KASAMA-TK/ KMP
Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan
c/o 306 Brgy. Maahas, Los Banos, Laguna
Tel # (02)4018843

Press Release                                                                        Reference: Orly Marcellana
January 19, 2008                                                                     Secretary General: KASAMA – TK
 
SOUTHERN TAGALOG PEASANTS DETERMINED TO REACH MENDIOLA
TO CALL FOR SCRAPPING OF CARP
 
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim's firm stand that he will not allow protesters at Mendiola is not dissuading peasants from Southern Tagalog from continuing their March for Land, Food, and Social Justice which they intend to culminate there on January 22.  
 
"We have been marching for three days and are on the fourth day of our protest march to air our call for genuine land reform and the scrapping of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).   We have already surpassed numerous blockades, endured the sun and rain, and sacrificed much of our time and effort.  In the first place, there is no reason for the police and military to block us because our calls are legitimate," Orly Marcellana, secretary general of KASAMA-TK, said.
 
The peasants began their march in Nasugbu, Batangas last Wednesday in a bid to highlight their call against the government's plan to extend CARP and for the implementation of a genuine land reform program embodied in the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (House Bill 3059).
 
The peasants have been blocked by police two times since the start of their protest march – at the boundary of Alfonso and Tagaytay and at Pala-Pala, both in Cavite.   Earlier, members of the military went around communities in Nasugbu in an effort to prevent peasants from joining the Lakbayan. 
 
Marcellana called on fellow peasants to unite with them in pushing for a land reform that will truly answer their problems instead of superficial land awards under CARP that are easily reclaimed.   "We call on all peasants to look at the real picture of CARP and no longer be deceived by its illusion of land distribution.  The nineteen years of its implementation has already proven its falsity; the numerous agrarian cases siding the landlords prove this.   Extending the CARP or simply reforming it will only let us sink deeper into poverty," Marcellana said.
 
At around 10AM today, more peasants and supporters from Laguna and Quezon joined the other peasants from Southern Tagalog who already held vigil in Brgy. Bayanan, Muntinlupa yesterday.   They were joined by peasants from Bicol region and supporters from communities in Manila, increasing the number of protesters to around 500. 
 
The protesters marched from Alabang to Zapote junction where they converged with the peasants from Cavite and Batangas who have walked taking the route from Nasugbu to Bacoor to Zapote.   The convergence of the peasants was marked with a flag dance and a cultural performance depicting the plight of peasants under the bogus CARP. 
 
The peasants then marched to Baclaran church where church groups warmly welcomed the delegation with a short program.###
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