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The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) cast a shadow of a doubt on the San Miguel Corporation denial that it is not interested in the acquisition of the Hacienda Luisita Incorporated. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “there is indeed talks going on that Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco is planning to get a controlling share of the his cousins’ sugar estate. The SMC is that it is in accordance with its vision of becoming a major logistics and trade hub in Southeast Asia. The denial is just to escape from public scrutiny and to have more leverage in the bargaining,” “Cory and Danding may be political rivals, particularly during the Marcos era, but they have the same economic interest, that is inimical to the farm-workers and workers in the hacienda. In fact more than 300 workers have already been laid off by the HLI, but without ample basis, even the union president was fired. It seems that the HLI is clearing the way for the smooth turn over of the company to Danding. They are eliminating the ones who would offer resistance to this move,” added the peasant leader. As can be remembered the HLI is a 6,000 hectare sugar plantation which became very controversial when under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, it was not touched and instead put under a “stock distribution option”, thereby preserving and further expanding of the Cojuangcos’ monopoly of the land. As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, “Danding’s interest in Hacienda Luisita means massive retrenchment will be done on the plantation. This would also mean that human rights violations done by the military, guards and goons in the hacienda would intensify. If anything happens to our members, then we only have the Cojuangcos to blame,” “The farmers in Hacienda Luisita have long
been there even before it was named, now they are being forced out of the
land that they poured their sweat and blood to till. Now they only receive
a pittance of a salary at P9.50,and now they do not even have the right
to till their land. If this continues then the Cojuangcos will taste the
united strength of the peasants,” ended Ala. # # #
KMP - 4 November 2004 |
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