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BALAOD
Statement on the Brutal Murder of Ka Rene Penas
CONDEMNATION OF THE SENSELESS AND
BRUTAL MURDER OF
SUMILAO FARMER LEADER
RENATO “KA RENE” PEÑAS
BALAOD Mindanaw
(Ka Rene: 52 years old, born on March 14, 1957, a father of four
children, grandfather of two-month old infant)
Ka Rene was a firm believer and advocate for farmers rights and
agrarian reform. However, even in the most desperate moments of Ka
Rene’s struggle to reclaim their land in Sumilao, Bukidnon, not once
did he consider violence. Even when he stood face-to-face with the
armed goons of their rich landlord he never considered lifting a
finger in retaliation and meet violence with violence. Instead Ka
Rene opted to take active non-violent means even if these meant
making painful and difficult sacrifices such as the 28-day hunger
strike in 1997 and the 1,700-kilometer walk from Sumilao to Manila
in 2007. No murder is ever justifiable. But to kill a man who is a
staunch advocate of peaceful means to protect and push for the
rights of peasants, one who has never lifted a finger to hurt
anyone, makes his murder ruthless, senseless and brutal. Ka Rene, a
man of peace was shot with a shotgun at around 11pm while he,
together with two companions were on their way home on June 5, 2009.
He sustained 11 gunshot wounds – 3 in his chest and 8 all over his
arms.
Ka Rene is a farmer leader and
paralegal of the Sumilao farmers. He began as a very quiet person
then but through the years of struggle and formation he was
transformed into a passionate peasant leader with deeply rooted
principles and vision. Ka Rene’s active involvement in local and
national peasant struggles led him to become the chairperson of
PALAMBU, a provincial farmer federation in Bukdinon, and vice
-chairperson of the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA).
He was one of the pioneer leaders of
the MAPALAD farmers of Sumilao, Bukidnon who has staged hunger
strike for 28 days in 1997 to protest the conversion of the
agricultural land awarded to them through Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP). Ten (10) years after the hunger strike,
together with the second generation Sumilao farmers, In October 2007
Ka Rene led the Sumilao Marchers in their 1,700-kilometer “Walk for
land, Walk for Justice" from Sumilao to Malacañang to reclaim the
144-hectares of agricultural land from San Miguel Corporation. There
was never a time when Ka Rene hesitated to take the lead in the
campaign to reclaim the land that is rightfully theirs. For years,
Ka Rene Peñas together with farmer groups in Mindanao and in the
Philippines lived a life struggling and fighting for agrarian reform
and social justice not only for their own lands but those of other
farmers as well. Their triumph in reclaiming their 144-hectare land
did not stop him from becoming actively involved in the struggles of
others and in the struggle to push for CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER).
Undeniably, Ka Rene’s murder cannot be
separated from the life he chose - that of fighting for the rights
of the powerless and the poor like himself that put him at
loggerheads with the interests of rich and the powerful. The
cowardly act of violence he suffered is undeniably linked to his
courageous struggle that threatened the interests of the wealthy and
the mighty. Even on the hour of his death Ka Rene’s concern was the
safety of his companions. colleague and stated “Lakaw namo kay
kamatyonon nako” (Now, you must go and leave me, I am dying…) were
his last words.
BALAOD Mindanaw and the peasant
community will not be stunned by this brutal act that seeks to sow
fear in our hearts. On the contrary, Ka Rene’s brutal death will
inspire us emulate his courage and spirit of self-sacrifice. It will
only fuel the fire in our hearts to continue with the struggle that
we have shared with Ka Rene.
--
BALAOD Mindanaw, Inc.
2/F BELSAR Building,
Capistrano-Del Pilar Sts., Barangay 19,
9000 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
+63 8822 727432 (telefax)
balaodmindanaw@gmail.com
balaod_mindanaw@yahoo.com |
