Protest marks Mendiola massacre anniversary

Thousands of farmers coming from various parts of the country have converged in Manila to demand genuine land reform and join a march to Malacañang Friday, the 23rd anniversary of the Mendiola massacre. Farmers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao gathered in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) at the Quezon City Circle as early as 7:30 am. The farmers waved flags and banners criticizing the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) program under the Arroyo government. Before starting their march to Mendiola, indigenous leaders performed a ritual dance and spread soil on the ground that they sprinkled with chicken blood as part of the annual protest. The farmers also prepared an effigy of President Arroyo as a killer backhoe, accusing her of covering up her alleged crimes.
2,000 farmers stage overnight vigil In a live report from Oscar Oida on GMA News' Unang Balita, some 2,000 farmers who held an overnight vigil were shown sleeping on the ground in front of the DAR building. Some were already up at daybreak, stretching and doing morning exercises. They had a simple breakfast and short program before heading towards Mendiola Bridge. According to Oida, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Secretary General Willy Marbella estimated the number of marchers to reach seven thousand, as 65 provincial chapters will be represented in the protest. In a flash report from GMA News' Chino Gaston, a large contingent of farmers —some bearing the standard of the militant group Anakpawis— left DAR at around 10:00 a.m. and were seen approaching Araneta Avenue by 11:00 am. The farmers are passing Quezon Avenue, Welcome Rotonda, Espana, and Recto en route to Mendiola. Protest reaches cyberspace Meanwhile, demands for land reform and calls to troop to the historical Mendiola Bridge spread across cyberspace, interrupting the usual flow of navel-gazing status messages on Facebook walls. "This morning, we march for genuine agrarian reform, for just and lasting peace in the countryside. 8am, DAR to Mendiola. Credit and Agency Midterms can wait, but history cannot," typed Terry Ridon, former UP Manila student regent. Nine people "liked" the post, although it was unclear if they would be joining the march. Meanwhile, UP Diliman student Aki Merced posted, "Hangga't walang lupa ang mga magsasaka, mananatili ang kagutuman, kamangmangan, ang kahirapan. SUMAMA! 8am sa Department of Agrarian Reform, sa QC memorial circle ang kitaan! TUNAY NA REPORMANG AGRARYO, IPAGLABAN!" Preparations at Mendiola Anti-riot policemen secured Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang early Friday in preparation for the farmers' march. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that as early as 5 a.m. the Manila Police District's Civil Disturbance Management Unit had lined up near the bridge. The policemen had no firearms, and only had their shields and nightsticks to deal with the farmers, according to the report. Manila police also closed off Mendiola bridge to traffic and readied mobile patrol teams at the Welcome Rotonda, on the boundary of Manila and Quezon City, to escort the farmers to Mendiola. Manila Police District's Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay reminded law enforcers to exercise maximum tolerance during the march and protest. At the same time, he reminded protest organizers about the agreement they had for the marchers not to stall traffic, and to peacefully disperse at 5 p.m. On Thursday, the farmers marched to the DAR building in Quezon City via Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), snarling traffic. Mendiola massacre The protest commemorates the Mendiola massacre on Jan. 22, 1987, when 13 farmers were killed while several were injured during a violent police dispersal of a rally for land reform at Mendiola Bridge. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who allowed the farmers to march to Mendiola, was head of the then Western Police District that dispersed the farmers. - Carmela Lapeña/TJD/YA, GMANews.TV