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AFA and PAKISAMA supports the campaign of the residents of the town of Casiguran in Quezon province, Philippines (mostly farmers, fishers, and indigenous peoples) who will be displaced by the creation of a special economic zone in the area.

The Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN), together with the Task Force Anti-APECO, held the first of a series of fora on “Addressing the APECO” in Quezon City, Philippines last June 4, 2010.

The activity convened multi-sectoral partners in support of affected residents of Casiguran, Aurora, largely comprised of farmers, fisher folk and indigenous peoples, who will be displaced by the passage of RA 10083 or the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO) law.
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Women leaders from Asia, representing AFA, La Via Campesina and other farmers’ organizations, participated in the Global Farmers’ Forum held in Rome on February 15-16, 2010.

The women leaders included Ms. Kong Sokchhoin (FNN, Cambodia), Ms. Flora Caya (PAKISAMA, Philippines), India Smitha (SEWA, India), Ms. Amalia Pulungan (API, Indonesia), Ms. Esther Penunia (AFA), Ms. Marlene Ramirez (AsiaDHRRA), among others.

Together with other women leaders from all over the world, they raised the issues and concerns of small scale women and men farmers. Ms. Caya also talked about the impact of mining corporations on women farmers.

The third global meeting of the Farmers’ Forum was held in conjunction with the Thirty-third session of IFAD’s Governing Council. The Forum brought together more than 70 farmers’ leaders from around the world, representing millions of smallholders and rural producers from all over the world who interacted with IFAD staff and selected partners. The Forum was opened by the President of IFAD, Kanayo Nwanze. Its closing session, in the afternoon of Tuesday, 16 February, was open to the members of IFAD’s governing bodies (Source: IFAD website).

Following a recommendation of the 2008 Forum meeting, a special effort has been made by participating farmers’ organizations to increase women’s presence and voice in the event. A preparatory meeting was held on 13 February to reflect on how to promote women’s leadership in farmers’ organizations. The commitment to have at least 30 per cent of women farm leaders participating in the Forum has been achieved (Source: IFAD website).

(Photos and information courtesy of Ms. Amalia Pulungan, API, Indonesia.)

Get more updates from the IFAD website and the IFAD social reporting blog

AFA wishes to thank all of you who sent your generous expressions of sympathy and solidarity for PAKISAMA and the family of our beloved and esteemed farmer-leader, Renato Penas, who was murdered last June 5.

AFA joined the activities of PAKISAMA last June 6-12 in honor of Ka Rene when his body was brought to Metro Manila. Together with many farmers, NGOs, students, and other supporters of the agrarian reform movement in the Philippines, we joined the memorial services, masses, and marches for Ka Rene; as well as solicited financial assistance for the bereaved family. We also printed out and handed over your messages to his wife and children. His body was brought back to Mindanao and buried last June 16.

The search for truth and justice continues. A multi-sectoral body aimed at conducting an independent Fact Finding Mission (FFM) to be able to gather evidence and other information that could help surface the motive behind the killing of Ka Rene Peñas was launched. PAKISAMA welcomes any donation to cover the expenses of this investigation.

Read more about Ka Rene here

Renato Penas, Vice-President of PAKISAMA, was ambushed dead by unidentified gunmen at 11:00 PM yesterday, on the way to his farm in Sumilao, Bukidnon.

He was 51.

His 2 companions are in the hospital nursing gunshot wounds.

It was a high price to pay for selflessly dedicating himself to the agrarian reform movement.

He is one of the most respected, trusted farmer-leaders, and whose creative, dynamic ideas have fired the spirits of many farmers to make the agrarian reform program truly work in the country.

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MANILA, Philippines—With few fireworks, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading Wednesday night the bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program for five years and providing it a P100-billion budget for land acquisition and distribution.

On the last session day of the House before it went on sine die adjournment, 211 congressmen voted for, 13 were against while two abstained from voting on House Bill 4077, or the proposed CARPER (CARP with Extension and Reforms) Law, principally authored by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros, which restores the provision allowing the “compulsory acquisition” of lands.

”The acquisition and distribution of all remaining agricultural lands shall be extended for a period of five years from the effectivity of this Act,” the bill said, adding that after June 30, 2009, the modes of acquisition shall be limited to voluntary offer to sell and compulsory acquisition.

Read the full story at the Philippine Daily Inquirer

(Ka Vic Fabe and Ka Sita Esmao of PAKISAMA are among the farmers who were arrested by the police and hauled off to a police camp. They were later released without charges at around 2:00 AM the next day, June 4.)

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) Around 200 rain-soaked farmers breached the north gate of the Batasan Pambansa complex and held a rally at the doorstep of the session hall building on Wednesday to press for the passage of a bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The farmers pushed for House Bill 4077 or the CARP extension with reforms on the last day of session before Congress adjourns sine die.

After over an hour outside the session hall, police, who were armed with shields dispersed the protesters and loaded them on three buses that would bring them to Camp Karingal, a police camp in Quezon City. There were no reported injuries.

Read the full story at the Philippine Daily Inquirer