Militants blame Aquino for death of Kidapawan farmers

A MILITANT youth group blamed President Benigno Aquino III for the deaths of at least three people during a protest in Kidapawan City last Friday.

In a rally held in front of the University of the Philippines - Manila, League of Filipino Students (LFS) national chairperson Charisse Bañez said that Aquino employs marital rule in North Cotabato to cover up his ineptness to provide support for the farmers affected by the seven-month drought.

Bañez said human rights violations continue in Kidapawan City even after the bloody dispersal of farmers at a highway in Kidapawan City last April 1 that killed at least three people and injured 116 others.

"It is appalling that even after killing, the Aquino regime through its Liberal Party allies-North Cotabato Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza and Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evanghelista - continues to attack the wounded and starving farmers," Bañez said.

Bañez said that the group is aware of the continued violation of human rights in Kidapawan as they have representatives in the fact-finding committee.

"We are well aware that even after the event last April 1, nagpapatuloy pa rin ang mga human rights violations. Patuloy silang tinatakot, kinakasahan ng baril at tini-threathen na babarilin sila," Bañez said.

The LFS chairperson also said that aside from the farmers, journalists covering the protests are also threatened.

"Tinethreaten yung mga journalists din, pinatayan ng kuryente, nakakurdon yung AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) at PNP (Philippine National Police) sa kanila, ganun 'yung scenaio dun," Bañez said.

The LFS chairperson urged the public to join different activists groups that will hold mass protest on April 8 in Mendiola St., Manila.

"Humihingi kami ng tulong sa mga mamayang pilipino na magkaisa para sa mga magsasaka sa Mindanao," she said.

Bañez said the youth and students have scheduled more protests, gathering and activities this week to gather support for the farmers in Mindanao. (Sunnex)

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