Drop the Charges! Tinang 83 Support Fund

Peasant farmers and advocates targeted and attacked for land cultivation!
On June 9th, at least 100 peasant farmers, land reform advocates, and researchers were illegally detained at Cooperative Tinang,  Concepcion, Tarlac, Philippines by the Tarlac police for asserting their right to till and cultivate land that is rightfully theirs and supporting the struggle of peasant farmers. Police showed up without a warrant to arrest one of the leaders of the land cultivation, leading to the forcible arrest of at least 100 farmers, advocates, and researchers. 

On June 12th, after days of widespread calls for the release of the 83 farmers and advocates still held, a court order for their release was signed after they posted bail through their legal counsels. They were released later that day much to the relief of many who were increasingly worried by the cramped, inhumane conditions under which the 83 were held for days by the Tarlac Police. While their release is a victory, the struggle continues as the trumped-up charges against them have not been dropped.  

Liyang Network calls on our supporters in the Philippines and around the world to donate to help with legal funds, medical treatment, and psychosocial trauma therapy for the victims of this malicious attempt to undermine peasant-led struggles for land.

Why were they targeted and arrested? 
Peasant farmers, land reform advocates, and researchers joined together to engage in the collective farming practice of "bungkalan," a practice originating from the land reform movement at Hacienda Luisita, where farmers cultivated land to provide food security for their community in response to land-grabbing by corporations and landlords.  The Tinang bungkalan ended abruptly when police arrived to intimidate, harass, and ultimately arrest the peasant farmers and their supporters. In an attempt to steal the land, local mayor Noel
Villanueva called on police to intimidate, harass and ultimately arrest peasant farmers and their supporters. 

What support is needed? 
The conditions of Philippine prisons and jails are some of the worst in the world, with large amounts of overcrowding that has led to unmanageable outbreaks of tuberculosis and other diseases. Further, correctional facilities in the PH often have poor sanitation and are unable to provide adequate nutrition to incarcerated individuals, causing these facilities to be ticking time bombs for deadly infectious outbreaks for diseases like COVID-19. This places many of the most vulnerable at risk of contracting disease. 

When nearly 100 people were arrested at Tinang, they were made to sleep outside of the precinct and subjected to unsanitary and degrading conditions while waiting for their charges to be dropped and to be released. After one night in holding, a handful of students and researchers were released. The remaining 83 were held for over 72 hours.  The day before they were released, 53 of the farmers and advocates were forced into overcrowded jail cells measuring no more than 7x13 feet. Twenty-nine of them were forced into a cell with dozens of other men. While the remaining 24 women were placed into a cell with a total of 29 occupants. The cramped conditions were brutal and traumatizing for many and led 4 of the women to collapse and vomit while locked in the cell.

These farmers and advocates have suffered physically and mentally from the Tarlac Police’s violent raid at Tinang and the degrading and inhumane conditions they were subjected to in holding. While they are no longer in custody, the traumatic experience continues as the trumped-up charges against them remain along with the threat of reincarceration. This fund supports their legal fees, medical treatment, and trauma therapy. 

About Us
Liyang Network is an international advocacy network that amplifies the calls to action of human rights and environmental defenders in the Philippines, including organizations of Lumad and other indigenous communities, peasants and agri-workers. We weave together our diverse skills, passions and resources and unite in their active defense of land, livelihood and self-determination. 

For more information on the Tinang83
Check out SAKA on Instagram @saka_ph
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/6/10/Hacienda-Tinang-Tarlac-arrest-farmers.html 
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/12/2187877/release-tinang-83-delayed-despite-bail-payment-release-order
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Q0Ez9jpdY  
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/834522/at-least-100-farmers-land-reform-advocates-arrested-in-tarlac/story/ 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CelndGLp25F/?hl=en 

For more information on bungkalan 
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2019/4/2/bungkalan.html 
https://www.landportal.org/news/2018/10/bungkalan-caused-unaddressed-social-injustice-land-rights-group-says 
https://iboninternational.org/2020/03/13/boundless-women-pursuing-the-path-to-a-sustainable-future/ 

To learn more about our work 
Follow Liyang Network on Instagram at @liyang_network.