“While the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Report on the Kidapawan carnage confirms the failure of the government to provide a timely and appropriate response to the needs of the El Niño-affected farmers and the accountability of State forces in the violent dispersal, it also parroted the BS Aquino regime’s attempt to obfuscate the issue raised by the farmers by equally blaming the protesters,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.
“While the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Report on the Kidapawan carnage confirms the failure of the government to provide a timely and appropriate response to the needs of the El Niño-affected farmers and the accountability of State forces in the violent dispersal, it also parroted the BS Aquino regime’s attempt to obfuscate the issue raised by the farmers by equally blaming the protesters,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.
Palabay added that "by doing this, the CHR muddled the legitimacy of the farmers’ protest. It also justifies the State’s use of force and in the killing, illegal arrest and other rights violations against the protesting farmers. It is eerily silent on the regime’s numerous efforts to cover up these violations."
Palabay asserted there was no deceit on the part of the rally organizers led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas as CHR claimed. “In fact the organization has correctly led the farmers in asserting their right to demand for calamity funds and to air their other legitimate concerns.”
“The State instigated the violent dispersal. Why does the CHR blame the KMP for the violence committed against the farmers? Why blame the protesters who were clearly acting in self-defense against police truncheons and police guns and bullets?” Palabay added.
“Victim blaming has been used by the BS Aquino regime to dodge accountability. It also belittles the capacity of the masses to air and fight for their legitimate demands,” Palabay ended.