Peasant groups observe 'bloody' World Food Day

Militant farmers and fisherfolk poured blood onto an enlarged photograph of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during a rally in front of the Provincial Capitol yesterday in commemoration of World Food Day.

Protesters hit Garcia's declaration of an all-out war against militant groups, saying that what they need is "food, not bullets."

Members of the Kilusan ng mga Mambubukid ng Pilipinas, Anakpawis, and their affiliate groups poured fresh blood of a pig onto the enlarged picture of the lady governor as police and Capitol guards watched nearby.

To shoo away protesters, Capitol placed a sound system and a barricade in front of the Capitol building. Tension nearly erupted when three Capitol-owned dump trucks arrived to block the militants, but police and Capitol guards managed to keep their cool.

"Pagkaon, dili bala, stop political killings, we are hungry, no to all-out war," among others were the subjects of the chants of the protesters.

Nicanor Abasolo, KMP-Cebu vice chairman, said that their pouring of blood onto Garcia's picture symbolizes their condemnation of the continuing political killings and their opposition to the all-out war policy of the governor, which she aimed towards the members of militant groups like them.

Abasolo said that it would be futile to celebrate the World Food Day when many of their members are "foodless" because the government is allegedly not giving enough concern to the agriculture sector and the farmers who compose 75 percent of the country's population.

For many years, he added, they are always conducting protest rallies during the commemoration of World Food Day to press for their demands - like the true implementation of land reform, assistance/support for the farmers, and to stop militarization.

"Sobra na kagutom namo kay hangtod karon wa gihapon gidungog sa gobyerno among mga yangungo. Dugay na mi nanawagan sa tinuod nga implementasyon sa tinuoray nga reporma," Abasolo said.

Further, he added, they will not stop protesting until the government answers all of their demands.

Instead of focusing on the all-out war and anti-Sugbuak campaign, militants said that Garcia should focus on how to provide basic services to the people.

When sought for comment on the rally staged by the said radical groups, Garcia said, "Well, that probably expresses their hidden desires of me - to see me bathe in blood. How else would you interpret that? So if anything happens to me, nahibawo na mo'g kinsay gusto nga magkadugo-dugo ko?"

"Maglisod lagi na sila og target kay gamay god kaayo. Di god ko kinahanglan molihay og magtaligsik... Akong ipahimutang ang akong kaugmaon sa kamot sa kahitas-an og sa mga Sugbuanon," she said.

On the other hand, Capitol consultant on information, organization and management lawyer Pablo John Garcia said there are only two interpretations with regards to the "ritual" conducted by the said "cause-oriented" groups at the Capitol grounds.

On their spluttering of blood on the governor's picture, he said it could be interpreted as Vudu ritual.

"Kaning mga walhon karon, Bayan, wa na tingale sila motoo sa komunismo, motoo na sila ani karong barang. Kay wa man gyud to nahitabo ilang gidamgo nga komunismo unya patay naman ilang Ginoo kuno, si Mao Tse-Tung, unya karon ang ilang gitoohan siguro barang na lang," he said.

In addition, he said the ritual could also be interpreted as a death threat against Garcia, and that the timing was so right since they did it just when there were intelligence reports, although still raw and unconfirmed, that there is an assassination plot against the governor.

"Ambot nganong nagpaklaro sila sa ilang mga tinguha," he said. - Wenna A. Berondo and Cristina C. Birondo