While we welcome the arrest of two suspects involved in Kharshiing’s assault, PCFS calls the government of Meghalaya to act upon these cases of political attacks targeting people’s rights defenders and ensure that their perpetrators are held accountable. We also urge to further its efforts against illegal and destructive activities, particularly the ban of coal mines, in Meghalaya.
“Such repressive actions only affirm the legitimacy of the rural people’s struggles against land grabbing, among the many other violations of their human rights, in Cambodia. The government has chosen to listen to its foreign and corporate backers, at the great expense of the rural communities and indigenous peoples – as well as the environment,” Mallari said.
PCFS grieves the loss of yet another dedicated people’s lawyer and food sovereignty advocate. We laud Ramos for all the years he had spent serving the rural poor, advancing farmer-led development, endorsing sustainable and organic agriculture, and promoting people’s food sovereignty.
On 28 October 2018, the Peoples Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) held its 4thGeneral Assembly in Surat Thani province, Thailand with the theme “Defend Our Victories! Assert Peoples’ Rights to Land, Water, and Food!” The theme banks on the successes of the peoples’ struggles in defending and asserting their rights amid intensifying malnutrition, hunger, and impoverishment brought about by imperialist-backed development aggression, monopoly control of food systems and agriculture, state repression, militarism, and wars.
The issue of forced migration is deeply connected to the issue of world hunger, imperialist control over economies and resources, and their aggression against people and our environment. Such a phenomenon does not only cause forced migration but aggravates it while depressing the conditions of migrants and their families even further.
Essentially, it is a reality that the assembly is here now, where there are a lot of expectations and eagerness to rekindle the spirits of activism around joint work of food sovereignty globally. This gathering binds us together for a unity of purpose, a union of common interest and oneness in our food, land and water social struggles. Rest assured that the continental joint efforts and spirit of activism support is bestowed upon you all present in Thailand, despite [myself] not being present with you today.