The following is the solidarity message sent by AFA to the Sumilao farmers, who are mostly members of PAKISAMA. The Sumilao farmers belonging to the Higaonon tribal community in southern Philippines have been marching around 1,700 kilometers for almost 60 days from Bukidnon in Mindanao to Metro Manila to reclaim the 144 hectares of ancestral land that was taken away from them and to call for the passage of the law extending the agrarian reform program that can still give land to around 433,333 landless Filipino farmers.
Dear Farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon,
Warm Greetings of Peace and Goodwill during this Christmas Season!
When friends from PAKISAMA told us that you have decided to walk all the way from Bukidnon to Manila for two months, we were at first doubtful. Can they bear it? Can they stand it? Can they reach Manila as one big original group?
But when we looked back at the history of your struggle to reclaim your ancestral lands through agrarian reform, our doubts were erased. Some of us were with you during your 28-day hunger strike in 1997. The ten years of denial of this piece of ancestral land which can give you food and income for basic needs, the blatant cheating of the rich Quisumbings to avoid agrarian reform law, the connivance of a subsidiary of the biggest food conglomerate -San Miguel Corporation, the inaction of the Office of the President and DAR to petitions filed, and the strong fear that agrarian program will soon end — these are more than enough reasons to move all of you to stage another peaceful but militant action, in order to reach your dream — the return of the 144-hectare ancestral land to the Sumilao farmers.
We are one with you in your struggle. We believe that God is on your side, and so are the laws of the Philippine government. Alas, the poor has to show strength of character, strength in numbers, and intensity of support from various groups and the public in general — for the laws to indeed side with them.
We admire your unflinching determination, strength of conviction, creative and peaceful ways to seek justice for your community. You are an inspiration to small scale farmers, not only here in the Philippines but throughout the world.
As you appeal to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, our prayers are with you. We will accompany you in some of your marches. We will continue to spread to the world the information about your struggle, to help gain more support from more groups.
JUSTICE… LAND… LIFE…
LONG LIVE THE SUMILAO FARMERS!
LONG LIVE SMALL SCALE MEN AND WOMEN FARMERS IN ASIA!
Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA)
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