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Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Farmers killed in agrarian-related violence honored
CLOSE to 300 farmers of the national peasant federation Task Force Mapalad (TFM) paid tribute to their fellow farmers who died due to agrarian related violence last Nov. 1, at the Fountain of Justice fronting Bacolod City Hall.
The farmers marched from the Bacolod Cathedral to the Fountain of Justice and held a liturgy to commemorate their deceased members.
They lit candles and wore black arm bands to symbolize their call for peace in the haciendas.
TFM said agrarian reform in the province worsened since October 2002 due to stiff resistance from landowners to give up their properties.
The Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) delay and reluctance to implement agrarian reform has emboldened former landowners to resist through the use of guns and other ploys, TFM said.
TFM added agrarian-related disputes already claimed the lives of its two members — Ronilo Vasquez, killed in February 2001 by goons of landowner Farley Gustilo in Hda. Cambutot in La Castellana and Indak Espartero, killed in May 2003 by farmers and goons allied with landowner Miguel Lacson in Hda. San Benito in Moises Padilla.
TFM also paid tribute to farmers who are yet to claim their lands at the time of their death.
Among them was William Jaro, TFM farmer leader and rightful owner of the 73-hectare Hda. Sol in Cadiz City.
TFM also called on the government to protect the farmers’ rights under the law through investigation of human rights violations against farmers.
They also demanded for the immediate resolution of cases filed against farmers in regular courts.
TFM has documented 40 criminal and civil cases of former landowners against a total of 685 farmers.
(November 3, 2003 issue)
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