News Release
April 7, 2008
Reference: Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano, chairman, KMP and president, ANAKPAWIS party list
 
“EDSA 1 inspired rice farmers being displaced from rice land in Bukidnon!”-KMP
Militant farmers challenge Malacanang to stop  the eviction.
 
            The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) condemned the ongoing displacement of more then 680 peasant families in the Central Mindanao University (CMU) agricultural lands in Bukidnon and demanded that it be stopped immediately.
 
            “According to Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano, chairman of KMP and concurrent president of ANAKPAWIS party list, “the administration of CMU President Mardonio Lao has constantly be harassing and destroying the crops of farmers belonging to the Bukidnon Free Farmers Agricultural Laborers Organization, Limus farmers association and Tamaraw peasant organization. These farmers have been in the land since 1987 when they were inspired by People Power 1 and launched a communal action in tilling the soil,”
 
            “Most of them were farmers and farm workers who were displaced from their lands and have nowhere to go. Now after 21 years they are in the same situation, because the CMU administration is trying to convert the land into a banana and pineapple plantation with Lapanday,” said the peasant leader.
 
            Meanwhile according to Ka Jun Macote, president of Buffalo ; “The land is very productive because we can harvest 120 cavans per hectare by just using traditional or organic seeds. That is 6 tons a hectare. Normally even with pests we harvest 2,160 tons of rice a cropping and we do this twice a year, so we produce 4320 tons of rice a year. We are helping to stave off the rice crisis but why are we being displaced? Are the interests and profits of agro-corporations more important than the staple food of our countrymen?
 
            “We heard Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Thursday ordering the use of agricultural lands of state colleges and universities as well as military reserves for rice production, now why is the displacement ongoing? We are calling for a complete stop to this and let the farmers till the land in peace,” ended Mariano. # # #