News Release
February 4, 2008
Reference: Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano, chairman, KMP and president, ANAKPAWIS party list
 
“Family and friends of Ka Randall Echanis gather to demand his immediate release!”
 
At a gathering in Quezon City composed of the Echanis’ family, friends, colleagues and co-workers representing various cause-oriented groups and in persons in their individual capacities are appealed for support for the immediate and unconditional release of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) deputy secretary general for external affairs, Randall Echanis.
 
On January 28, 2008, a platoon of suspected military and police elements wearing ski masks arrested Echanis, 59 years old, while in a meeting with leaders of Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa (UMA) or Union of Agricultural Workers and the Negros-based National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).
 
Randall more popularly known as “Ka Randy” among his peers and colleagues was in a meeting with agricultural workers’ groups to discuss the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill or House Bill 3059 and help in the preparation for UMA and NFSW participation to the National Rural Congress 2 to be called by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in July this year.
 
Randall was arrested on the basis of a standing warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court in Hilongos, Leyte, regarding his participation in the discovered mass graves in Hilongos, Leyte , allegedly a product of the communist purge in the province from 1983 to 1985.
 
It is a fact that the 59-year old peasant leader was in detention and held under solitary confinement when the alleged crime was committed. Echanis was arrested in 1983 by then Ministry of National Defense Security Group under then Col. Gregorio Honasan, Red Kapunan and the late Rodolfo Aguinaldo. The KMP deputy secretary general for external affairs was held incommunicado from 1983 to 1984 and was transferred to Camp Adduru , Regional Command 2 Stockade in Tugegarao, Cagayan until his release in March 1986.
 
Since his release Echanis resumed his pro-people work by joining the group of ex-political detainees, helped in pursuing the human rights claimants’ case against the Marcos dictatorship and actively participated in the pre-formation of human rights group Karapatan, until his appointment as KMP deputy secretary general in 1999, during the peasant group’s 5th National Congress.
 
Prior to his arrest, the Supreme Court dismissed the rebellion case, in connection with the alleged Feb.24, 2006 coup attempt, against Randall, and the six progressive lawmakers popularly known as the Batasan 6--- Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna, Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis and Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Party. The high tribunal assailed the Philippine government for assaulting the civil rights of the Filipino people.
 
The continuing injustice committed against Ka Randy should not be tolerated. Let us all stand up and fight for the immediate and unconditional release of Ka Randy, and the subsequent dropping of all charges filed against him by the corrupt, bankrupt and immoral government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
 
The victory of Ka Randy’s cause is the victory of all peasants struggling for their right to land, and a historical triumph for all the Filipino people fighting for a just and humane society. Let our voice be heard in the name of truth, justice and peace.
Free Randall Echanis! Stop Political Persecution of All Activists! Struggle for Genuine Agrarian Reform!