It is simply disgusting how the President and the rest of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC)-lead oligarchy have dealt with the public backlash on the issue of the Sumilao farmers, who have marched all they way from Bukidnon in Mindanao to demand that their land be given back to them. What a load of crap. It’s all typical and hypocritical media blitz about social justice, economic and financial prospects of corporate-owned cattle ranches, pineapple plantations and piggeries etc. and how the government cares for the underprivileged and exploited. I hope people don’t keep buying it.

The plight of the farmers in Sumilao is not an isolated case. It’s a classic example of how lopsided in favor of this nation’s landlords and oligarchs our ‘democratic’ government’s land reform program truly is. It’s a classic example of how the wealthy landlords have circumvented land redistribution through the use of land conversions and reclassification schemes and worse, used various forms of aggression against peasant beneficiaries; and how our government, controlled largely by the people of the same wealthy class, have connived to maintain the status quo.

I don’t know, perhaps the government shall give in to the protest and clamor of the farmers of Sumilao. But we should all remember that the buck does not stop here, in case the farmers’ demands are granted. In a largely agricultural nation such as ours, millions of other peasants have been experiencing the same form of exploitation and landlessness as the farmers of Sumilao. And it’s going to be a long, arduous, and, if need be, violent struggle for genuine social justice. The ruling class will not give up their wealth and land without a fight.

Click here to read the farmers’ position paper regarding the issue.

From The Philippine Experience:

“Bloggers Call for Boycotting of Monterey/Purefoods Products in support of Sumilao farmers. This Christmas season, December 15, 2007 to January 2, 2008. Bring down the sales of San Miguel Food, Inc. to show public support to the farmers of Bukidnon who were denied of their 144 hectares of land. Please pass to all bloggers.”

[Pictures taken from Lakaw Sumilao Multiply site]

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 at 8:26 pm and is filed under Social Babble . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.