The Women Peacemakers Program is happy to share this great example of active nonviolence in the Philippines. 71 coconut farmers are marching for 71 days to raise awareness on their livelyhood situation and demanding political action to ensure social and economic justice for coconut farmers.
Bobet Corral, an active member of the WPP Asia Network and actively involved in this initiative, informed WPP that the 71 coconut farmers received a training in active nonviolence. The trainers on active nonviolence are also among the marchers. In addition, the whole group received an orientation on gender issues, a subject on the agenda during the march. The marchers are expected to reach Manila by 2nd or 3rd week of November.
The text below was issued as a press statement by the organizing committee.
Follow the march via Facebook and Twitter and support their nonviolent action!
You can also follow the Facebook pages of Soc Banzuaela and Farmer Jon, participants of the march and active nonviolent activists.
On September 21, 2014, underlining the 42nd Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law, 71 coconut farmers will start their 71-day, 1,750-km march from Davao City to Malacanang (The Philippines) to ask the President to issue an Executive Order and to certify the passage of a Coconut Farmers Trust Fund as urgent legislation.
Seven years ago, 55 farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon made Mindanao to Manila a walking distance. They reached Malacanang and talked with President Arroyo and six months later got their land back. Inspired by this active nonviolent experience, and many marches since then, including the Quezon-Malacanang coconut farmers march two years ago, 71 coconut farmers from nine national farmers federations will do a 1750-km CocoFarmers Trust Fund March on September 21, 2014. The long march aims to call on the President to sign a draft Executive Order and to certify to Congress as urgent and important legislation, the setting up of a perpetual Coconut Trust Fund that will manage, utilize, and administer the recovered 71 billion pesos of cocolevy fund. The 71 coconut farmers come from different coconut provinces and represent ten national farmer federations, now organized under a newly-formed national alliance, KILUS Magniniyog.
Collected from millions of coconut farmers through various decrees by the Marcos dictatorship over a ten year period (1972-82) and invested in San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and other businesses, the 9 billion-peso cocolevy fund grew to over 150 billion pesos. 71 billion pesos in SMC shares have been decided by the Supreme Court two years ago as public fund and have been deposited in the National Treasury and United Coconut Planters Bank. Yet, in spite of the great needs of 3.5 million coconut farmers, considered by the National Anti Poverty Commission as the poorest among the poor in the rural areas, not a single peso has been used from the fund. While Danding Cojuangco got and used already 56 billion pesos (20% of SMC shares) awarded to him by the Supreme Court, the coconut farmers have not utilized the recovered amount given an absence of a Court-sanctioned Entry of Judgment.
The march for historic justice by 71 coconut farmers coming from ten national farmers federations, all members of the newly-formed coconut farmers alliance, KILUS Magniniyog, might be the longest march so far in Philippine history. It will start in Davao City on the 42nd Anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, and is expected to reach Malacanang 66 days after, on November 26, 2014, one day before the closing ceremony of the International Year of Family Farming in Manila.
The march is a public education and consultation event to raise public debate and win favorable public opinion for the speedy passage of a proposed Executive Order and Bill establishing a Coconut Farmers Trust Fund to manage and utilize the initial 71 billion-peso recovered cocolevy fund.
"I fully support the long march for the coconut levy campaign of the Kilos Magniniyog. However I express my deep regrets that I shall not be at the launching since I shall be in La Union at that time. I give my blessings on the participants and pray that the Lord may protect them from all harm, guide them, provide them with strength and good health. May our Blessed Mother be their companion on the long journey. With best wishes -- in the Lord." Orlando B. Cardinal Quevedo, O.M.I. of Archbishop of Cotabato said in a statement.
Various organizations of coconut farmers and their support groups which include other sectors such as labor, urban poor, NGOs, Churches and schools are expected to join in various legs/routes with the view of drawing bigger contingent at the last stretch of the march to Malacanang. The March will start in a concelebrated sending off Mass at 6 am at San Pedro Cathedral and a press conference at 7-8:00 am at Rizal Park stage. Thereafter, the march begins.
Read the complete press release, including a declaration on the historic 71-day march with more background information.
The Kilus Magniniyog (Kilusan para sa Ugnayan ng mga Samahang Magniniyog) is a newly-formed alliance campaigning for the just, transparent and proper allotment of the P73 billion Coconut Levy Funds – Sa paghihirap ng milyong magniniyog, coco levy, huwag ipinatutulog! (Amidst the sufferings of millions of small coconut farmers, unfreeze coco levy funds). More information about Kilus Magniniyog and the 71 day march can be found on their Facebook page.
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