Militant groups appeal to Chief Justice Puno to release peasant leader

About 50 leaders and members from militant groups picketed in front of the Supreme Court at P. Faura, Manila to send letters to Chief Justice Reynato Puno appealing to act on detained peasant leader’s case Randall Echanis. Echanis is the Deputy Secretary-General for External Affairs of the nationwide peasant organization, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines), arrested on January 28, 2008 and accused of the “mass murder” or the alleged “communist purges” in Inopacan, Leyte, the very same case accused to Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo in 2006.

The activity was led by KMP and the Free Randall Echanis Movement (FREEDOM), composed of Echanis’ family and friends, peasant groups such as KMP, Pamalakaya-Pilipinas (fisherfolk), Amihan (peasant women), UMA (agri-workers), Asian Peasant Coalition (APC, Asia-wide peasant group), Anakpawis Partylist, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (church people). They were joined by Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Kasimbayan (church group) and other groups who submitted letters appealing the Chief Justice to act immediately on the case and eventually release the peasant leader. The group held life-size pictures of Echanis and calls to immediately release him.

“We are here to appeal the Chief Justice to act immediately on my father’s case. He is being held for about 17 months, accused of a fabricated crime he did not commit. At his age, being inside the Manila City Jail would certainly worsen his health condition, he has developed illness while in jail, such as hypertension, gallstones and inflammation of the gall bladder,” said Ranmill Echanis, Spokesperson of FREEDOM and son of the peasant leader.

“We believe that Chief Justice would act and decide accordingly as my father was denied due process and being persecuted as part of the Arroyo government’s program against its critics and progressives,” added Echanis.

KMP leaders targetted of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and ‘arrest and detention’
In addition, KMP said that the Arroyo government is singling out their group as many of their national and regional leaders are being targetted of human rights violations. The most recent was the extra-judicial killing (EJK) of Fermin Lorico, Chair of Kaugmaon (KMP Negros Oriental) on June 10, right after their anti-Charter Change rally in Dumaguete City. He also represented their region at the group’s national council.

“Ka Randy is our Deputy Secretary-General for External Affairs, a member of our national council. Actually, already 4 of our national council members have been victim of EJK and enforced disappearances,” said Willy Marbella, Deputy Secretary-General for Internal Affairs.

“Killed were Ka Eddie Gumanoy, Chair of Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK) was killed on April 23, 2003 in Oriental Mindoro, while Gen. Jovito Palparan was wreaking havoc to activists of the province, and Ka Renato Pacaide, Chair of KMP Far Southern Mindanao Region, killed on March 2, 2007. While our council member from Panay, Ka Nilo Arado, Chair of PAMANGGAS (KMP Panay Region) was abducted on April 12, 2007,” shared Marbella.

“Also, many of our provincial and barrio leaders were killed by the Arroyo government. Ka Fermin Lorico was the 118th victim of EJK since Arroyo grabbed power in 2001. Of the more than a thousand victims of EJK, 552 victims came from the peasantry. Moreover, 129 were victimized by enforced disappearances. This is an all-out attack of the Arroyo government to the Filipino peasantry,” added Marbella.

National and international call for Echanis release
“We have campaigned nationwide for the immediate release of Ka Randy through our regional and provincial chapters and even internationally. Our petition for his release include more than 5,000 signatures. Internationally, we have 233 individuals representing 126 organizations worldwide, such as United States, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Sri Lanka, Kore, India and Nepal. Also, our international allied groups such as the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS), La Via Campesina (a global peasant group) and Asian Peasant Coalition have approved resolutions of calling for Ka Randy’s immediate release,” Marbella shared.

The group was also a delegate to Chief Justice Puno’s forum on human and economic rights, such as the Access to Justice on June 30 last year and at a forum in UP Diliman on August 28 last year.

“This is the appropriate time for the Chief Justice to prove his crusade for justice in our country. Ka Randy’s case is obviously a political persecution by the Arroyo government to those who uphold genuine land reform, fundamental rights of the peasants, social justice and democracy to the country. We are hopeful that he would find out at the earliest that he is innocent of the crime accused to him, he and the Supreme Court would then release Ka Randy,” said Marbella. #