitan Post.
A mass, which was presided by Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, for the peasant groups of Lakbay Magsasaka was conducted earlier in the morning at the UST Santisimo Parish.
A solidarity lunch for the farmers at the Tan Yan Kee (TYK) Building followed.
Abenir also stated that UST Simbahayan would continue to support the movements for human rights.
“Patuloy [ang] pag-suporta sa mga kilusan na kung saan pinapahalagahan ang karapatan ng mga tao para mabuhay. Ito lang din naman ang palaging panawagan ng simabahan na tayo ay maging simbahan para sa mga mahihirap, para sa mga naaapi,” Abenir said.
