Human rights lawyers vow to assist Kidapawan farmers

A group of human rights lawyers on Friday denounced the violent dispersal of farmers in Kidapawan, North Cotabato that killed at least one and injured several others.

National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) and its affiliate members at the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) called the attack “uncivilized, disproportionate and barbaric” and called for justice to the victims.

READ: 1 killed, 13 hurt after police open fire in North Cotabato farmer protest

“It is surreal as it is surreal as it is unconscionable. We will not allow this to be another Escalante, Mendiola, Lupao and Luisita. Those responsible will have to face retribution one way or another, sooner or later here or wherever,” Atty. Edre Olalia, NUPL Secretary General said in a statement.

The group vowed to support the victims and the farmers.

“We will lend our hand to nurture life to a parched land of neglect, insensitivity and exploitation so that the starving, shirtless and shoeless will eventually have their redemption over time from social injustice without waiting for electoral circuses coming to town,” Olalia said. IDL