The path to peace and ploughshares

It was in 2011, during the first year of the Aquino administration, when I first got to work closely with peace builder and land defender Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, deputy secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

I remember that Ka Randy and another NDFP consultant, Rafael “Ka Raffy” Baylosis, spearheaded then widespread consultations with different mass movements and civil society in developing the content of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (Caser).

The Caser is a proposed agreement negotiated between the revolutionary NDFP and the Philippine government that proposes a suite of socioeconomic policies and programs that will resolve the root causes of social conflict in the Philippines: mass poverty and social injustice.

I can recall how Ka Randy and Ka Raffy vividly shared the vision of Caser in laying down the foundations for the Filipino people to pursue a just, progressive, and democratic society. How it is possible for warring parties like the Philippine government and the NDFP to “beat swords into ploughshares,” as the expression goes, if they shared such an aspiration.

For the toiling peasant masses that Ka Randy tirelessly fought for, ploughshares, and humble land to till with them, are literally their most ardent aspiration.

I was fortunate to have shared in-depth discussions with Ka Randy on how we could integrate in Caser the aspirations and demands of environmentalists for people to live in a society where there is a balanced, clean, and healthy ecology. It was not difficult to share the dream of having a society where the government would protect and rehabilitate our devastated environment.

It reminded me of a video series where Ka Randy succinctly explained the environment agenda within Caser: A domestic economy that ensures the optimal and sustainable utilization of our natural resources for the benefit of our people and country as well as the health of our mother earth and we its children, respects the rights of the people, and ensures the future of the next generation.

Ka Randy actively sought out groups such as ours in different parts of the country for our comments and suggestions on how to further improve Caser. They let a thousand flowers bloom in these discussions with Filipino environmental advocates. But he also walked the talk alongside his fellow land and peasant activists, by joining us in our various struggles to defend the environment from destructive projects like large-scale mining operations, land reclamation projects, and agribusiness plantations.

One collaborative effort we had was in 2015 when we became convenors of REAP, or the Network Resisting Expansion of Agricultural Plantations, which aimed to lead a multisectoral campaign against the land-grabbing, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and toxic contamination being brought about by the expansion and operation of corporate agricultural plantations in the country.

It saddens me, and infuriates me no end, that we will never see Ka Randy again in our convenor meetings. Or in peace consultations. Or in the parliament of the streets.

We will never forget Ka Randy’s deeds in pursuing peace, fighting for people’s rights, and defending our lands. The fascist murderers and the police who stole Ka Randy’s remains from his family believe that ending his life will discourage people from continuing their advocacy for peace and justice.

They are dead wrong. Many more will take the path less traveled taken by Ka Randy, until the last sword is beaten into a ploughshare.

Rest in power, Ka Randy.

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Clemente Bautista Jr. is the international networks coordinator of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.