2024 | June Newswrap: Updates from Member Organizations Worldwide
June was a month marked by mobilization and struggles in rural areas, as global peasants returned to the streets alongside social movements. Their demands included peace, respect for democracy and electoral commitments, social justice, and genuine support for small-scale agriculture. The dignity of rural communities also manifested in ongoing training in Peasant Agroecology and intensified efforts for Food Sovereignty, offering hope for humanity.
We begin in Bolivia, where – on June 26th – an attempted military coup was thwarted by the mobilization of peasants, indigenous peoples, and workers in La Paz. They gathered to uphold democratic order under the current government of Luis Arce. Although the coup was swiftly quelled, there remains a latent threat from right-wing groups in Latin America aiming to hinder the progress of several progressive countries in the region, as highlighted in a statement by CLOC – Via Campesina.
In Europe, following the results of the European Parliament elections, the ECVC (European Coordination Via Campesina) cautioned about the precarious state of democracy and the expectations of the peasantry. After months of mobilization, their primary demands include fair prices, respect for peasant rights, and halting the excessive deregulation of GMOs. The new authorities must prioritize promoting agroecological transition, enhancing access to subsidy policies, and fostering intergenerational continuity. Additionally, the ECVC expressed concern over the increasing support for the extreme right and its racist, xenophobic, and divisive rhetoric regarding migrant labor in agribusiness.
In Argentina, on June 12th at Plaza del Congreso, peasant organizations, trade unions, women, and students rallied against the Bases Law recently passed by the Senate. This law deepens the political-economic model that exploits nature, leading to environmental, social, and health consequences. Large transnational corporations, which already enjoyed significant profitability and minimal oversight, welcomed the measure. The streets of Buenos Aires witnessed excessive repression during the protests, amid Milei’s government pushing forward with extractivism as a State policy.
In Peru, a highly intricate regional situation has emerged, highlighted by peasant organizations affiliated with LVC participating in the National March against recent legislative changes pushed by the Congress and the government. These changes include projects dubbed the Gag Law, harassment of civil society organizations, destruction of the Amazon, impunity for crimes against humanity, and laws infringing upon the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples. The mobilization took place in front of the Palace of Justice in Lima, drawing participation from collectives, organizations, movements, and civil society, nearly two years into Dina Boluarte’s current government tenure.
In Thailand, on June 18th, over 300 members of the North Lampang Farmers Federation assembled at the provincial town hall to protest Forestry Department inspections of community plots engaged in shifting cultivation. These unannounced inspections, initiated on June 13th in Ban Khun On Pattana, Ngaw district, sparked fears of potential land confiscations. Protesters called for local authorities to cease the inspections and engage in dialogue to safeguard their traditional farming methods. Despite initial assurances from officials, protesters deemed the responses insufficient and are planning to escalate their actions to a national level.
From Portugal, leading agricultural organizations have sent a stern letter to the national government expressing concerns over the failure to fulfill electoral promises regarding the incorporation of regional directorates of agriculture into the Ministry of Agriculture. This measure is crucial for programmatically promoting small-scale agriculture and forestry production nationwide. The agrarian groups also called for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) policies to be more accessible and beneficial to the rural population, ensuring they do not undermine peasant rights.
FNSA in Morocco reports that since June 18th, producers of “Jouda” milk and its derivatives, who are members of the union office of workers at the Sla agency of the “Copac” cooperative, have been on a hunger strike. They are protesting the management’s delay in addressing their issues and obstructing their rights.
In Galicia, Spain, representatives of the Sindicato Labrego urged within the framework of the Miño Biosphere Reserve that agroecological farming be officially recognized as a strategic sector, deserving inclusion as a distinct category in the upcoming decade’s action plan. They emphasized the inconsistency of promoting preservation of this vital natural area while simultaneously endorsing industrial projects such as wind farms, photovoltaic installations, and mining operations that threaten rural communities. Galician peasant organizations stressed the urgency for institutions to tackle issues like agricultural land scarcity and the integration of new individuals interested in farming.
CLOC- La Via Campesina Central America expressed solidarity with the Committee of Peasant Unity – CUC of Guatemala in response to the ongoing structural violence against peasant and indigenous communities. They condemned the persecution, criminalization, and assassinations of defenders of Peasant Rights. The organization lamented the sorrowful loss and vicious attacks targeting rural organizations, which aim to intimidate and threaten organized families. They demanded that the State conduct thorough investigations and hold accountable those responsible for the death of José Alberto Domingo, as well as the attack on Marcelo and Gustavo Yaxón on June 5th.
In the Caribbean, Dominican organizations staged protests on June 21st against the construction of the Monte Grande dam. The 460 affected families emphasized their demand for the government to fulfill its commitments, which include providing each family with 30 hectares of quality land with irrigation water, and completing the town center, a promise that was supposed to be fulfilled five months ago. The families called upon the President of the Republic to urgently address these issues and urged the authorities in the province of Azua to fulfill their responsibility in representing and addressing the community’s needs.
In Southern and Eastern Africa, specifically in Zimbabwe, ZIMSOFF plays an active role in advocating for the rights and needs of smallholder farmers, focusing on farmers’ rights, climate justice, gender issues, and agroecology. On May 16th, ZIMSOFF participated in the launch of the Gender and Climate Change Working Group. During the event, they showcased various traditional seeds and foods preserved by peasants, highlighting their role in building resilience against climate change impacts. The event was attended by the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community Development, and Small and Medium Enterprises, along with UN officials, the Gender Commission, and representatives from civil society.
La Via Campesina Honduras has denounced ongoing structural neglect and corruption scandals damaging rural villages, citing the Pandora Case. Over 282 million lempira intended to bolster agriculture were diverted to finance political campaigns of the National Party and the Liberal Party in 2013. Peasant organizations demand recognition as victims, seeking justice, reparations, and prevention of future occurrences. The diverted funds deprived thousands of peasants of development opportunities, particularly affecting youth and peasant women.
In Southeast Asia, the Indonesian National Food Agency (Badan Pangan Nasional RI) has recently unveiled new policies on Government Purchase Prices. The Indonesian Peasant Union (SPI) cautioned that the announcement came late, after the main rice harvest season had passed. They also highlighted that the announced purchase prices do not meet production costs in numerous regions. While acknowledging the government’s involvement in rice trade management, SPI urged for a revised pricing policy that is more comprehensive and responsive to farmers’ needs.
From the Dominican Republic, participants at the VI Continental School of Women organized by the Latin American Coordinating Committee of Rural Organizations (CLOC) – La Via Campesina, representing 18 Latin American countries and including delegates from member organizations in Canada and the United States, voiced deep concern and condemnation of recent events. They expressed dismay over the Haitian government’s current state and criticized the Dominican Republic’s unjustified decision to restrict Haitian delegates’ participation in the school. Furthermore, they decried the severe crisis in Haiti exacerbated by foreign interventions and international interference, which have heightened violence, insecurity, and instability. These issues particularly impact peasant communities and women, exacerbated by neoliberal policies and imperialist agendas that exploit and control the Haitian population.
In South Asia, like in other regions globally, young peasants are actively contributing to the movement for food sovereignty. In India, the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene recently organized the second leadership camp for peasant youth in Shimoga district. The camp aimed to revitalize Hasiru Sene and establish a youth-focused peasant organization dedicated to preserving agriculture, themed “Our Move Towards Saving Agriculture.” Participants received comprehensive education on various topics, including the history of the farmers’ association since 1980, the specific challenges faced by young farmers, and strategies to address these challenges.
In Uganda, ESAFF commemorated World Environment Day on June 5th at St. Joseph Naama Modern Secondary School in Mityana district. Alongside tree planting activities, ESAFF Uganda nurtured knowledge and responsibility among students through Agroecology Clubs. These clubs, an initiative of the organization, aim to promote farmer agroecology among youth and pave the path for a sustainable future. Additionally, the 2nd edition of the Agroecology 2024 School Poem Contest was inaugurated during the event. This annual contest encourages students to creatively express their understanding of peasant agroecology through poetry.
In Tunisia, on June 23rd, the One Million Rural and Landless Women’s Association organized a training session on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) in Zaghouan. This session, held with local peasants, also led to the establishment of a regional branch of the association in the Zaghouan province.
In Senegal, training facilitated by the Conseil National de Concertation et de Coopération des Ruraux (CNCR) under the PADAER II project has equipped the Citizen Watchdog Unit (CVC) to operationalize complaint management mechanisms for agricultural enterprises. Producers now grasp the complaint management process and its potential benefits. CNCR emphasizes the need for substantial resources to support the effective functioning of this mechanism, particularly to enable members to address complaints promptly and effectively.
To enhance the visibility and management of pastoralism in Togo, the Togolese Coordination of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations (CTOP), in partnership with the Network of West African Farmers’ Organizations (ROPPA), conducted a training workshop from May 6 to June 7, 2024, in Tsevié. The workshop focused on building advocacy and public policy skills to support pastoralists locally and nationally. Drawing from the knowledge and strategies developed during the workshop, ROPPA, through CTOP, its national platform of members, aims to engage with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development to implement targeted activities in the pastoral sector.
The Mauritanian Farmers Union, led by its Secretary General and several members of its executive office, along with representatives from Mundubat organization including its General Coordinator and Project Coordinator, undertook a field visit to the Al-Najah Cooperative in Mesila, situated in the village of Rgeiba 1, within the Dar al-Baraka region. This cooperative, primarily run by women, focuses on vegetable cultivation. During the visit, Mr. Antonio Montoro, the General Coordinator of Mundubat, expressed deep admiration for the remarkable efforts of the cooperative’s women amidst challenging conditions. He highlighted their unwavering determination to contribute towards achieving self-sufficiency and Food Sovereignty.
And to wrap up this edition with a news from Srilanka – MONLAR organized a regional consultation with Asia-Pacific organizations supporting the global Food Sovereignty movement to prepare for the third Nyeleni Global Forum for Food Sovereignty. Representatives from 13 countries convened to discuss challenges facing small-scale farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, women, youth, workers, consumers, and individuals with diverse gender identities in the region. During the consultation, participants also visited a rural products sales center managed by rural producers and entrepreneurs in Palatuwa, Matara. This initiative, championed by MONLAR, promotes Food Sovereignty by facilitating the sale of locally sourced environmental products within their community.
If there are any important updates that we have missed, please send the links to communications@viacampesina.org so that we can include them in the next edition. We only include updates from La Via Campesina members. For a comprehensive update on various initiatives from June 2024, please visit our website. You can also find the previous editions of our news wrap on our website. In addition, condensed versions of our newswrap are accessible as a podcast on Spotify.