PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP blasts at farcical investigation into Hacienda Luisita Massacre
November 20, 2004

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today lambasted the investigation being carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP) into the November 16 Hacienda Luisita Massacre, calling it a "farce".

CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said recent statements by Malaca�ang and representatives of the Cojuangco family, which owns Hacienda Luisita and Central Azucarera de Tarlac have "prejudicially set the direction for the investigation."

"In making the ridiculous insinuation that the November 16 demonstration was infiltrated by armed men, Malaca�ang and the Cojuangcos have virtually instructed the PNP to prove in its investigation that it was the NPA that was responsible for the massacre," Rosal added.

"During the past two days, government officials have been making public wild speculations that the NPA wanted violence to erupt during the November 16 Hacienda Luisita demonstration," Rosal said.

"Because of this, the PNP investigation is already predisposed to proving NPA involvement and exculpating the AFP and PNP," Rosal added.

"No wonder that instead of identifying and charging the officer who gave the order to shoot and those who actually carried out the shooting, the police investigators are trying hard to come up with so-called documents supposedly detailing the NPA's plans," pointed out Rosal.

"Naghahanap sila ng diumano'y nasa likod ng masaker, samantalang iyong mga nasa harap, yung malinaw na namaril at pumatay sa 14 na mga welgista at demonstrador, ay hindi nila makita" Rosal said.

"The PNP-led investigation is proving itself a big farce. Sa halip na magbigay ng katarungan sa mga biktima, ang mga biktima pa ang kanilang sinisisi at kinakasuhan," Rosal protested.

Rosal also dismissed the investigation to be carried out by the National Bureau of the Investigation. The "outcome of the NBI investigation is already predetermined" as Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales has made "prejudicial statements" in asserting that "the violence in Hacienda Luisita was premeditated."

"The November 16 Hacienda Luisita massacre was perpetrated by government forces. The people cannot expect the government to carry out a truly impartial investigation," added Rosal.

The CPP spokesman instead issued a call urging church groups, human rights organizations, media personalities, the academe, cause-oriented organizations and other civic groups to form an independent investigative body that will look into the massacre.

"Their efforts to ferret out the details of the massacre will help the victims in their fight for justice," said Rosal.

He challenged the Arroyo government, the AFP and PNP to cooperate with such an investigative body.

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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