Militant peasants to help in CHR probe

Jun. 07, 2007

AFP systematically delaying investigation on Jonas case!-KMP

MANILA — The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) together with church people from different denominations gathered today at the Miriam College for the Interfaith Rural Congress to call for genuine land reform and to demand that those who were abducted by military forces be surfaced immediately to be with their friends and family. Relatives of the disappeared are also present at the congress.


According to Danilo Ka Daning Ramos, secretary general of KMP, Jonas Burgos, Nilo Arado, Sherilyn Cadapan, Karen Empeno among others like us have all been working for genuine land reform or the free distribution of land to its tillers. We have all criticized the fake Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) because even after 19 years it has not solved the problem of landlessness in the country and has in fact made it worse,
We are helping farmers to get organized and to fight for their rights. In some areas we also teach sustainable agriculture and other means so that farmers can improve their livelihood. This in general is what KMP does and this is our answer to Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Dominador Calamba as to the nature of our work. As for Jonas particular line of work we can also arrange for interviews with the farmers he thought and maybe even a visit to a sample farm, said Ramos.
We are going to cooperate with the CHR to locate Jonas and the others, unlike the military which is systematically delaying the investigation so that they can further hide the truth and make more alibis. After more than a month of Jonas abduction, the AFP has hardly done anything to find him, instead they have been working to derail and sabotage the investigation, added the peasant leader.
First, ISAFP chief Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit snubbed 2 hearings of the CHR. Second, when the family and comrades of Jonas came to Camp Aguinaldo to look for him; they were turned away by truncheons and loud music. Third, AFP Chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, did not show up for a dialogue with the family and fourth the AFP refuses to give the family a copy of the Provost Marshals report on the license plates used on the vehicle to abduct Jonas. If this does not look that they are delaying the investigation and hiding something, then I dont what it is. But one thing is certain we will do everything in our power to find Jonas and the others ended Ramos. # # #

IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to Davao Today for publication. Please email your materials to davaotoday @ gmail.com. Davao Today is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of Davao Today and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.

comments powered by Disqus