1 April 2016 – Karapatan strongly denounces the violent dispersal of the rally of farmers in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato this morning. According to Karapatan member organization Kawagib, as of this writing, two were killed, eighteen persons were wounded, and around 100 were arrested in the said dispersal. At present, the farmers and members of support organizations seeking sanctuary at the United Methodist Church in Kidapawan are being cordoned by members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
1 April 2016 – Karapatan strongly denounces the violent dispersal of the rally of farmers in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato this morning. According to Karapatan member organization Kawagib, as of this writing, two were killed, eighteen persons were wounded, and around 100 were arrested in the said dispersal. At present, the farmers and members of support organizations seeking sanctuary at the United Methodist Church in Kidapawan are being cordoned by members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
We hold Pres. Benigno Aquino III, Department of Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, Liberal Party member and North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza, and PNP Col. Alex Tagum accountable for the said assault on the farmers’ legitimate protest action for the release of 15,000 sacks of rice as subsidy for those affected El Niño phenomenon. The said food aid was previously approved by Governor Taliño-Mendoza. Aside from rice and food aid, farmers are also demanding free distribution of seedlings, increase in the farmgate prices of agricultural crops and immediate pullout of military troops in the North Cotabato towns.
It is disturbing that there are reports citing the campaign sortie of presidential candidate Mar Roxas as the LGU’s reason for the said dispersal. Roxas was campaigning in Cotabato City, two and a half hours away from Kidapawan. There is no justifiable reason for the use of violence against the farmers who are conducting the protest. Since March 30, more than 6,000 farmers from Makilala, Mlang, Tulunan, Magpet, Roxas, Antipas, Arakan towns and Kidapawan City have been conducting the protest action near the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Kidapawan City.