Karapatan condemned the arrest of Antonio Flores, 66, Secretary General of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the violent dispersal of the Manilakbayan contingent who held a picket yesterday at the residence of BS Aquino at Times St., Quezon City. Farmers from Hacienda Luisita and those from Southern Tagalog joined the Manilakbayan in the protest. Flores is now detained at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.
Karapatan condemned the arrest of Antonio Flores, 66, Secretary General of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the violent dispersal of the Manilakbayan contingent who held a picket yesterday at the residence of BS Aquino at Times St., Quezon City. Farmers from Hacienda Luisita and those from Southern Tagalog joined the Manilakbayan in the protest. Flores is now detained at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.
Malacañang called the protest action “vandalism”.
“From ‘terrorism’ to ‘hooliganism’ to ‘vandalism’, the BS Aquino government has an array of name-calling reserved for the protesters. For lack of any action to the legitimate demands of Manilakbayan ng Mindanao, the BS Aquino regime only resorts to labeling to trivialize and belittle the legitimate demands of Mindanaoans for food and peace,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan’s secretary general.
“The Manilakbayan contingent demands from the government the pull-out of AFP troops in Mindanao, withdrawal of trumped up charges against indigenous peoples and land right activists, and justice for victims of political killings and rights violations,” she added.
Yesterday, November 29, was the last day given to BS Aquino to respond to the demands of the Manilakbayan. On November 24, Lumad leaders posted the kodaw with five knots at the Freedom gate at Mendiola. The kodaw is the Lumad’s way of sending messages.
The Quezon City Police led by P/Supt. Pedro Sanchez violently dispersed the more than 300 protesters; hit them with truncheons and nightsticks, and chased them from Times St. to the intersection of Delta-Timog Ave.
One of the rallyists, Jayvee Apiag of Karapatan-North Cotabato, collapsed after police hit his collarbone. He was brought to the East Avenue Hospital. Apiag and company were already onboard a vehicle when police caught up with them and started clubbing them. “The police climbed our vehicle. Some of us were hit on the knees and lower legs,” said Apiag.
“It is the second time the Philippine National Police dispersed the Manilakbayan contingent and the groups that accompany them in their protest actions. Aquino remains mum on the demands of the Mindanaoans. Instead, he chose to use brute force against the Manilakbayan contingent in Metro Manila; and military attacks in the communities where they came from,” said Cristina Palabay, Secretary General of Karapatan.
“BS Aquino is wrong in thinking that he can ignore the cries of the Mindanaons by using police brutality, and harassing the people and bombing their communities in Mindanao. Ang mamamayan ang maghuhusga. The Filipino people will ultimately judge him and the crimes of his regime,” Palabay added.
As the Manilakbayan contingent was on its way to Metro Manila, on-going military operations that included bombings have resulted in the evacuation of indigenous peoples in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur and in three villages in Claveria town, Misamis Oriental.