anuary 22, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference:
Sarah Katrina Maramag
Vice-Chairperson/Media Officer, 09193486790

Eleanor de Guzman
Chairperson, 09282555423

Youth, students commemorate Mendiola Massacre victims
March with farmers in Mendiola rally; Slam bogus CARP

Youth group Anakbayan joined other people's organizations in commemorating the anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre in a rally held in Manila today.

Twenty-one years after, said Anakbayan chairperson Eleanor de Guzman, justice and compensation remain elusive to the victims of the Mendiola Massacre.

De Guzman also expressed admiration and sympathy for the hundreds of farmers from Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon and Bicol who marched from their respective provinces to protest against the government's land reform program.

"Our poor farmers are yet to realize the benefits of the government's bogus CARP. The cause they fought for 21 years ago is still in vain. Still no land to till, still no land to claim as theirs. These farmers are the hundreds of other Sumilaos, useful only to the Arroyo administration as props for empty promises and propaganda blitz," she said.

"Worse, the Arroyo administration now seems to be giving context to unnecessary violence and public disturbance through the pretext of a baseless destabilization plot in today's event," de Guzman said.

"There is no destabilization plot. This is another one of Arroyo and the military's fantastic horror stories that aim only to create an atmosphere of alarm and justify more attacks against the people," said de Guzman. ###


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