The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) exposed the continuing military operations in Hacienda Luisita after the death and burial of Tarlac City Coun. Abel Ladera. According to Ka Willy Marbella, spokesperson of KMP, “in addition to the more than 100 military and police personnel which entered the hacienda on March 9. Another 100 military personnel this time Scout Rangers, entered the estate and camped at Pasa Tyempo, in Barangay Pasajes. They are really hell-bent on destroying the fighting spirit of the striking workers and stop their struggle for a better life,”

“The NOLCOM has now said that indeed there is a military operation in the hacienda to conduct so-called pursuit operations against “armed elements”, but we know the true reason for them being in the hacienda. They want to maximize the terror effect that the assassination of Coun. Ladera caused, in the vain hope that the residents of the hacienda would back down. The military units inside of the estate belongs to the 7th Infantry Division, 69th Infantry Battalion and the 703rd Brigade,” added the peasant leader.

As for his part, Rodelson “Ka Rodel” Mesa, spokesperson of Alyansa ng Manggagawang-Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), “the zoning operations has started since the other day and now they are concentrating on Brgy. Balete, where Coun. Ladera used to live. We do not have guns in here, the only ones who have are the military themselves and the Yellow Army of the Cojuangcos, now the NOLCOM is again lying to justify their presence in the hacienda,”

Meanwhile in Camarines Norte, the public information officer of KMP-Camarines Norte, named Ernesto Bang, was killed by 4 unidentified armed men around 9-10 pm on March 10,in Brgy. Malangkaw Basud, Labo, Cam Norte. Also the former chairperson of KMP-Cam.Norte Eduardo Avila, was also harassed by the same men during the same night. # # #
 

KMP - 12 March 2005