PENANG, Malaysia – International advocacy group Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) today asked Philippine authorities to immediately and unconditionally release 11 Filipino agrarian reform advocates, including a member of Philippine Congress representing farmers and workers, whom the local police have arrested last 17 September 2013.

Those detained are from different peasant organizations in the Philippines and include Congressman Fernando Hicap of the political party Anakpawis (Toiling Masses). They were arrested while conducting a fact-finding mission (FFM) inside the Hacienda Luisita, a vast sugar plantation in Tarlac province, some 118 kilometers north of Manila. The more than 6,000-hectare Hacienda Luisita is being controlled by the relatives of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and has been recently ordered by the Supreme Court for distribution to farmers and farm workers.

“We appeal not only to the local police in Hacienda Luisita but to President Aquino himself to order the speedy release of the peasant leaders. As fellow advocates of genuine agrarian reform, we are deeply alarmed that a legitimate activity such as an FFM could be used as a ground for arbitrary arrest and detention,” said Ms. Sarongeni Rengam, PAN AP Executive Director.

The PAN AP official added, “No matter how we look at it, this is a clear case of political harassment and human rights violation. And that the police can do this even to a government official who just happens to side with the poor farmers and farm workers makes it even more chilling. One can just imagine what they can do to ordinary folks.”

The Malaysia-based group also pointed out that since Hacienda Luisita involves the presidential family, it is incumbent upon the Chief Executive to take a direct hand in facilitating the release of Hicap and the other peasant leaders.

Rengam urged all agrarian reform advocates to support the demand calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained Filipino farmers and exert pressure on the Aquino government.

“This incident must be strongly condemned. Police officials who are directly responsible for such blatant use of intimidation and human rights atrocities must be held to account. Otherwise, such repression against advocates of genuine agrarian reform will continue with impunity, not only in the Philippines but elsewhere,” Rengam asserted.

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Contact: Gilbert Sape – panap@panap.net