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well, this will be a test of his supposed good leadership...

Distribute land to Luisita farmers, Noynoy urged
Philstar.com - Monday, September 14
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III should opt to distribute the land in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac to the farmers who have been tilling it for several years now, militant group Bayan said.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said Aquino, who has declared his presidential bid in 2010, should also look into the extra-judicial killings over the land dispute to solve the long standing conflict at Hacienda Luisita. "We urge the senator to support two things: distribution of the land; and achieving justice for the many victims of extra-judicial killings. The stock distribution option must be revoked in favor of land distribution to the Luisita famers. The killings of union president Ricardo Ramos, Councilor Abel Ladera, Fr. William Tadena and others who died at the picket lines must also be investigated and resolved," Reyes said in a statement.

Aquino earlier announced that his family might be disengaging from the operations of the Hacienda Luisita Inc. "Senator Aquino says someone else could better manage the land. He need not look any farther because the farmers there have been cultivating part of the land since the strike was lifted.

The farmers are in the best position to develop the land," Reyes said.
He said he hopes the Aquinos will not only see the Luisita issue as a political and business liability but also as a social justice issue.

"These are legitimate demands by the farmers. They certainly go beyond political and business considerations," Reyes added.

The Bayan official also said justice has remained elusive for many of those killed by suspected members of the military during and after the workers' strike. "To this day, there has been no accountability for the Luisita massacre as well as the murders of supporters of the strike...
- By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com) >>