Justice still elusive for Luisita 'massacre' victims

HACIENDA LUISITA, Tarlac - Five years since the bloody dispersal of striking sugar plantation workers at the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita and despite the impending presidential candidacy of Senator Benigo "Noynoy" Aquino III, the families of the people who died in the incident are still crying out for justice. On Monday, more than 200 workers and their supporters gathered in front of Gate 1 of the Central Azucerrera de Tarlac to call on the Cojuangcos, in particular to Noynoy, to distribute the 6,000-hectare land. "Sana solusyonan na yung problema dito sa Hacienda Luisita bago pa man din tumakbo sa pagka-presidente dahil pag hindi niya natugunan ang problema sa Hacienda Luisita, lahat ng mamamayan at mga martir dito sa Hacienda Luisita ay magiging tinik sa kanyang kandidatura," lamented 70-year-old Federico Laza, father of Jesus Laza who was among the seven fatalities during the violent dispersal of striking farmers on Nov. 16, 2004. (We hope that the problem at Hacienda Luisita will be resolved before Noynoy seeks the presidency because if not, the situation here will be a thorn in his candidacy.) No assistance Federico said his family did not receive assistance from the Cojuangcos as promised. His son's wife and two children have already left for Mindanao, he said. Despite this, Federico said his own family would not leave the hacienda until they have the rights to what they claim is their land. "Dito na kami lumaki, dito ako pinanganak kaya masakit na sa loob ko na iwanan ang Hacienda Luisita (I was born here, this is where I grew up that's why it pains me to leave the hacienda)," he said. Maribel Valdez, the 30-year-old wife of Jessie Valdez, another one of those killed in the dispersal, said she is still awaiting the scholarship promised for her children even though she has already moved to Isabela. Along with her kids aged 11, 9, 8 and 5, she came back to Hacienda Luisita Monday and wept in front of the marker bearing the name of her husband and the others who died in the dispersal. "Gusto ko lang mabigyan sila [victims] ng karapatan…saka yung sabi nila [management] sa amin na tutulungan kami," she said. Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said complaints of murder and frustrated murder filed against some military and police officials allegedly involved in the so-called Luisita massacre remain pending before the Office of the Ombudsman. GMANews.TV tried getting the side of the Hacienda Luisita management, but neither an official nor a representative was available. Nov. 15 deadline Lito Bais, acting president of the United Luisita Workers Uion, said they would continue to fight for the land and would not leave despite a notice from the Hacienda Luisita management to stop the cultivation of the property with non-sugarcane crops. The November 15 deadline has passed without them being evicted, although Bais said they are still being urged by former supervisors to cultivate sugarcane instead of the rice and vegetables many of them are planting now. The farmers are expecting more than 100 vehicles carrying supporters from Manila to arrive at the Hacienda later Monday afternoon. The 115-vehicle caravan will be bringing in about 2,000 supporters led by militant groups Anakpawis, Bayan and Kabataan, among others. - GMANews.TV