An international network of anti-pesticide advocates condemn the filing of a 10 Million peso libel suit by a banana plantation company in Mindanao, Philippines against its active campaigner Dr. Romeo Quijano.

Sarojeni Rengam, the Executive Director of the Pesticide Action Network, Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) said libel suits are directed to harass anti-pesticide advocates in their fight against human and environmental pesticides poisoning. Transnational Corporations (TNCs), supported by local companies and government officials, aggressively promote the continued use of deadly pesticides to rake in more profits to the detriment of the health and safety of thousands of farmers, farm workers, their families and local residents, Ms. Rengam said.

Dr. Quijano was sued by Lapanday Development Corporation (Ladeco), a banana plantation company that supply the US giant, Dole, after the article "Poisoned Lives" was published on March 6, 2000 in the Philippine Post. The article reported that the poisoning of residents in Kamukhaan, Davao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines, by Dr. Quijano, was caused by the plantation’s regular aerial spraying.

PAN AP, linked to more than 150 groups in 18 countries, is organising various actions to support Dr. Quijano in his fight against the Ladeco Corporation.

Ms. Rengam said the reported poisoning of the residents of Kamukhaan, the various diseases and even the death of some – widely attributed to the constant exposure to pesticide spraying – is not an isolated case.

"It is happening across Asia and in other parts of the world, particularly in poor countries," she said. According to the World Health Statistic Quarterly, a World Health Organisation (WHO) publication, about 25 million workers in developing countries are poisoned by pesticides every year.

To prevent pesticide misuse and protect human health and the environment, various farmers groups and anti-pesticide advocates across the Asia-Pacific region will hold a People ‘s Caravan – "Citizens on the Move for Land and Food Without Poisons!" from November 13-30.

The People’s Caravan will expose the effects and dangers of pesticide use as one major theme threatening farmer’s livelihoods, food security and the production of safe food. The caravan aims

to heighten people’s awareness of TNC control over our food systems, cultures and traditions which is aided and abetted by globalisation through the GATT-WTO, Ms. Rengam said.

The People’s Caravan will kick off on November 13 in Chennai, India; followed by Bangladesh on November 19, and culminate in Manila, Philippines between November 26-30. The caravan is organised by the Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum (TNWF) and the Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED) of India; UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternatives) and the Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agriculture Movement) of Bangladesh; the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines); with PAN AP in collaboration with SHISUK, Bangladesh; CIKS and PREPARE, India; Gita Pertiwi, Indonesia; NESSFE Japan; CACPK, Korea; and Food First, U.S.A.

Farmers in Indonesia, Korea and Japan will also hold simultaneous events. Farmer representatives of India, Bangladesh, Korea, Indonesia and Japan are expected to be in the Philippines on November 26-30. Farmers and various groups will commemorate Seattle, one year since the WTO protest on November 30.

LADECO slapped a 10 Million Peso libel suit against Dr. Quijano, PAN-Philippines President, and his daughter Ilang-Ilang, co-author of the article "Poisoned Lives" saying the article was malicious and carries false imputation that the company committed violations of the Labor Code and government regulations on the use of pesticides.

Dr. Quijano, in the article, said many residents in Kamukhaan, a village adjacent to the banana plantation, experience stomachaches, backaches and headaches – aggravated during regular spraying. The article said many also suffer asthma, thyroid cancer, goiters, diarrhea and anemia. Others are afflicted with skin diseases and have difficulty in breathing.

Residents attributed sickness and diseases – reportedly resulting in the death of some people – to the toxic fumes inhaled during periods of aerial spraying. The plantation sprays two to three times a month to maintain its export quality bananas.

Dr. Quijano, a long time anti-pesticide campaigner and an assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, maintains that the information conveyed in the article is based on actual interviews and medical examinations he conducted on several residents in the area.

Dr. Quijano asserted that the article "Poisoned Lives" was written to send the message that poor and marginalized people suffer because of pesticide use due to profit oriented cash crop production for the benefit of the rich.

For more information contact: