Peace Corp volunteer Andrew Haralam, who was forced to resign after he launched his own sympathy strike on May 9, arrived at the DA hunger strike site from Baguio early this morning
HUNGER STRIKERS HOLD 24-HOUR INDIGNATION FAST, HUNGER STRIKE TO END TOMORROW
Hunger strikers on their 29th day of fasting were joined today by their colleagues from Baguio and Kalinga, for a 24-hour indignation fast as a prelude to the lifting of their hunger strike on May 21.
Peace Corp volunteer Andrew Haralam, who was forced to resign after he launched his own sympathy strike on May 9, arrived at the DA hunger strike site from Baguio early this morning. Upon arrival, he said, “ I’ve come to Manila in support of my fellow hunger strikers. The evidence against Bt corn is compelling, although the U.S. government has shown its disapproval of my protest by firing me”.
Another hunger striker, Manny Onalan of the Community Volunteers Movement of Kalinga, expected to arrive later in the afternoon. He started his hunger strike on May 7.
Hunger strikers Arma Bertuso and Mark Cervantes of SEARICE, Anne Larracas and Rei Panaligan of the Philippine Greens, Antonio Claparols of the Ecological Society of the Philippines, Gigi Cruz, Fr. Robert Reyes and Roy Cabonegro also rejoined their collegaues Luisita Esmao and Robert Verzola to complete the line up of hunger strikers who started on April 22. “ we started it together, we will end it together,” they said.
Neth Daño of SEARICE has gotten information that the Bt corn seeds have been quitely distributed to corn plantation owners, which have started planting them in North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
With this development , Mark Cervantes said of SEARICE , “to stop the subsequent irreversible contamination by the Bt poison gene of our local corn varieties will now take more than a hunger strike and a moratorium on seed distribution”.
We have n done everything that is humanly possible to stop these poisoned seeds. We have not failed. The Macapagal-Arrovo government has failed us, “ said Roberto Verzola, one of the the two remaining strikers who started on April 22.
The indignation fast, Verzola said, is directed at the “unholy alliance of the GMA government and Monsanto, which spread the Bt corn seeds throughout the country.”
PAKISAMA leader Luisita Esmao called on all their supporters, local and abroad, “to join us and go on a one-day indignation fast yourselves”.
“Let this joint fast seal our common commitment to carry on the fight, until victory is at hand,” she concluded.
