[asia-apec 477] Philippine peasant centennial protest (fwd)

[PAN Asia Pacific]

FORWARDED MAIL -------
From: kmp at info.com.ph
Date: 17 Jun 98

KMP warns Estrada against foreigners owning agri land=20

By Ernesto Generoso
Manila Newsfeatures and Commentaries
Philippine Tribune=20
16 June 1998
=09
MANILA (MNC) -  Militant peasant groups have issued a warning to
President-elect Joseph Estrada not to  encourage Charter changes that will
allow foreigners to own lands in  the Philippines.

 Rafael Mariano, chair of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP),
lambasted the allegedly empty claims of the Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) of the supposed 4.6 million hectares titled to three million peasants
in the 10 years existence of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform  Program=
 (CARP).

 In the last 25 years , the only 1.4 million hectares are private lands
tokenly transferred to tenants. The rest are leasehold or non-land transfer
schemes and reforestation contracts of public lands leased out by the
Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Mariano said.

 Of that 1.4 million, many are still being repossessed by landlords in cases
crawling in the courts, quasi-judicial and administrative bodies, but booked
by  the DAR to produce impressive figures, he added.

 Mariano also criticized Estrada for encouraging foreign ownership of land
when there are presently 11 million landless peasants.
=20
 Erap wants to outdo Ramos on merely leasing to foreign investors for 75
years as decreed  by Republic Act  7652, he said. Erap  wants a total
sellout  that would make the Garchitorena scandal and many other
CARP-inspired land scams look petty.

 Another militant women's group also condemned the CARP for alleged
historical  injustices  to  peasants comprising 70 percent of Filipinos.

 Zen Soriano of Amihan, a national federation of women peasant groups,
bluntly stated  that the sole centennial gift of the Ramos administration to
the peasants is the further confiscation of lands in favor of landlords who
got rich with lands rewarded for loyalty to American interests.

 Soriano  pointed out that when the US  invaded the Philippines at the turn
of the century, only .8 percent of the population owned 35 percent of the
total farm area. Today , only .54 percent of the population own 48 percent
of the total agricultural lands.
 =20
 The KMP said  3,000 peasants, trade unionists and church supporters from
Southern Tagalog region will conduct mass protests, starting at the Malolos
Barasoain Church and the Redemptorist Church in  Pasay.

 A march to Malacanang will be held on the 10th anniversary of CARP. Some
6,000 Mindanao peasants,  who stormed the Kidapawan City, North Cotabato
warehouse of the National Food Authority last  May, will regroup to  demand
the distribution of tenanted lands and the release of food promised to
families affected by the El Ni=F1o drought.

 Local chapters of the KMP, Amihan and Pamalakaya will picket
agency officesand local governments in Calapan (Mindoro Oriental),
Mamburao (Mindoro Occidental ), Lucena City , Gumaca, Infanta,
Catanauan (Quezon), Sultan Kudarat, Iloilo City and other urban
centers. 

Manila Newsfeatures and Commentaries