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Farmers fight eviction notices

Ney Abdiel Castillo/LA PRENSA

upset: Protesters march to the mayor’s office in La Piquera. 1098641

A band of 60 farmers from the town of La Piquera de Santa Fe, in the northern part of the Veraguas province, marched through the streets yesterday to the municipal offices in protest of a land dispute which could result in the eviction of 30 families.

Domingo Hernández, president of the group, said that the land in question has been the home of these farmers for countless years, but now the courts aim to displace them.

He confirmed that eviction orders have already been issued for the 30 families, which is why the townspeople are so distraught.

“We have lived on this land and worked it for many years, even our children were born here,” said Alberto Peralta, one of the farmers whose way of life in the area is threatened. “The authorities should not treat us this way.”

Peralta argued that all of the families affected are poor and in need of housing and health programs, not eviction notices.

Alcide Solis, a resident of the nearby town of Alto de Piedra, felt the situation was unfair to force the La Piqueta families off the land they have been toiling over for the last 30 years.

Félix Giraud, who presented the suit urging the eviction, said his family has had ownership of the land since 1933, when the farm territory was legally purchased in their name.

Giraud argued that most of the people claiming the land have only been squatting in the region for eight years, and therefore have no right to the property.

Albertina de Castrellón, mayor of Santa Fe, said that this case will be transferred to a different jurisdiction, and denied that she had any authority over the situation. Castrellón clarified that only three eviction orders had been made, since the rest are pending court ruling.