The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) assailed the Macapagal-Arroyo administration for again diverting the issue on the spate of activist and journalist killings, by saying that this is caused by the growing culture of violence and that media should instead promote the so-called “culture of peace”. 

According to Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary of KMP, “ the government is again passing the buck on media, when in reality this administration itself with its armed apparatus like the AFP and the PNP, are the No.1 proponents of violence in the country. Just take the case of the Hacienda Luisita massacre for example, was it not the military and the police who open fired at the striking farm workers, just look at the human rights violations of this regime and even Marcos will be put to shame,”

“Another point is the continuing murderous attacks not only upon journalists but political activists in the country, to date there are 34 activists killed since the start of the year, the latest of whom were Rev. Edison Lapuz and peasant leader Alberto Malinao both from Leyte. Now why isn’t the president issuing any statement condemning the killings, like what she did with the journalist slayings? Is it because she mandated the killings of these activists or is there no media projection in doing so?” asked the peasant leader.

Meanwhile Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of the group said “Films, TV shows and media reports are just the reflection of reality if it is not happening then these shows would not have any basis. But as it is violence, particularly state violence is very prevalent in our society and it is Gloria’s task to reign in her dogs of war and lift her iron hand. If not then all this talk about the culture of peace is just plain rhetoric,”

“Even in peaceful protests violence erupts when the police comes, because it is state policy, then they say that it is a violent protest. It has even become an internal joke that we activists provide the protest and the police and military provide the violence,” ended Ala. # # #
 

KMP - 17 May 2005