Free detained Kidapawan farmers, militant groups urge gov’t

FARMERS climb aboard a dump truck that brought them home to Magpet town, North Cotabato province, after the bloody dispersal of a rally in Kidapawan City. Two protesters were killed and at least 100 others, including policemen, were wounded. Williamor A. Magbanua/Inquirer Mindanao

Militant groups have called for the “unconditional and immediate” release of more than 70 detained farmers in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, who were arrested following a protest on April 1.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the charges against the farmers had no basis, noting that the protesters, including pregnant women, senior citizens, and injured persons, were tricked by the police when they were promised a ride back home but brought instead to a gym and a school.

“Each day that they spend in jail is an injustice. They were arrested without any warrant. They were not in the act of committing any crime. They were deceived by the PNP,” Bayan chairperson Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement.

“They are being charged with direct assault and thus blamed for the violence that the police inflicted on protesting farmers. The Aquino government is utterly heartless and has shown no concern for the farmers,” he added.

The Municipal Trial Court in Kidapawan reduced the bail of 79 individuals facing criminal charges, who joined a protest demanding for government assistance for communities affected by the dry spell. The mass action led to a bloody dispersal, which resulted in the death of at least two peasants and injured several others.

READ: Court reduces bail for Kidapawan farmers

The bail was reduced from P12,000 to P6,000 after government prosecutors opposed the motion to reduce the bail to P2,000.

But Reyes said the government’s initial opposition to lower the bail showed the Aquino administration’s supposed indifference toward the drought-stricken farmers.

“That shows how indifferent this regime is towards the poor farmers. They came to Kidapawan to ask for rice. Now they are being made to pay for their bail. They don’t even have money for food,” he said.

“We call on the people to continue to stand with the farmers of North Cotabato. Let us press for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained farmers and the dropping of the trumped-up charges against them,” Reyes added. TVJ

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