The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) is now readying its forces to face head-on the Palace machinations to change the charter. This is in light of the fact that yesterday the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), said that they would start a people’s initiative to amend the constitution by garnering 5 million signatures in support for it. 

According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of KMP, “it is obvious that the move of ULAP is a self-serving maneuver because it will ensure a longer term for them, up to 2010 at the least. We are also doubtful of the method they are going to use in garnering these signatures, because we are well aware of their dubious tactics in having people sign blank papers, through deceit, others with the use of money and if still it does not work through force, like what Marcos did during Martial rule to perpetuate himself in power,”

“The local government units are also misrepresenting the people by calling their ploy a people’s initiative but in truth it is just one of the back-up plans of Malacanang to amend the charter. They are willing to sacrifice our country’s sovereignty and patrimony just to stay in power. For us peasants, the direct immediate devastation that Cha-cha would bring is the 100% foreign ownership of land; this means further dislocations and land-grabbings. This is a life and death struggle for us,” added Ramos.

“For this reason we will go all-out in stopping Cha-cha and to oust Gloria, we will counter their every move on all fronts, we will launch campaigns to make the anti-cha-cha, and Anti-Arroyo groups become stronger. For the ULAP plan, we will mobilize our 1.4 million members to gather an equal number or more of anti-cha-cha signatures all over the country. We will also relaunch our “Piso Laban sa Cha-cha Campaign” to be a source fund for out anti-Arroyo and anti-cha-cha activities,” said the peasant leader.

“With this and the resolve of our members we will intensify and launch more protests actions against this fascist regime, in fact we have most of the year covered with protests, the opening salvo of which will be the Mendiola massacre anniversary commemoration and the 5th anniversary of EDSA 2,” ended Ramos. # # #
 

KMP - 8 January 2006