The left-leaning Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) together with its 62 provincial chapters and 15 regional chapters will start the week long protest in commemoration of the martyrs of the Mendiola Massacre, on Januray 22,18 years ago during the term of former Pres. Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. As can be remembered 13 farmers were killed when Marines guarding Malacanang open fired at the ranks of the KMP rally demanding genuine land reform. 

“After 18 years justice is yet to be served to the martyrs of  Mendiola and the subsequent regimes have only added to the list of martyred peasants the most recent of which are the martyrs of the Hacienda Luisita massacre,” said Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of KMP.

“And to add insult to injury, the demands of peasants have not been addressed up till now. Seven out of ten farmers still do not own the land they till and this number is even increasing due to land-grabbing and land-use conversion. What’s worse is that when peasants stand up and fight for their rights, the full force of the state is set against them, like what happened in Mendiola, Lupao, Paumbong, Hacienda Looc and Hacienda Luisita,” added the peasant leader.

Meanwhile Ka Willy Marbella, spokesperson of the group “a perfect example of which is the case of the Hacienda Luisita where the victims are the ones being blamed for their plight and the antagonistic landlords, as well as the fascist military who ordered and performed the bloody dispersal respectively got away scot free. They even have the gall not to face the strikers to negotiate and end the dispute,”

Now the workers of CATLU are being ordered by the DOLE to return to work, without giving the demands of the workers and as if to  sweep under the rug the death of their fellow workers.

“The family of Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino as well as the government is pushing us against the wall and we have no choice but to fight. If we don’t we will die of hunger, better to die fighting, rather than have your tail between your legs,” ended Marbella. # # #

KMP - 17 January 2005