ILPS ICC Resolution for the immediate and unconditional release of Randall Echanis

On January 28, 2008, a platoon of suspected military and police elements wearing ski masks arrested Randal Echanis, external affairs deputy secretary general of KMP (Peasant Movement of the Philippines), while in a meeting with leaders of Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa (UMA) or Union of Agricultural Workers and the Negros-based National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW)... The continuing injustice committed against Echanis should not be tolerated. Let us all stand up and fight for the immediate and unconditional release of Ka Randy, and the subsequent dropping of all charges filed against him by the corrupt, bankrupt and immoral government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas or Peasant Movement of the Philippines (KMP), is a democratic and militant movement of landless peasants, small farmers, agricultural workers, subsistence fisherfolk, rural youth and peasant women. The KMP, founded in July 1985, has effective leadership of more than two million rural people with 60 provincial and 15 regional chapters nationwide. As militant and genuine peasant movement, the KMP fights for genuine and thoroughgoing agrarian reform.

The KMP is a founding member of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) in May 2001 in The Netherlands. Since then, the KMP serves as one of its active members and was able to fulfill its duties and responsibilities as an ILPS member.

On the 21st anniversary of the infamous Mendiola Massacre on January 22, 2008, the KMP led nationwide protests to forward its call for genuine agrarian reform and to support House Bill No. 3059 or Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill sponsored by Anakpawis, Bayan Muna at Gabriela Women’s Party submitted on November 2007 at the House of Representatives.

The weeklong events started on January 16, highlighting the more than 1,000 peasants that marched from Southern Tagalog joined by farmers from Bicol, Central Luzon, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley and had a vigil on January 21, 2008 in front of the national office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Quezon City. The next day, January 22, more than 3,000 people marched from DA to Mendiola Bridge and proved that the so-called destabilization plot being orchestrated by General Esperon is not true. The farmers were able to register that they went to Manila to demand for genuine agrarian reform – the same demand they are asking for in January 22, 1987, when the Mendiola Massacre happened. These week-long activities were supported by media people through a wide-multi-media coverage.

On January 28, 2008, a platoon of suspected military and police elements wearing ski masks arrested Randal Echanis, external affairs deputy secretary general of KMP, while in a meeting with leaders of Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa (UMA) or Union of Agricultural Workers and the Negros-based National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).

Randall more popularly known as “Ka Randy” among his peers and colleagues, 59 years old, was in a meeting with agricultural workers’ groups to discuss the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill or House Bill 3059 and help in the preparation for UMA and NFSW’s participation to the National Rural Congress 2 to be called by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in July this year.

Randall was arrested on the basis of a standing warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court in Hilongos, Leyte, regarding his participation in the discovered mass graves in Hilongos, Leyte, allegedly a product of the communist purge in the province between 1983 to 1985.

The peasant leader was in detention and held under solitary confinement when the alleged crime was committed. Echanis was arrested in 1983 by then Ministry of National Defense Security Group under Col. Gregorio Honasan, Red Kapunan and the late Rodolfo Aguinaldo. The KMP deputy secretary general for external affairs was held incommunicado from 1983 to 1984 and was transferred to Camp Adduru, Regional Command 2 Stockade in Tugegarao, Cagayan until his release in March 1986.

Since his release Echanis resumed his pro-people work by joining the group of ex-political detainees, helping in pursuing the human rights claimants’ case against the Marcos dictatorship and actively participating in the pre-formation of human rights group Karapatan, until his appointment as KMP external affairs deputy secretary general in 1999, during the peasant group’s 5th National Congress.

At the time he was arrested and transferred to Leyte Provincial Jail in Palo, his legal counsel Atty. Jobert Pahilga narrated that his client was subjected to a new type of torture. A report published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer last January 31, 2008, says Echanis was tortured by policemen and soldiers. Echanis was flown from Bago City in Negros Occidental to Mactan International Airport and from the Cebu airport to Hilongos, with four choppers of the AFP taking him, as if he was a notorious criminal offered as a trophy to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The report also said Echanis was transferred from Hilongos municipal jail to Palo before midnight of Tuesday and arrived at the provincial jail in Palo at 3:00 am of January 30. The military committed a new type of torture by subjecting his client and his client’s family, legal counsel, friends and colleagues to deceit, intense pressure tantamount to mental and psychological torture, which is worse than physical torture.

Prior to his arrest, the Supreme Court dismissed the rebellion case, in connection with the alleged Feb.24, 2006 coup attempt, against Randall, and the six progressive lawmakers popularly known as the Batasan 6 -- Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna, Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis and Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Party. The high tribunal assailed the Philippine government for assaulting the civil rights of the Filipino people.

The continuing injustice committed against Echanis should not be tolerated. Let us all stand up and fight for the immediate and unconditional release of Ka Randy, and the subsequent dropping of all charges filed against him by the corrupt, bankrupt and immoral government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The victory of Echanis’ cause is the victory of all peasants struggling for their right to land, and a triumph for all the Filipino people fighting for a just and humane society. Let our voices be heard in the name of truth, justice and peace. Let us resolved to support the immediate and unconditional release of Randall Echanis.

Approved by the ILPS International Coordinating Committee
During its meeting on February 9, 2008
held in The Netherlands