Militants condemn killing of peasant leader in Cam Sur
11/13/2009 | 01:51 AM
Two local militant groups in Bicol on Thursday condemned the killing of peasant leader and Bayan Muna spokesperson Rodrigo Torres in Camarines Sur last Tuesday.
Feliz Paz of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Bicol blamed the military for the death of Torres, who was shot by still unidentified men near his residence in Barangay San Pablo in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. [See: Militant group spokesman shot dead in Bicol]
"We believe that it is the military that is behind the killing of Torres considering that harassment and persecution of progressive leaders have intensified the past few months," Paz said in a statement.
The local KMP leader attributed Torres' killing to his fight for farmers’ land rights.
"Torres is a leader of the Bicol Coconut Planters Association Inc., and vehemently fought for the return of the coconut levy funds and for land to peasants," Paz said.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Bikol public information officer Tessa Lopez meanwhile called on the next administration to put a stop to the harassment and killings of local peasant leaders.
"All Torres was doing was to fight for rights of peasants and he was gunned down. We hope that the next administration will put a stop to these killings and really work for the betterment of the majority," she said.
"We want justice to be served not just for Torres but for all the victims of human rights violations," she added.
According to the rights group Karapatan, Torres is the 51st victim of extrajudicial killing in Camarines Sur and the 196th victim of political killing in the Bicol region.
Police investigators are still looking into possible motives behind the incident as of posting time. - GMANews.TV
Feliz Paz of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Bicol blamed the military for the death of Torres, who was shot by still unidentified men near his residence in Barangay San Pablo in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. [See: Militant group spokesman shot dead in Bicol]
"We believe that it is the military that is behind the killing of Torres considering that harassment and persecution of progressive leaders have intensified the past few months," Paz said in a statement.
The local KMP leader attributed Torres' killing to his fight for farmers’ land rights.
"Torres is a leader of the Bicol Coconut Planters Association Inc., and vehemently fought for the return of the coconut levy funds and for land to peasants," Paz said.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Bikol public information officer Tessa Lopez meanwhile called on the next administration to put a stop to the harassment and killings of local peasant leaders.
"All Torres was doing was to fight for rights of peasants and he was gunned down. We hope that the next administration will put a stop to these killings and really work for the betterment of the majority," she said.
"We want justice to be served not just for Torres but for all the victims of human rights violations," she added.
According to the rights group Karapatan, Torres is the 51st victim of extrajudicial killing in Camarines Sur and the 196th victim of political killing in the Bicol region.
Police investigators are still looking into possible motives behind the incident as of posting time. - GMANews.TV
