Dear ATM partners and colleagues,
As you probably already know, on 21 Feb 2018, a petition has been filed in court by the Philippine State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Pursuant to the National Security Act of 2007, the petition seeks to have a number of indigenous peoples’ leaders and human rights defenders declared as terrorist and outlaws, due to their alleged connection with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (NPA) – (see attached petition).
Although there is a long history in the Philippines of human rights defenders/activists being labeled as NPA members, it is discouraging to see how the present administration is going as far to file trumped-up charges against well-known and respected personalities such as Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, former Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Ms. Joan Carling, Co-convener of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group on the Sustainable Development Goals, former Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Ms. Joanna Cariño, member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Advisory Council; Mr. Windel Bolinget, Chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), Ms Elisa Tita Lubi, Karapatan National Executive Committee member and former interim Regional Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), Sherwin De Vera, regional coordinator of Ilocos Network for the Environment (Defend Ilocos) and many others.
Other indigenous leaders in the list include Beverly Longid (Bontok-Kankanaey), Win deo Bolingit (Bontok-Kankanaey), Atty. Jose Molinyas (Ibaloi), at least 10 Lumad datu/leaders in Northern and Southern Mindanao such as Datu Isidro Indao (Matigsalog-Manobo), Datu Mampadayag (Banwaon), Datu Mandayhon (Talaandig), Sergio Lumonday (Manobo). Militant fisherfolk group Pamalakaya also condemned the inclusion of three of their leaders and organizers from Batangas in the list including Erlindo Baes, Elsie Lucero and Marilyn Hernandez.
By having their names on the newly drafted “terror” list, places EHRDs – as well as their families – on very dangerous grounds. In addition to this, the President’s call for the killing of suspected rebels in exchange for monetary reward could soon lead to a spiral of uncontrollable violence. In fact, all those who are critical of the present administration could potentially become a target and be arrested and/or murdered without definite and consolidate proofs of their alleged engagement with the NPA.
Under the Human Security Act (HSA), once being accused of being terrorist organizations, many NGOs and POs might become subject to increasing surveillance and see all their assets being frozen. This entails, that they might be placed in a situation that will make it difficult or even impossible for them to continue to serve and assist local communities.
Many believe that the proscription petition for terrorism is only the prelude to a more intense crackdown against environmental and human rights defenders, which aim at creating panic and widespread fear amongst the civil society and at weakening all forms of dissent to the current administration.
According to the indigenous organization Kalumaran (Kusog sa Katawhong Lumad sa Mindanao), as of February 2018, 58 cases of frustrated killings and almost 60 victims of political killings have been reported, including 33 Lumads, since President Duterte assumed office.
The same group claims that, due to the execution on martial law in Mindanao, there has been a massive deployment of military troops, especially on indigenous peoples ancestral domain with very severe consequences of the livelihood and daily practices of the local Lumad communities. The group also documented 89 cases of attacks on Lumad schools due to militarization. There have been 54 incidents of aerial bombardments that have affected 46 communities with almost 600,000 individuals.
So far, UN human rights experts have already responded to the inclusion of their Special Rapporteur in the list.
They also pointed out that Tauli-Corpuz has immunity from legal proceedings as long as she is with the UN, as provided in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 1946. On the other hand, the situation of other accused innocent citizens and indigenous people who lack any form of protection, and cannot even afford lawyers’ fee, is far more complicated and dramatic.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Sign a joint letter of concern by MARCH 18, 2018 (this Sunday). To do that, please send your name, country/affiliated organization and ask for more information to communications@ indigenouspeoples-sdg.org and robie@indigenouspeoples-sdg. org
- Send letters of concern from your individual organizations to the Philippine Embassies in your respective countries and kindly inform communications@ indigenouspeoples-sdg.org of any letter sent or any other action you have undertaken.
- As an individual, sign this petition being launched by The Indigenous Peoples Major Group For Sustainable Development
and circulate this widely through social media and your own network of friends and colleagues
If you lack time, you can retweet Fern here https://twitter.com/Fern_ NGO/status/973476274864820224 and share on Facebook.
Maraming salamat po!
The CALG Team
Coalition against Land Grabbing – Philippines
