NEWS RELEASE
November 16, 2021
On the 17th commemoration of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, youth peasant advocates group demand land and justice!
Manila, Philippines—The youth peasants advocates group National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates-Youth (NNARA-Youth) stands with farmers as they continuously struggle for land, rights, justice, and peace.
The Hacienda Luisita Massacre has reached its 17th commemoration, yet justice remains elusive for the seven farmers who were killed by government forces during the picket-protest action seeking land reform on November 16, 2004.
According to Melo Cabello, NNARA-Youth National Spokesperson, “The condition of Filipino farmers’ continue to worsen due to the lack of genuine agrarian reform, liberalization in agriculture, and militarization in their communities.”
The country has undergone 11 land reform programs, from the Magsaysay administration up to the present. However, the struggle of farmers for their right over land continues. “Up to the present, farmers have no control over the lands they till. According to Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, 7 out of 10 farmers remain landless and data in other provinces even suggests that 9 out of 10 farmers are landless in some areas,” he added.
The farmers have continually been a victim of state fascism. “Three administrations have passed since the massacre, but up until now, the farmers of Hacienda Luisita continue to demand land and justice. Every year farmers are being killed for asserting their right to the lands they till. Under the Duterte administration alone, more than 342 farmers have been killed.”
The NTF-ELCAC, along with the military and police, has been hell-bent on red-tagging peasant activists. The entire bureaucracy has been utilized by militarists to carry out bloody counterinsurgency campaigns, which often target civilian farmers. The peasant advocate pointed out that, “As long as farmers are landless and subjected to feudal exploitation, our country will remain a fertile ground for revolution. Genuine agrarian reform is a key to ending the armed conflict and achieving genuine development in our country.”
“As the 2022 elections near, let us challenge the candidates to include in their platforms genuine agrarian reform, food sovereignty, and pro-people policies that would serve the interest of the Filipino masses” he added.
Cabello ends with calling for the support of fellow youth advocates and all pro-farmer citizens, “Filipino farmers struggle fighting even in their worsening conditions. Let us stand in solidarity with them! Let us elect officials who will join the farmers in their fight for land and justice because the struggle of the farmers is the struggle of the whole nation.” ###
#RememberLuisita
#HaciendaBuwagin
#StopKillingFarmers
#StandWithFarmers
NNARA-Youth 