The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) the obvious malicious mischief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) particularly the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of always saying that the Hacienda Luisita strike has been infiltrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). According to Ka Willy Marbella, spokesperson of KMP, “this is as blatant move of the AFP to muddle the issue regarding the strike and to project it as a matter of national security, thereby justifying their  massive deployment in the estate,”

“The most recent hoax of the AFP is the encounter in Victoria, Tarlac, which the military by an awful strech of imagination links with the strike in the hacienda. The AFP it seems is hellbent on scuttling the scheduled talks between Don Pedro Cojuangco, chairman of the board of the HLI and the striking United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU) and Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CATLU) tomorrow,” added the peasant leader.

“The military is afraid that it would be a slap on their faces that the strike would be settled without them so they are inventing so many scenarios to destabilize the situation. But as things would show the military, the police or the hired goons of the Cojuangcos are not needed. All the strikers want to have is a sincere negotiation with the decision-makers of the corporation and for their demands to be given,” expounded Marbella.

“The strikers attest that militarization in the barrios inside the estate is worsening and many strikers are being harassed by ther AFP, PNP and the hired goons of the Cojuangcos. This seems to be a prelude to a another violent dispersal,” added Marbella.

“Now, with the CBCP’s ad the president’s call for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the military should stand down and leave the hacienda; for this is a civilian matter. They have no right to be there, it is their violence to the strikers that push them to the wall,” ended Marbella. # # #

KMP - 27 January 2005