Alliance
of Tri-people for the Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR)
Statement
on the Indigenous Peoples Killings in Mindanao
September
16, 2015
 |
| Teduray tribe Bailan performed a ritual. Photo by: MPPM |
In the highest
possible meaning, we CONDEMN the Killings of Lumad and their leaders!
There have been several
known and unknown human rights violations cases to Indigenous Peoples
communities – harassment, threats, displacements and repressions. These cases
were not only done by the Philippine military forces but also by paramilitary
of politicians and corporations and even by stronger forces like that of rebel
groups.
The very recent was the killing of a
teacher of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood
Development (ALCADEV) director Emerito "Emok" Samarca and two of the
Magahat tribe leaders (Mapasu chair Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo), by
the so-called Magahat-Bagani Force reportedly armed by the Philippine Military.
Later days the child (4-year old Reynabel Enriquez) died in the evacuation
center in Tandag City where thousands of the Magahat tribe folks seek refuge
after the incident of killings.
This incident is common in the Indigenous
Peoples’ communities in Mindanao particularly those communities resisting
mining, logging, plantations, dams and other projects that threaten their
ancestral domains and divide their communities. Most often than not, if the
tribe resists the project, they are bribed to get their consent. However, if
their resistance continue, they are to be tagged to rebel groups, who are
present in the area, as reason for military operations.
While we mourn, we are calling for a
thorough and in-depth investigation in the Magahat killings and all other Lumad
killings in Mindanao not because of pressure from different groups but an
obligation of the Philippine government to its people.
To note, Timuay Lencio Arig and Councilor
Timuay Melencio Ramugon, from Teduray tribe in Maguindanao, were killed on
October 2014. There were other members of Lambangian killed as they stood their
ground defending their ancestral lands from land grabbing and conversions and
pursuing their ancestral domain delineation.
Communities of the tribes in Maguindanao
and Sultan Kudarat provinces have been facing threats from displacements and
land grabbing. Leaders of the tribe are also receiving threats and
intimidations from unknown elements since they have voiced out their concerns
in the GPH-MILF Peace process.
Aside from these killings, for a long time
Lumad communities have been neglected and denied from their rights to equal
treatment and access to all possible social and economic services.
Sad to note that, there is a need for lives
to be wasted before the concerns of the Indigenous Peoples be looked into.
“We dare President Aquino III to make his
remaining days meaningful to the lives of the marginalized. He must show
sincerity in dealing with the Lumads’ concerns. And we call on the United
Nations mechanisms for the IP and Human Rights to look into these IP Killings
in Mindanao. ”ALTAHR Chairperson Adona Orquillas.
For Jennevie Cornelio, ALTAHR Secretary
General and a Teduray woman leader, “We call on all nations and peoples of the
world not to pity us but to stand with Indigenous Peoples and advance the
rights of all marginalized sections of the society. To all IP communities, we
must stand independently from all political, ideological and economic interferences
from the outside. Let us strengthen our traditional political structures and be
partners for inclusive growth.”
We also demand:
International Independent Investigation
that will not led to more human rights violations!
Department of Justice Inter-agency
investigation must include all other killings of Indigenous Peoples in
Mindanao!
Stop all Development Projects inside the
Ancestral Lands of the Indigenous Peoples without the tribes’ free, prior and
informed consent consent!
Disband all paramilitary troops!
End all forms of militarization (rebels and
government forces) in the IP domains!
Justice to all victims of Lumad Killings!
Contact Persons:
Adona
Orquillas
Chairperson
Alliance of Tri-people for the Advancement
of Human Rights (ALTAHR)
Mobile #: 09356659608
Jennevie
Cornelio
Secretary General
Alliance of Tri-people for the Advancement
of Human Rights (ALTAHR)
Mobile #: 09061370457email: altahr2015@gmail.com
facebook page: Alliance of TriPeople for the Advancement of Human Rights
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