Dear friends and colleagues,
Greetings of Peace and Solidarity!
In commemoration of the 33rd year of the Mendiola Massacre, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Tanggol Magsasaka, and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in cooperation with PATRIA and CLAMOR and the Movement Against Tyranny will hold a Forum on LAND, JUSTIC, and PEACE on January 22, 2020 from 1:00 – 4:00pm at the KKFI Gym, Paredes St. Sampaloc, Manila and will be followed by a protest march and torch and candle lighting at Mendiola. Attached is the concept note of the forum.
January 22, 1987, the heinous Mendiola Massacre in which 13 farmers calling for genuine agrarian refrom were killed and scores were injured.
More than three decades after the massacre, farmers are still fighting for genuine land reform, free land distribution, and seeking for the elusive peace and justice that they have long fought and died for.
We are seeing a slight glimmer of hope despite the many adversities besetting the Filipino people. The previous year ended with the possibility of the resumption of the peace negotiations. It is in the interest of the peasant masses and the Filipino people if the peace talks would eventually resume to significantly conclude substantive discussions and approve major documents including the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) and an Interim Peace Agreement.
We will carry on the demands of farmers who marched for free land distribution and genuine agrarian. Mendiola Massacre will remain etched in the Philippine history as the symbol of the reactionary state’s oppression against farmers. As social justice remains elusive for farmers, the collective demand to resume the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the GPH under the Duterte administration is of great importance.
In this light we are inviting you to join us in the said forum and other related activities on January 22, 2020. We aim to gather the broadest sectors of land reform and peasant rights advocates, Church-based and religious organizations, members of the academe, civil libertarians and multi-sectoral groups.
January 22, 2020
1pm – 4pm – Forum on Land, Justice and Peace
4pm – March to Mendiol
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm – Program and Candle lighting at Mendiola
We are expressing our sincerest gratitude and hoping for your positive response.
For the Filipino Peasantry
Sincerely yours,
(sgd.) FR. RUDY ABAO, MSC (sgd.) DANILO RAMOS
Convenor – PATRIA Chairperson – KMP
