2 dead, many wounded as police disperse Filipino farmers
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philippine National Police cleared the highway off of blood and debris following a violent protest along a national highway in Kidapawan city southern Philippines on Friday. Officials said at least two people were killed and dozens wounded when gunfire erupted as police attempted to clear a 4-day-old protest by farmers, who have been demanding government financial aid in the wake of a seven-month drought in the province.
KIDAPAWAN, Philippines » Police clashed with farmers blocking a highway to demand government relief in the drought-stricken southern Philippines on Friday, leaving at least two demonstrators dead and dozens injured, including at least 23 officers, officials said.
Police moved in to disperse about 6,000 farmers and their supporters who were demonstrating for the fourth straight day in Kidapawan, the capital of Cotabato province, when scuffles and gunfire broke out, police and Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza said.
Mendoza said two protesters were killed and a journalist at the site counted 13 injured demonstrators. Provincial police chief Alexander Tagum said at least 23 police officers also were hurt.
Two officers were in critical condition due to head trauma, said National Police spokesman Wilben Mayor.
The farmers, who have been demanding financial aid and rice during a monthslong drought in the province, said the police fired at them. Police said some of the protesters were armed and fired first.
Mayor said the police were still gathering information.
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Before shots were fired, police had given an ultimatum to the protesters to leave. After negotiations failed, police began pushing the farmers away with their shields, but the farmers fought back by throwing stones and rocks while firefighters sprayed water on them.
Left-wing groups, which support the farmers’ demands, quickly condemned police for using force.
“The farmers were calling for rice, but bullets rained on them instead,” said Rep. Terry Ridon of the Youth Party.
7 responses to “2 dead, many wounded as police disperse Filipino farmers”
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This could happen to us, no rice! Especially if we dont vote for an American Born citizen from Austin Texas. Im a real American, my father is from Texas, and my father’s father, is from Texas. I’m from Texas too, also known as the Lone Star State. If you want a Hawaiian, well, I don’t see any, so your stuck with me, a Texan, raised in Hawaii. If you want a Japanese, well, there are alot of those, and if your Hawaiian, and your wondering why you don’t have a house? Well I was going to answer that question for you, but I better not.
#Kaaihue4Congress2
“Lighten up, Francis.”
Not sure what this post has to do with farmers over in the Philippines. As for why there are limited housing options for us – too many mainland transplants combined with limited space and resources.
Everyone knows what comes from Texas. People like Bush, so many other utterly clueless & incompetent bureaucrats.
Give them some rice before they all come over here.
THIS is what happens after decades of corrupt politics. Even after Marcos was deposed each of the people that followed him were embroiled in corruption. There’s no one that I know who is from there or has spent significant time there who doesn’t acknowledge that this is a dangerous place to be. I’ve heard numerous stories of people being shakendown by the police so you can’t trust anyone?
It took a long time for the Philippines to get where it is (the Philippine Insurrection and World War II didn’t help much) and it will take a long and difficult time for things to resolve themselves.