AJLPP –USA Condemns the latest killing of ANAKPAWIS Provincial Coordinator and NAMDSS Chair Atong Pacaide of Davao Sur

Los Angeles --The Alliance for A Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) –USA condemn in the most strongest terms possible the brazen killing of Renato “Atong” Pacaide, general secretary of the peasant organization, NAMDDS. a chapter of the KMP ( Peasant Movement of the Philippines and Provincial Coordinator of party list group ANAKPAWIS last March 2, 2007

At the around 10:45 in the morning, Renato T. Pacaide was crossing Rizal Avenue towards Lim Street on his way to the NAMADDS office when a red DT Yamaha motorcycle with two men on board stopped. One of the men shot Renato. He tried to run away from his assailants but they were able to catch up with him and finished him off by shooting him on the head. He sustained four gunshot wounds.

Witnesses said that the driver of the motorcycle was wearing a ski mask but the triggerman did not have any covering on his face. He reportedly used a .45 caliber pistol with a "silencer".

Atong, as peers and associates fondly called him, was a vocal critic of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and a well-known political activist in Davao del Sur. As the Secretary General of NAMADDS, he was active in the struggle on issues confronting the Davao del Sur farmers such as mining and land grabbing in the guise of so-called development projects.

He was also the Provincial Coordinator of Anakpawis "Toiling Masses" – a duly accredited national political party that promotes and advances the patriotic and democratic aspirations of the marginalized sectors of workers, peasants, fisher folk and other rural and urban poor

The AJLPP –USA bewails the "climate of impunity " (lantarang kawalanghiyaan) and brazenness (sobrang kagarapalan) that the UN human rights official Phillip Alston and even the Melo Commission reported. This condition that equals that of the US-Marcos dictatorship from 1972-1986 and being perpetrated by the puppet US—Arroyo regime.

While the likes of Atong Pacaide of Davao Sur is being waylaid in broad daylight who will believe that the Arroyo presidency can stop political killings?

AJLPP -USA beleives that only a determined and united people and their militant movement can bring these fascist dispensation to an end and ultimalty give justice to the people.

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