The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) launched a protest action in Manila to denounce the lies that president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made during the last SONA and the lies she will make in the coming one. “GMA has done nothing to uplift the lives of peasants, instead she is a pest that has afflicted our already dire existence,” said Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group.

“ Gloria is like the golden kuhol and the janitor fish which were imported to help farmers and fisher-folks but in the long run turned out to be pests and wrecked the lives of rural-folk. GMA’s policies since she came to office has been designed it seems to destroy our lives and livelihood,” added Ramos.

As part of her 10 point program Gloria is supposed to give 1-2 million hectares of agricultural lands to agri-business which would cause a more massive landlessness problem on peasants. She is also planning to implement a new tax program that will include farmers and fishermen, as well as lift the tax exemption of agricultural and marine products.

“These measures are geared to kill the peasant sector and promote the total sell out of our land to foreign interests. Although these moves violates the provisions of the Constitution on national patrimony and social justice, with Cha-cha in the air, this wholesale betrayal is just around the corner.” expounded Ramos.

“In the countryside we know how to deal with pests, and if push comes to shove we will let Gloria know how we do it,” ended Ramos. # # # 
 

KMP - 23 July 2004