Ilocos peasant group vows to continue fight for peasant rights 06-01-29

	NORDIS WEEKLY January 29, 2006
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Ilocos peasant group vows to continue fight for peasant rights
VIGAN CITY (Jan. 21) — After 18 years of upholding the welfare and interests of peasants in the region, the Solidarity of Peasants against Exploitation (Stop-Ex) re-affirmed its commitment for the advancement of peasant rights on its 6th Regional Leaders Assembly held at the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) on January 20-21. Ninety peasant leaders and advocates from the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union attended the said assembly. Stop-Ex also elected its new officers during the said activity. Outgoing Secretary General and incoming Chairperson Avelino Dacanay, said that despite of “desperate attacks” of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration on the peasant movement in the region, the congress highlights the victory of Stop-ex in the advancement of peasant rights and interests. “We are here to learn from our experiences to continue our work and make our movement stronger. Let us continue our struggle for genuine land reform and overthrow an anti-people, fake, puppet and fascist president like GMA,” Dacanay stressed. Other elected officers for 2006-2008 include Leonardo Sabalo as Vice chairperson; Regino Cacuyong, Benedicto Tatson and Fred Prasmo as Vice chairpersons for Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union respectively; Zaldy Alfiller as Secretary-General; Dolores Haduca and Fely Sabalo as Treasurer and Auditor. Appointed members of the Regional Council of Leaders (RCOL) for Ilocos Norte are Pepito Sacalamitao, Lorna Juan and Rolando Angit, for Ilocos Sur, Leon Herana, Boy Sunico and Rosendo Cabael and for La Union, Lino Casteneda, Linda Caluza and Virgie Rimando. The members of the Executive Committee presented the two-year plan of STOP-Exploitation as well as approved resolutions on the cancellation of certificates of land transfer (CLT), militarization in the Ilocos and the membership of Timpuyog dagiti Umili ti Karayan Buaya (TUKB). Stop-Ex was established in 1988 as Solidarity of Tobacco Planters Against Exploitation, an alliance of tobacco planters before it was changed to Solidarity of Peasants against Exploitation in 1999 as alliance of peasant organizations in the Ilocos region fighting for genuine land reform. Outgoing Chairperson Julian Daoa, said there are cases of cancellation of CLTs particularly in San Juan, Ilocos Sur. He added that most victims of HRV’s in the region are peasants or peasant leaders while pointing out the number of peasants affected by military operations in the countryside. Willy Marbella, Deputy Secretary General for Internal Affairs of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in his keynote speech stressed that the farmers’ economic condition continue to worsen because the GMA regime is favoring the “imperialist globalization” policies through its membership to World Trade Organization (WTO). He cited as examples the cases of land grabbing and cancellation of CLTs in favor of big landlords foreign corporations. Marbella added that the GMA administration is also responsible for cases of human rights violations against peasants and their leaders. He reiterated the cases of politically-motivated killings among peasants and peasant workers perpetuated by suspected members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The peasant group also paid tribute to Romy Sanchez of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-Ilocos), Pepe Manegdeg of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), Albert Terredano of Confederation Unity Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage)-Abra, Ananias Halican and Jimmy Trinidad Stop-Ex leaders, who were killed due to their dedicated service for the advancement of peasant rights and welfare. “These people have unselfishly dedicated their lives for the peasant movement. We pay tribute to their invaluable contribution that will serve as an inspiration for us to carry forward our struggle for genuine land reform,” Zaldy Alfiller of Stop-Ex said. The congress also approved resolutions declaring abovementioned peasant leaders and advocates as martyrs of peasants. # Rod Tajon for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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	NORDIS WEEKLY January 29, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Ilocos peasant group vows to continue fight for peasant rights
VIGAN CITY (Jan. 21) — After 18 years of upholding the welfare and interests of peasants in the region, the Solidarity of Peasants against Exploitation (Stop-Ex) re-affirmed its commitment for the advancement of peasant rights on its 6th Regional Leaders Assembly held at the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) on January 20-21. Ninety peasant leaders and advocates from the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union attended the said assembly. Stop-Ex also elected its new officers during the said activity. Outgoing Secretary General and incoming Chairperson Avelino Dacanay, said that despite of “desperate attacks” of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration on the peasant movement in the region, the congress highlights the victory of Stop-ex in the advancement of peasant rights and interests. “We are here to learn from our experiences to continue our work and make our movement stronger. Let us continue our struggle for genuine land reform and overthrow an anti-people, fake, puppet and fascist president like GMA,” Dacanay stressed. Other elected officers for 2006-2008 include Leonardo Sabalo as Vice chairperson; Regino Cacuyong, Benedicto Tatson and Fred Prasmo as Vice chairpersons for Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union respectively; Zaldy Alfiller as Secretary-General; Dolores Haduca and Fely Sabalo as Treasurer and Auditor. Appointed members of the Regional Council of Leaders (RCOL) for Ilocos Norte are Pepito Sacalamitao, Lorna Juan and Rolando Angit, for Ilocos Sur, Leon Herana, Boy Sunico and Rosendo Cabael and for La Union, Lino Casteneda, Linda Caluza and Virgie Rimando. The members of the Executive Committee presented the two-year plan of STOP-Exploitation as well as approved resolutions on the cancellation of certificates of land transfer (CLT), militarization in the Ilocos and the membership of Timpuyog dagiti Umili ti Karayan Buaya (TUKB). Stop-Ex was established in 1988 as Solidarity of Tobacco Planters Against Exploitation, an alliance of tobacco planters before it was changed to Solidarity of Peasants against Exploitation in 1999 as alliance of peasant organizations in the Ilocos region fighting for genuine land reform. Outgoing Chairperson Julian Daoa, said there are cases of cancellation of CLTs particularly in San Juan, Ilocos Sur. He added that most victims of HRV’s in the region are peasants or peasant leaders while pointing out the number of peasants affected by military operations in the countryside. Willy Marbella, Deputy Secretary General for Internal Affairs of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in his keynote speech stressed that the farmers’ economic condition continue to worsen because the GMA regime is favoring the “imperialist globalization” policies through its membership to World Trade Organization (WTO). He cited as examples the cases of land grabbing and cancellation of CLTs in favor of big landlords foreign corporations. Marbella added that the GMA administration is also responsible for cases of human rights violations against peasants and their leaders. He reiterated the cases of politically-motivated killings among peasants and peasant workers perpetuated by suspected members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The peasant group also paid tribute to Romy Sanchez of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-Ilocos), Pepe Manegdeg of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), Albert Terredano of Confederation Unity Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage)-Abra, Ananias Halican and Jimmy Trinidad Stop-Ex leaders, who were killed due to their dedicated service for the advancement of peasant rights and welfare. “These people have unselfishly dedicated their lives for the peasant movement. We pay tribute to their invaluable contribution that will serve as an inspiration for us to carry forward our struggle for genuine land reform,” Zaldy Alfiller of Stop-Ex said. The congress also approved resolutions declaring abovementioned peasant leaders and advocates as martyrs of peasants. # Rod Tajon for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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