We are deeply saddened by the passing away of Carmelite Fr. Edgar Koning, beloved friend of the Filipino people. Since his assignement to Negros, the Philippines in the late 1960s, Fr. Edgar was deeply involved in the struggles for justice of the peasants and workers. He worked as a missionary serving the peasants, workers and the youth among the poor in Escalante.
In 1970, notorious Negros warlord, Congressman Armin Gustilo attacked the peasant settlers of Hiyang Hiyang, Cadiz. His purpose was to drive away the Hiyang Hiyang settlers and landgrab the lands they had cultivated for decades. When the Social Action Center of Bishop Fortich in Bacolod assisted the settlers and exposed the landgrab by Gustilo, Fr. Edgar courageously spoke out in their defense. Gustilo then launched a ferocious daily attack from his radio station, mocking Fr. Edgar. The day-in day-out attack took a heavy toll on Fr. Edgar’s health, but he never stopped his solidarity for the peasant settlers.
In 1973, upon advice of his doctors, Fr. Edgar moved back to his home country, the Netherlands. There he became a pillar of solidarity for the Filipino people as a very active member of the Philippine solidarity group for the Filipino people.
In 1982, he went back to the Philippines. He joined an exposure group to revolutionary areas, where he integrated with the peasant revolutionary organizations and the New People’s Army. He met with the revolutionary leader, Sotero Llamas. Edgar would later repeat what the organized peasants said to him: “The rich have their army. We the poor also have our people’s army!” He stayed in the Philippines for about four months.
After the overthrow of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, Fr. Edgar again visited the Philippines. When ten thousand farmers marched to Malacanang, the Presidential Palace, Fr. Edgar was among the frontliners. In what was called the Mendiola Massacre, the military and police fired live bullets against the marchers. Thirteen peasants were killed and scores of others wounded. Fr. Edgar courageously testified to expose the responsibility of the military and police officers.
While back in the Netherlands, seving in different capacities with the Carmelites, Fr. Edgar expressed his solidarity with leaders of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). He and his confreres warmly welcomed NDFP leader, Antonio Zumel, his wife Ruth and their 8 year-old daughter, Malaya in the Carmelite center in Arnhem.. The Zumels experienced the warm solidarity of Fr. Edgar and his confreres.
As the Zumels applied for political asylum before the Raad van State, Fr. Edgar testified in favor of the Zumels who were very grateful for Fr. Edgar’s help in getting their security of stay in The Netherlands.
As the struggle of the Filipino people continued, Fr. Edgar in a significant act of solidarity, translated a booklet of poems by Prof. Jose Maria Sison into Dutch and made his own drawings to help illustrate the poems. This booklet was circulated among the Dutch and other friends, to strengthen the solidarity for the Filipino people.
Furthermore, when it was time to close down the Fidoc, Philippine Information and Documentation Center, which he founded and was the Director of, Fr. Edgar offered the whole collection of Fidoc to the NDFP. In the end, the collection was shared between the Institute of Social History in Amsterdam and the NDFP. We in the NDFP apprciated this act of friendship from Fr. Edgar.
When the Communist Party of the Philippines announced the celebration of its 50th anniversary to be held in Utrecht, Fr. Edgar generously offered his collection of the art work of a Filipino painter to be exhibited during the celebration.
From time to time, Fr. Edgar would welcome us to his Carmelite home in different places in the Netherlands. We would reminisce about our past experiences. He showed us the telegram he received from me in 1970, expressing deep appreciation for his solidarity in the struggle of the Hiyang Hiyang settlers against the warlord Gustilo. He had kept the telegram all these years.
We will ever remember Fr. Edgar, his friendship, his lifelong solidarity for the Filipino people’s struggle for justice.
For his enduring solidarity for the Filipino people, the NDFP renders high honors to Fr. Edgar Koning, a beloved friend of the Filipino people!
Long live the noble memory of Fr. Edgar Koning!
Long live the bond of friendship between the Dutch people and the Filipino people!
Long live international solidarity!
Luis G. Jalandoni
Chief International Representative
Member, National Executive Committee
National Democratic Front of the Philippines