Where are peasants fighting for land reform?
Every day, peasants all across the Philippines struggle for the right to land and life. These peasant organizations are frequently targeted and repressed by the state.
Just in the last month, the vast plantation of Lupang Ramos, Dasmariñas, was forcibly entered by Cavite police and military on the grounds of an “inspection” of the farm areas. In reality, the entry was intended to increase militarization, surveillance, harassment, and red-tagging of the peasants in Lupang Ramos.
Another recent case of state repression occurred in Mindoro, where 17 elderly residents and 12 minors of Hacienda Almeda were arrested en masse by the regional police, assisted by hired goons of the Almeda family. The 29 individuals were arrested and detained on October 18, and their families have been provided no further information and cannot contact them. Residents of the community are subject to regular gunfire and constant threats of violence.
Why hasn’t any Philippine president enacted genuine land reform?
In the Philippines, the majority of the land is owned by a small group of landlord families and companies. The main demand of the peasant farmers who till the land is genuine agrarian reform – the redistribution of large tracts of land to peasant families who are currently landless.
Although various government administrations have passed agrarian reform laws in the past, like the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of Cory Aquino, their implementation has been ineffective in redistributing private and public lands to peasants. This is primarily due to the corruption and lack of political interest of those in the government, who favor the interests of landowners instead.
How do landlord families influence the PH government?
Many government officials at the local, provincial, and national levels have ties with landlords and land-owning companies. Many big politicians are even directly related to landlord families.
Because of the wealth and influence that comes from owning land, it is relatively easy for members of these families to occupy seats in local and national politics. The Villars and the Cojuangco-Aquinos are examples of prominent landlord families that have established political dynasties in the Philippines. Their involvement in politics has allowed them to shape laws and regulations that maintain and protect their interests.
Whose interests does the Philippine military and police serve?
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, which receives assistance, training and direction from the United States, is beholden to the interests of foreign powers and big landlords. The military and police thus maintain the current system by enforcing the law of corrupt government officials, ultimately defending the interests of these landlord families. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippines National Police are frequently involved in terrorizing and attacking peasant organizations.
Many landlord families also have a private guard or hired goons who work with the military and police to repress the peasants on their land, harassing them and even imprisoning or killing them.
Who fights for the rights of peasants?
Because the Philippine government does not defend or respect the rights and interests of peasants, it is up to the peasants themselves to band together, organize, and fight for their rights. Hundreds of peasant organizations exist across the country, and work tirelessly every day to defend peasant rights and expose the harsh realities of feudalism and state terror.
These are just some of the many peasant organizations striving for genuine agrarian land reform and opposing state terrorism:
- Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas / KMP
- Amihan Women
- NNARA-Youth
- Tanggol Magsasaka
- SAKA
- Kasama-TK
How can you support the peasant movement?
This month, ICHRP calls upon people all over the world to learn about the situation of peasants in the Philippines and join us in a month of solidarity. You can learn more about the peasant movement in the Philippines by viewing our info webinar from October 15, and you can provide support directly to peasant organizers through our fundraiser. More info about our peasant month is available here.
Support the Filipino People’s Call for Genuine Land Reform!
Stop the Attacks Against Filipino Peasants!
Oppose State Terrorism in the Philippines!
