Media Advisory

Philippine Peasant Support Network (Pesante) –USA

Los Angeles, CA

December 18, 2008

Pesante-USA Condemns Philippine CongressJoint Resolution No. 19 on Sham land Reform

Los Angeles- “Cats with gloves cannot catch mice”

The Philippine Peasant Support Network (Pesante)-USA vehemently condemns the anti-peasant Joint Resolution No. 19. Passed by the Philippine Congress before it went to its Christmas season recess.

Pesante-USA stands with and wholeheartedly support the walk-out of progressive party list members and their principled opposition to the landlord schemes. ( Below is the full text of the progressive party list statement)

After more than twenty years of sham land reform we contemptuously called “BIGAY-BAWI”, the ruling clique of the US-Arroyo regime who are prime despotic landlords in their respective areas, consolidated their hold like the landlords of El Salvador and Colombia and really are counter-revolutionaries at heart.

The Filipino peasant population bear the brunt of the exploitative feudal and semi feudal system at the same time hit hardest by the oppressive military machinery in its war of terror in the country sides.

Many of the victims of the flagrant human rights violations of the US-Arroyo regime and its Armed Forces backed by the United States are peasants and peasant advocates like Randal Echanis, KMP deputy secretary general: Elizabeth Principe, woman medical worker, student leader Randy Malayao and many more.

We enjoin the Filipino peasant to resolutely and unceasingly fight for their lands and livelihood. Fight foreign encroachment of their natural resources. United with the workers and other progressive forces of society and fight for genuine land reform and democratic rights!

ANG BUHAY AY LUPA! MAKIBAKA HUWAG MATAKOT!

NO TO SHAM LAND REFORM AND JOINT RESOLUTION 19!

FIGHT FOR REAL AND GENUINE LAND REFORM!

LAND TO THE TILLERS!



Arturo P. Garcia

Pesante-USA Coordinator

Dec. 18, 2008



TEXT OF THE PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS STATEMENT, Dec. 18, 2009



We have decided not to be a party to the landlord-dominated House of Representatives’ pretension and deception of the Filipino peasantry and the people in extending the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). In fact, Joint Resolution 19 removed the compulsory acquisition scheme and exempted lands with notices of coverage, like the Arroyo lands in Negros. This is a shotgun legislation that has killed the anti-peasant CARP. This also further exposed the real character of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who certified the joint resolution as urgent, as the chief political representative of big landlords.

Likewise, we strongly condemn the Arroyo administration and her landlord allies in the House of Representatives for denying Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano’s right to exercise his parliamentary duties, functions, and responsibilities. As the lone farmer representative in Congress, Rep. Mariano is in the best position to interpellate the sponsors of the anti-peasant joint resolution and articulate the Filipino peasantry’s strong opposition to the Arroyo administration’s maneuver to further emasculate CARP.

This sham joint resolution further strengthens the landlords’ monopoly and control over vast tracts of agricultural lands in the country and will surely lead to the massive eviction of peasants and land-grabbing in the countryside.

It will also open the floodgates to the proliferation of various non-land distribution schemes like the Stock Distribution Option in Hacienda Luisita and the corporative scheme in the Cojuangco-controlled lands in Negros.

We call on the Filipino peasantry to intensify the struggle for genuine land reform in the countryside, in the parliament of the streets, and in Congress.



Junk the pro-landlord and bogus CARP!

Expose and oppose the anti-peasant Joint Resolution extending CARP for six months!

Struggle for genuine agrarian reform! Enact House Bill 3059!



Rep. RAFAEL V. MARIANO Rep. SATUR C. OCAMPO

ANAKPAWIS BAYAN MUNA



Rep. LIZA L. MAZA Rep. LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN

GABRIELA GABRIELA



Rep. TEODORO A. CASIÑO

BAYAN MUNA

he Filipino peasant population bear the brunt of the exploitative feudal and semi feudal system at the same time hit hardest by the oppressive military machinery in its war of terror in the country sides.

Many of the victims of the flagrant human rights violations of the US-Arroyo regime and its Armed Forces backed by the United States are peasants and peasant advocates like Randal Echanis, KMP deputy secretary general: Elizabeth Principe, woman medical worker, student leader Randy Malayao and many more.