Nurul Islam Paeda and Elizabeth Atalig Paeda also named in their complaint David M. Calvo, Brian M. Mendiola, Harry M. Mendiola, Francisco L. Mesngon, Michael B. Manglona, Benedicto M. San Nicolas, and 10 Does.
Variety tried but failed to get a comment from the mayor.
“The mayor of Rota is temporarily out of control! He conspired with the other defendants to commit the illegal acts and omissions against the Paeda couple,” according to attorney Ramon Quichocho, the plaintiffs’ counsel.
“Unfortunately, this case is about the senseless, arrogant, deliberate, and unfair destruction of plaintiffs’ and their children’s crops, plants, business, and livelihood, by a powerful mayor of Rota and other government employees, in violation of plaintiffs’ constitutional rights to due process and the equal protection of laws,” Quichocho stated.
Mr. Paeda arrived in the CNMI in 1989, and married Mrs. Paeda in 1990, the complaint stated. They have two children who are attending school in the states.
Starting in 1991, Quichocho said his client started farming in the Sabana Protected Areas.
Since 2003, Mr. Paeda has farmed the land that defendants invaded and destroyed, Quichocho added.
He said his client has been discriminated in the past because he is originally from Bangladesh.
Quichocho said on or about Jan. 21, 2011, the defendants bulldozed plaintiffs’ crops. Mr. Paeda reported the incident to the police on Jan. 24.
The defendants also harvested some crops and plants, as well as opened four undesignated rights of way through his clients’ farm areas, Quichocho said.
The Paeda couple is seeking damages, declaratory relief, attorney’s fee and costs, and such other just relief from the court, the complaint said.
