The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), its human rights desk Tanggol Magsasaka and the families of the controversial farmers once again raised their voices in calling for the freedom of the Mamburao 7. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of KMP, “it is high time that they be freed after suffering for more than six years in prison and for an offense that they did not even commit,

“With the release of Lt. Fidelino and Pvt. Nemeno by the NDFP, it is but proper for the GRP to reciprocate the move and set free the Mamburao detainees free as well as all political detainees. If the government can do this then it would be a big boost to the stalled peace talks,” added the peasant leader.

Some members of the families of the Mamburao 7 have traveled from Mindoro to demand the release of their love ones who were unjustly sent to prison by the despotic landlord Ricardo Quintos. One of them is Cora Matricio, wife of Ka Lito Matricio, a former national council member of KMP.

“The case of the Mamburao 7, is a classic example of criminalization of agrarian cases. Land disputes are converted by landlords and the local courts into criminal cases, so that farmers can be sent to jail and pave the way for the land-grabbing of landlords. These unscrupulous people trump up charges against peasants whose only crime if they consider it as one, is to fight for the land they till,” said Prof. Cesar Tolosa, convenor of Tanggol Magsasaka.

“What’s disheartening is that instead of decreasing the criminalization of agrarian cases is now increasing. More and more peasants are being sent to jail simply because they chose to stand up for their lands. This is one of the burdens of the peasantry and we challenge the government to address this problem,” ended Tolosa. # # #

KMP - 21 August 2004