CPP joins Luisita peasants celebration over SC decision

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) yesterday joined farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita in celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision ordering the distribution of the 5,000-hectare sugarcane plantation owned by the family of President Aquino.

In a statement, the CPP, however, stressed that the struggle of the 6,000 farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac is far from over.

“The peasants and farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita celebrate the SC decision because it boosts their century-long struggle to put an end to the land-monopoly ownership and achieve justice for the long decades of exploitation, oppression and fascist brutality by the Cojuangco landlord rule,” the CPP said.

“They are, however, also fully aware that their struggle is far from over,” CPP added, calling on the peasants and farmworkers to further strengthen their unity and brace for bigger struggles.

The high court on Nov. 22 released its decision revoking the stock distribution option (SDO) scheme, upholding the distribution of farmlands to the workers of Hacienda Luisita, owned by the Cojuangco clan.

Aside from revoking the SDO, the Supreme Court also compelled the Hacienda Luisita Inc. to pay the peasants and farm workers the amount of P1.3 billion, representing the area of land sold by HLI during the past years.

The CPP also expressed observation that the decision of the Supreme Court is a counter-punch by the camp of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo against the Aquino regime for having filed criminal charges against Arroyo and effecting her arrest last week.

“This view is based on the fact that majority of the officals of the SC were appointed by Arroyo and are seen to be sympathetic to her. Indeed, there are deep fissures within the ruling classes, with Supreme Court decisions often reflecting the contradictions and accommodations among them and the power plays and political maneuverings between those in and out of power,” the CPP said.

However true, the CPP said that such observations they do not diminish the significance of this latest legal victory of the peasants and farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita.

“The peasants and farmworkers have long demonstrated the justness of their legal and moral position against the SDO and for the distribution of the Hacienda Luisita lands. As a result, they have won widespread support from various sectors, from workers and students, lawyers and religious people,” the CPP said.

“They have won this latest round in their legal battle not only through the sheer correctness of their opposition to the SDO, but also by having consistently demonstrated courage and determination to advance the cause of agrarian reform and fight for social justice,” it also said. –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune