“Starving farmers to death is not enough. From the national government, through BS Aquino and Dept. of Agriculture Sec. Proseso Alcala and Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Senen Sarmiento, to the local government through North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, who are all Liberal Party stalwarts, have used terror tactics against the struggling farmers of North Cotabato and their supporters to cover-up their criminal negligence,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.
“Starving farmers to death is not enough. From the national government, through BS Aquino and Dept. of Agriculture Sec. Proseso Alcala and Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Senen Sarmiento, to the local government through North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, who are all Liberal Party stalwarts, have used terror tactics against the struggling farmers of North Cotabato and their supporters to cover-up their criminal negligence,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.
“The whole package of human rights violations from April 1 to present against the farmer protesters asking for food aid are the usual response of the BS Aquino government to escape accountability,” Palabay said. Karapatan has listed down the various rights violations.
1. Extrajudicial killings—there are at least two documented victims killed in the shooting during the violent dispersal by the Philippine National Police on April 1. They are Enrico Fabligar and Darwin Sulang. Karapatan fears that there are more victims during the shooting, which the police authorities try to hide by preventing paralegals, lawyers and human rights workers inspect hospitals and morgues.
2. Frustrated extrajudicial killings—based on video footage from of Kilab Multimedia, police and military were seen firing directly at protesters. At least 37 persons were wounded.
3. Illegal arrest and detention—at least 79 farmers and ordinary Kidapawan residents were illegally arrested during the dispersal, including three pregnant women and three senior citizens.
4. Violent dispersal—Police and soldiers under no circumstances are allowed to carry guns during rallies. There is no justification for using firearms to disperse any form of mass action or public assemblies.
5. Violation of right to counsel—many detainees were interrogated by the police, social workers from the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development and other government authorities, without the presence of their lawyer.
6. Denial of humanitarian aid—The delivery of medicines, food and even sacks of rice from people’s organizations and supporters was prevented or stalled by the police.
7. Illegal checkpoint, restriction of movement—the police and military prevented the flow of vehicles, even individuals going in and out of the United Methodist Church compound where the protesting farmers sought snactuary. People are compelled to sign in a police logbook.
8. Threat, harassment and intimidation—Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) tanks, and police and elements of the 38th Infantry Battalion in full battle gear cordoned the surroundings of the UMC.
9. Trumped up charges against leaders and protestors – Many peasant leaders and injured farmers in the hospitals are now facing charges of direct assault, as if they weren’t the ones victimized by the terror of the police.
10. Illegal search of the buildings inside the UMC compound—the search warrant used by the police was invalid because it was a general search warrant that did not specify the kind of firearms the police were after.
"This worthless yellow government even resorts to victim-blaming and red scare tactics to justify the terror it used against the farmers. It is a lame attempt to redirect the issue away from the bigger question: Where are the El Niño funds allocated for the farmers of North Cotabato?” Palabay said.
“One can’t help but think that the P14M calamity fund intended for North Cotabato which includes food aid of 15,000 sacks of rice, has already been used up to ensure the victory of Liberal Party presidential bet Mar Roxas,” Palabay said. ###