Justice for San Roque 21, Nora Apique, poor victims of militarization amid COVID-19

Grim reality of the poor in time of pandemic.

The Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research calls for the immediate release of the 21 forcibly detained urban poor protesters, justice for Nora Apique and all victims of militarization during government’s COVID-19 lockdown.

QUEZON CITY – Urban poor of San Roque community held a spontaneous demonstration against lack of food, medical services and aid for the poor amidst the lock down. The hungry and unemployed in the community have been experiencing over a decade of demolitions, harassment, and red tagging brought about by corporate greed, privatization, expansion of Trinoma and Vertis North in partnership with the National Housing Authority. They have not yet received government support at the time of the lockdown and demonstration.

WATCH: Pwersa ng QCPD dumating na sa lugar kung saan nagra-rally ang mga miyembro ng Kadamay na residente ng Sitio San Roque, Brgy. Bagong Pag-asa, QC | via @dzrh5 Val Gonzales #DZRHat80 #COVID19Alert pic.twitter.com/TH13flb3Ng
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) April 1, 2020

Photo by UNTV News and Rescue.

SAN MIGUEL, SURIGAO DEL SUR – On March 31, woman peasant leader Nora Apique was brutally killed by men riding a motorcycle while on her way home in Surigao del Sur. Ka Nora is leader of Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur. Reports from Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said that she has been a victim of AFP and paramilitary groups’ red tagging, harassment and psychological warfare. Read from Amihanwomen.org

Woman peasant leader Nora Apique is the 249th farmer victim and 35th peasant woman killed under Duterte Administration.

LOOK BACK – On April 1, 2016 the police violently dispersed the farmers protesting
the lack of support from the government in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. Their demands were simple and legitimate: immediate rice support and the releases of much needed calamity funds as urgent relief from the effects of the drought brought about by El Nino. Kilab Multimedia captured the massacre of the protesting farmers. The two farmers killed in the bloody Kidapawan dispersal both died from a single, fatal gunshot according to forensic expert. Read from Bulatlat.com

Solusyong medikal, hindi militar. Bigas, hindi rehas. Bigas, hindi bala. With reports from KADAMAY, AMIHAN.

#DefendThePoor

#StopTheKillings

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