PHA-Exchange> Philippines update

[Claudio]

From: "Delen LaPaz" <delen27 at yahoo.com>

> Thanks, friends, for the letters of concern I have
> received from you during the calamaities of typhoons,
> floods, landslides, which affected some parts of the
> Philippines resulting to the death of hundreds,
> injuries and loss of property to thousands more
> because of illegal logging  being perpetrated in these
> areas by politicians and the military.  This is indeed
> one of the worst environmental disasters we have had.
>
> I would like to inform you of another disaster which
> we continue to experience.  This is the gross human
> rights violations that continue to happen.  I am
> presently involved in documenting and providing
> support to the peasants and farm workers who have been
> victims of the recent massacre of peasants in Hacienda
> Luisita, a vast sugar plantation owned by the family
> of former President Cory Cojuangco Aquino where 7
> people were killed when the military fired upon the
> hundreds of farmers who were on strike due to unjust
> labor practices.  I have been to the picket lines
> several times attending to the injured and documenting
> the case to assist the farmers in a class suit they
> will file  soon against the Cojuangcos and the police
> and military units involved.  The police, military and
> the owners of the hacienda continue to harrass the
> farmers and everyone supporting the farmers' plight.
>