Far from over HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 08/09/2010

Far from over

HE SAYS

Aldrin Cardon

08/09/2010
Some see roses, others blood in the announced compromised, limited land distribution package meant to put an end to the nagging Hacienda Luisita issue, which, even with efforts from its owners, the Cojuangcos who have been out of and in power through the Aquinos, would continue to hang around Noynoy Aquino’s neck like a sinker or a floater, however one wishes to see it.

Like it did to Cory, Hacienda Luisita will reflect Noynoy’s success (or failure) in government’s land reform program, and since 1986, it has become the main soil of contention between the landlords, in this case represented by the Cojuangcos, and the farmers, long agitated to owning what they till, which they claim as their right as infused by the tenets of different communist thoughts, but clearly guaranteed in advanced countries’ social justice programs.

The United Luisita Workers Union (Ulwu) rebuffed the Cojuangco offer to distribute about one-third of the 6,500-hectare plantation, or equivalent to the amount of stocks distributed during the term of Cory as their version of the failed Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp). The Ulwu rejection guarantees the continuation of its fight to claim the whole hacienda from the Cojuangcos, who have developed a large part of the land to non-agricultural purpose.

Lito Bais, acting president of Ulwu, the main labor group in the plantation, claimed to have been left out of the negotiations, and reacted with surprise at the new declaration which made the Luisita workers choose between receiving pieces of lands or maintaining their shares of stocks with the HLI..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100809com7.html