Justice Now! Stand with the Lumads! - ALTAHR

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 #: 09061370457

email: altahr2015@gmail.com
facebook page: Alliance of TriPeople for the Advancement of Human Rights

NEWS RELEASE ON LUMAD KILLINGS - Partido ng Manggagawa

Partido Manggagawa
14 September 2015

DOJ investigation must include all lumad killings in Mindanao and their relations to mining

The inter-agency probe being organized by the justice department must also include cases of lumad killings committed in other parts of Mindanao, the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) said in a statement.

The group issued the call in reaction to the announcement made by Malacanang yesterday that it is willing to conduct an investigation as demanded by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and many other organizations here and abroad.

“The killings of Lumad leaders by alleged paramilitary forces in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, including recorded cases of lumad killings in other parts of Mindanao, should give the government the idea that these killings were rather systematic than isolated in nature as claimed by the military,” said PM Chairperson Renato Magtubo.

According to PM, aside from the horrendous killings and forced evacuations of lumad populations in Lianga, there were similar cases of extra-judicial killings against lumads in other parts of Mindanao, particularly against leaders of the Tedurays in South Central Mindanao.

Some of these cases include the killings in 2014 of Timuay Leoncio Arig and Melencio Ramugon.
Before their deaths, Arig and Ramugon were involved in campaigns to include IPs interests in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and unite the members of the tribes to protect their territory against intrusion, including mining.

Furthermore, the labor group observes a pattern of reluctance on the part of the police and military to pursue the perpetrators despite available witnesses, indicating a double standard in dealing with heinous crimes and in effecting justice.

“What the killers have done to lumad leaders, including the brutal murder of the director of an IP school in Lianga, were clearly terroristic in nature. But why can’t the PNP and the AFP organize a special manhunt against perpetrators in the way they did against international terrorist Marwan,” lamented Magtubo.

Partido Manggagawa likewise supports the call for the disbandment of all paramilitary units organized by the military for anti-insurgency campaigns, saying historically, these groups are mobilized to counter legitimate resistance such as anti-mining protests. ###

(Photo credit: interaksyon.com, 9/14,2015)

Deklarasyon: Mindanao Grassroots Human Rights Conference

Mga delegado ng Komperensya. Kuhang larawan ni: Valtimore Fenis

Kami, ang 76 na partisipante na nagmula sa iba’t ibang probinsya ng Mindanao na kumakatawan sa 52 na organisasyon ng mga mamamayang Lumad, Bangsamoro at Migrante na aktibong kumikilos sa pagsulong at pagtatanggol sa karapatang pantao ay nagkaisa sa 3 araw na pagtitipon -Mindanao Grassroots Human Rights Conference- sa Dapit Alim, Simbuco, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte at nagpapahayag na;

Ang umiiral na pang-ekonomiya at pampolitikang balangkas sa buong mundo ay nakakiling para sa iilan lamang; 

Patuloy na lumalawak at tumitindi ang mukha ng pagyurak at pagkitil sa karapatang pantao na nagsasadlak sa mga karaniwang mamamayan. Ang kawalan ng sustenable at disenteng trabaho; hindi makatarungang sistema ng paggawa gaya ng kontraktwalisasyon at impormalisasyon; kawalan ng suportang sosyal mula sa estado gaya ng kawalan ng tunay na repormang agraryo at suporta sa mga malilit na magsasaka at mangingisda; kakulangan ng suporta at proteksyon sa mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs); kakulangan ng budyet at hindi maayos na pagpapatupad ng programa sa edukasyon at iba pang pangunahing social services; at ang paggiit sa hindi angkop na kaunlaran sa mga komunidad at pamayanan sa pamamagitan ng mina, plantasyon, logging, pagtayo ng mga coal-fired power plants na nag-dudulot ng malawakang pang-aagaw ng mga lupaing ninuno at sakahan ng mga mamamayan at pagkasira ng kalikasan;

Ang kahirapan na dala ng hindi makataong kaunlaran na dinidikta ng sistema na ang layunin ay ang walang humpay na pagkamkam ng malakihang ganansya, pagmonopolyo at pagsapribado ng mga likas na yaman ay nagdudulot ng mataas na agwat at hindi pantay na kaunlaran sa lipunan at hinuhubaran ng dignidad ang mga mamamayan;

Ang patuloy na kaguluhan at militarisasyon ditto sa Mindanao ay nagdudulot ng matinding paglabag sa karapatan ng mga mamamayan upang mabuhay at mamuhay ng tahimik. Ito rin ay nagreresulta sa malawakang dislokasyon ng mga libu-libong mamamayan mula sa kanilang lupain, trabaho at pamamahay;

Ang mga tao at grupong patuloy na lumalaban para sa karapatang pantao ay pinapaslang  dahil sa “red tagging”- ang mga taong nakikibaka para sa karapatang pantao ay inuugnay sa mga “rebeldeng grupo” at iba pang elementong kinikilala bilang kalaban ng estado at malalaking negosyo;

Sa kabuoan ang karapatang pantao ng mamamayang Lumad, Moro at Migrante sa Mindanao ay nasasadlak lalung-lalo na sa kawalan ng hustisya sa mga napaslang na mga mamamayang patuloy na nagtatanggol sa karapatang pantao.

Kami ay naniniwala na sa aming sama-samang pagkilos ay mapapalakas ang hanay ng mga mamamayang Lumad, Moro at Migrante upang isulong ang karapatang pantao na magiging pundasyon ng tunay na kapayapaan  at sustenableng kaunlaran sa Mindanao at buong bansa ;

Kami ay magtutulak ng mga mekanismo upang patuloy na protektahan ang mga kapanalunan ng mga komunidad at mamamayan sa usaping kaunlaran, kapayapaan at karapatang pantao;

Kami ay nakikiisa sa mga organisasyon at pormasyon sa lokal, nasyunal at internasyunal upang mas lalong mapatatag pa ang pakikibaka para sa karapatang pantao;

Kami ay nagkakaisa na patuloy na palakasin ang aming mga pormasyon at organisasyon bilang tugon sa hamon at banta sa malayang pagsasakatuparan ng karapatan ng bawat tao at ng kalikasan;

Kami ay nananawagan na:

·      Itigil ang militarisasyon sa mga komunidad;

·      Itigil ang pamamaraang pagpahati-hati ng mga tao sa komunidad;

·  Itigil ang mina, logging, agri-business plantations at pagtayo ng mga coal-fired power plants at iba pang proyektong nakakasira sa kalikasan at komunidad;

·    Itigil ang pananakot sa mga magsasaka/tenante at isulong ang pagpatupad ng repormang agraryo at sa pangisdaan;

·   Ipatupad ang minimum wage, mga benepisyo at itigil ang kontraktwalisasyon sa paggawa;

·    Sapat na proteksyon sa mga OFWs at lahat ng manggagawa;

·  Itigil ang praybitisasyon sa mga pangunahing serbisyong sosyal (pangkalusugan, pang-edukasyon, patubig, transportasyon, irigasyon,  elektrisidad, pabahay, at iba pa)

·   Hustisya sa mga biktima ng extra-judicial killings na gawa ng state and non-state elements at mga proyektong mapangwasak sa kumunidad at kaliksan;

·   Mabilisang pagproseso sa ancestral domain claims;

·    Maayos na serbisyo at programa para sa mga biktima ng kalamidad at gyera;

·     Partisipasyon ng mga mamamayan at komunidad sa usaping pangkapayapaan upang mas maisulong ang inklusibong balangkas nito;

·    Ipaloob ang karapatan ng mga katutubo sa Bangsamoro Basic Law;

·    Isulong ang mapayapang pamamaraan sa pagresolba ng gyera sa Mindanao

·    Ipatupad ang mga mekanismo na magsasakatuparan ng karapatan ng bawat tao.

Para sa karapatang pantao at kalikasan:

1.      Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center

2.      Maharlika – DKMP-Lanao

3.      KALESALE - DKMP-Lanao

4.      Lig-ong Hiniusang Kusog sa mga Kabus sa Iligan (LIHUK)

5.      Movement of Young Catalysts for Change (MYCC)

6.      Kahugpungan sa mga Mangingisda sa Kolambugan (KASAMAKO)

7.      Lanao Fisheries Advocacy Netwrok (LFAN)

8.      Iligan Survivors Movement (ISM)

9.      LUMAKA

10.  LAWIG – Byahe sa Kausaban

11.  Lapayan Power Movement Association (LPMA)

12.  Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK)

13.  Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA)

14.  Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM)

15.  Manga Solo Parents Association (MASPA)

16.  Nagkahiusang Mangingisda sa Karumatan (NAMANGKA)

17.  Mindanao Tri-People Youth Center (MTPYC)

18.  Teduray-Lambangian Youth and Student Association (TLYSA)

19.  Teduray Justice and Governance (TJG)

20.  Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center (MTWRC)

21.  Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP)

22.  Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko (NAMAO)

23.  Filipino Katoliko (FK) CARAGA

24.  Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Initiative, Research Assistance Center (MIPIRAC)

25.  Kagkalimwa OFW Federation

26.  Cadiz Farmers Association

27.  SDL-GenSan

28.  Kalamungog Farmers Association (KALFA)

29.  ALAKOP Council of Timuays

30.  Inged Fintailan – Timuay Justice and Governance

31.  Tri-people Youth (TRY)-Change

32.  Ranao Women and Children Resource Center (RWCRC)

33.  Demokratikong Kilusang Magbubukid (DKMP)-Lanao

34.  Tri-people Organization against Disaster (TRIPOD) Foundation

35.  Pigkarangan Youth and Student Organization (PYSO)

36.  Ranaw Tri-people Movement for Genuine Peace and development (RTMGPD)

37.  Sumpay Mindanao

38.  Soodoroy de Kelebunan Women

39.  Mamalu Descendants Organization (MDO)

40.  Sustainable Alternatives for the Advancement of Mindanao (SALAM)

41.  Lanao Aquatic and Marine Fisheries Center for Community Development (LAFCCOD)

42.  Nagkahiusang Organisasyon sa mga Mangingisda sa Tubod (NOMATUB)

43.  Convergence of NGOs/POs in Zamboanga del Sure for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (CONZARRD)

44.  Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mamumuong Kababayen-an (KASAMMAKA)

45.  Lig-ong Panaghiusa sa mga Mamamuo sa Banika sa Lanao (LPMBL)

46.  Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA)

47.  Electoral Reforms and Development  Assistance Center (ERDAC)

48.  Ilelama Council of Timuays

49.  Coal Resistance (CoRe) Movement

50.  Teatro Pag-asa

51.  Alyansa sa mga Kabus sa Lungsod ug Syudad (AKLAS)

52.  Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK)

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 #: 09061370457

September 5, 2015

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MindanaoGrassroots Human RightsConference

Dapit  Alim, Simbuco, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte

September 3-5, 2015

Theater Art 101: Struggles and Aspirations

Advocates are encouraged to be creative as much as possible in their methods in advancing campaigns and struggles.

Youth leaders from communities affected and to be affected by the Coal-fired power plants/projects surrounding Panguil and Iligan Bays will attend this three-day workshop organized by Mindanao Peoples' Peace Movement (MPPM), Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayaan and Mindanao Tri-People Youth Center thru its Cultural Program and MPPM-KM Secretariat.

The workshop will facilitate the struggles and aspirations of the young people to come out and be expressed thru their moves, emotions, feelings and gracefulness.

The workshop also aimed to tap the potentials inside these young people as integral instruments for the advancement of their community struggles.

The first two days are the workshops and the last day will be the performance day. The attendees are expected to produce four productions including their collective interpretation of the song PALAYAIN.

YAPAK Artists' Collectives members (bands) are also expected to grace the final production show.

News: Organic Farming for Sustainable Communities - NAMAO

Sibagat, Agusan del Sur - Municipal Agrarian Office held an Organic Farming Skills Training among Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko (NAMAO) members. Attended by the members of the organization and the Municipal Council Committee on Agriculture Hon Mardovic Benegian, Sr.

The farmers were taught to make own organic fertilizers that made the Municipal Agriculture Office proud and happy.

For two days (11-12 August 2015), it was indeed a success.

Last June of this year NAMAO held consecutive training on organic fertilizer making, herbal medicine processing and organic gardening.

NAMAO for now is to develop a communal organic garden in Purok 13, Poblacio, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.

According to Mr Toribio Bernadas, the Chair of NAMAO "We have to ensure food security among our families and farmers must do more on organic farming for the environment and health of the communities we are feeding."

NAMAO is to celebrate its first year of existence this 21st of September 2015.

(Budyong Kalandang. 13 August 2015)

Photo from NAMAO FB Account during their PAHINA of the proposed Communal Organic Garden.

Statement: Perpetrators of climate crisis must pay! - AKMK

“Our path to significance has just begun”, now that the mass had taken their bold leap forward to protect, defend their livelihood, and fight for the right to a clean and green future.

The ninety two kilometer walk from Maranding Lala Lanao Del Norte to Kiwalan, Iligan City was merely an illustration or “patikim”- we say, of what we can do when our right is being trampled and when it comes to defending environmental issues. The walk was a massive mobilization, attended by different sectors from different points of Mindanao. The event was a big success to every individual who joined; moreover it was a great achievement to the part of the youth who played a great role in making the event triumphant.

Youth organizations of Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK) celebrates the invaluable experiences gained during the 5 day walk to attain climate justice, among the groups that attended were the Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK) -  Ranao, Nagkahiusang Kabatan-onan Tuburan sa Kinaiyahan (NAKATUKI), Muntay Active Young Leaders Association (MAYLA), MASTERPEACE Agusan del Sur, Movement of Young Catalyst for Change – Agusan del Sur - (MYCC), Lawig: Byahe sa Kausaban, Youth Organization of Christian and Muslim (YOCAM), Pigcarangan Youth Service Organization (PYSO), Kilusang Kabataan (KK), and YAPAK Arts Collectives particularly the SUGO band, Volume 14 Band, Reviver Band and 10 Alpha Band who played their message concerning our environment through songs, a number of youth from Cotabato City and Maguindanao specifically TRY-Change and TLYSA also took part in the event and shared their concerns and experiences. Involvement of various youth organizations outside the alliance was also noted. The joint efforts between the AKMK and other groups built bridges and forged important partnership among the youths. Among these groups are the following: Libertad Power Movement Association - Youth, Youth for Climate Justice, Kids for Environmental Protection (KEP), Sultan Naga Dimaporo Youth, La Libertad Youth Kapatagan LdN and Young Feminist Organization (YFO). The climate walk functioned as an immense opportunity and a venue to air our distress regarding the existence of this problem and to bring out our diverse perspectives towards the problem that we are facing at the present.

What we are facing now served as a great challenge and inspiration to every youth, the future defender of our country that we need to step up our efforts and exercise the power of a collective action to defy the crooked minds of our government.

Perpetrators of climate crisis must pay!

Fight for climate justice now!

Kabataan! Lumaban! Manindigan Kumilos!

Renz Gahum

AKMK Secretary General

akmk_peace@yahoo.com

Statement: To Resist Coal - YFO

The Young Feminist Organization was only able to attend the Climate Walk on the 5^th day (Apologies about that!) due to some other duties. Together with the Ranao Women and Children Resource Center, Inc. we joined the rest of the Climate Walkers in Libertad, Kauswagan. I saw familiar faces of people but most of all; I saw the faces of people coming from different places and walks of life but they all share the common interest and that is: To Resist Coal.

Amidst the humid weather, the Climate Walkers did not fret. They expressed their sentiments and demanded outside the place where the proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant is about to sprout; asking for a representative to speak to them.  Unfortunately, no one from the GN Power got out and spoke to the people. The Climate Walkers made it clear that the GN Power should keep their promises to the residents of Kauswagan and Leave.

Despite the heat, the thirst, the dust and smokes from the trucks and cars passing by, the Climate walkers were still passionate as they continued their walk to Iligan City, never minding the swelling of their feet. There were people who supported us along the way but there were also some who did not understand the struggle of the people. Walking in solidarity with the people coming from the grassroots, you can really feel their struggle and sentiments.

With the construction of Coal-Fired Power Plants, they are the ones who will be directly affected but come to think of it, their struggle is also our struggle. Men, Women and children in the coming generations will pay for the consequences.

We have already felt the effects of Climate Change. Some people might think it’s fiction but it is already happening.

Letting the Coal-Fired Power Plants operate will only fuel it. The Climate Walk was one of the strategies in which we have raised the awareness of the public regarding the issue of Coal-Fired Power Plants.

But I think that we still need to raise awareness more to those who know nothing. We should also continue to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and most importantly, to act.

Young Feminist Organization

Iligan City and Lanao del Norte

10 August 2015