NEWS RELEASE

October 24, 2009

Talaingod deaths rising --- KATRIBU PARTYLIST


Talaingod, Davao Del Norte --- The Katribu Partylist raised alarm and called for immediate intervention over the rising number of deaths as a result of epidemic and hunger in the militarized hinterlands of this town.

The Katribu Partylist who went with peace advocates in an Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission in Sitio Nasilaban from October 21 to 22 documented more than 43 deaths that have occurred from August to October this year in various villages in Talaingod. The Mercy Mission provided medical assistance to nearly 300 Ata-Manobo lumads.

KATRIBU partylist coordinator Russ Ybanez said an Ata-Manobo chieftain told them that 17 of his fellow villagers died due to hunger and illness when they were forced to evacuate for two consecutive times, on May and August this year. The Lumads fled from the wartorn areas where the 60th IB soldiers campaigned to have them become members of the Barangay Defense Force or Bagani forces.

“Sukwahi sa kultura sa lumad ang BDS. Makaapekto kana sa amoang pag-uma. Dili mi mosugot niana,” said Datu Ebong Gongotan, village datu in Sitio Bugni.

Acccording to Datu Gongotan, 47 families from Sitio Bugni evacuated on the last week of May this year after some unidentified military elements killed a certain Kopis, a 15 year old Ata-Manobo kid who was accused by the military of being an NPA.

They then sought refuge at Sitio Nasilaban, but the arrival of the 60th IB on August 15 forced the Lumads to go evacuate to the forest without any food supplies or certainty of a shelter just to evade the BDS recruitment.

“A clear act of desperation and cowardice, paramilitary recruitment directly uses civilians as frontliners and pawns in the military’s war,” Ybanez said.

Other areas where residents evacuated due to the September military operations are the villages of Sambulongan (60 families), Labuo ( 47 families), Laslasakan (36 families), Nalubas (37 families), Nabalabag( 12 families), and Sasu ( 20 families). Totaling to 232 families or 1392 individuals.

KATRIBU also said that the creation, maintenance of paramilitary forces or similar groups is categorically prohibited in international humanitarian laws and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL) that uphold the protection of the civilian populace from hostilities.

KATRIBU, a lumad sectoral group aiming to represent the indigenous peoples’ concerns in Congress on 2010 called for the immediate intervention of the LGU in the area, particularly for a comprehensive medical assistance for the villagers of Talaingod.

It also urged for the immediate investigation of the military’s policy on paramilitary formation and seeks to dismantle the Barangay Defense System. ###

For Reference:


Russ Ybanez
Youth Coordinator
Katribu Partylist

PRESS RELEASE

October 23, 2009


KATRIBU hits 60th IB for forcibly recruiting lumads into BDS, Bagani in Talaingod


Talaingod, Davao del Norte—Katribu Partylist along with the other peace advocates strongly condemned the continued forcible recruitment of Ata-Manobos to become members of the Barangay Defense System (BDS) or Bagani Force by the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army led by Lt. Col. Adriano Perez in various villages in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.


Cases of human rights abuses were documented by members of the Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission (IPMM) which is being conducted simultaneously in areas gravely affected by militarization in Maragusan and Pantukan in Compostela Valley, Banganga and Lupon in Davao Oriental and Talaingod in Davao del Norte.


According to Datu Sumpo Taosan, Salugpongan leader and council member of Katribu Partylist (S)ince August 15 until the last week of September, military troops under the 60th encamped in the villages of Dulyan, Nasilaban, Sambolongan, Laslasakan, and Banwalay.


“Sa ilang pagkampo sa mga komunidad pugos silang ga-recruit kanamong mga Lumad nga moapil ug mamahimong mga myembro sa BDS o diba kaha sa Bagani, gani adunay upat ka higayon nga gipatawag kaming mga residente aron moapil sa dagkong pulong-pulong nga gipahigayon sa mga military ug hulgaon kami nga kung dili kami moapil sa BDS o Bagani buot pasabot mga supporter kami sa mga NPA,” Datu Taosan said.


Base on the testimonies of the victims, the Lumads were forced to go on duty from 9pm to 4am and to serve as BDS and Bagani. They were commanded by the military led by Lt. Col. Perez, who ordered them to campaign against the NPA in house to house sorties.


“Pugos na lang gyud nga mituman ang among mga sakop sa gisugo sa mga sundalo nga mag duty isip BDS o Bagani bisan walay tulog ug gutom. Wala man gani namo nasabtan ang tumong apan mi-duty na lang tungod kay mahadlok kami nga pasanginlan nga kami kuno mga tig suporta sa NPA. Nahadlok kami nga pamatyon kami sama sa gihimo nila kang Kapis Butod nga gipatay nila tungod lang sa pasangil nga supporter kini sa NPA bisan nga siya usa ka inosenteng sibilyan,” Datu Taosan added.


Presently, there are already 20 members of BDS in Nasilaban village and 11 members in Banwalay village. Both villages are situated in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod.


According to Russ Ybanez, youth coordinator of Katribu Partylist and documentor of the IPMM team said “due to the forcible recruitment and continued military operations launched by the 60th IB, there were at least 248 families from villages of Laslasakan, Labuo, Sasu, Bugni, Sambolongan, Nalubas and Nabalabag in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod who were forced to vacate from their communities and who went into hiding; consequently they suffered hunger in the process.


“After the Fact Finding Mission led by Katribu in September, military from 60th IB had temporarily pulled out from the affected villages but in October 17 a company of military troops led by Lt. Col. Perez came back to the villages and continued recruiting Lumads into the BDS or Bagani. They also plan to put up detachment in Tibukag village despite the residents’ opposition,” Ybanez said.


Katribu patylist reiterated its calls for the pull out of military troops in the Lumad communities, an end to all atrocities of the 60th IB and the 10th Infantry Division against the Ata Manobo and Lumad people., and justice be served to all victims of human rights violations.###



For reference:


Russ Ybanez
Youth Coordinator
Katribu Partylist


Datu Sumpo Taosan
Chieftain/ Leader
Salupongan ta Tanu Igkanugon

MEDIA RELEASE


IN CELEBRATION OF THE TRIBAL FILIPINO WEEK

Indigenous People & Advocates Form KATRIBU PARYTLIST


DAVAO CITY-- Land, Life,and Rights. These were the words significant for the indigenous people and advocates who were gathered today (Oct. 9) to launch the newly-formed partylist group KATRIBU. The launching was also timed for the annual observance of the Tribal Filipino Week.


"Amidst the threats to our ancestral lands brought by development aggression and relentless militarization, the danger of climate change due to the plunder of our land and resources, and the obliteration of our identity, our calls to defend our land, life and rights are more urgent than ever," said Kerlan Fanagel, Katribu Partylist Regional Coordinator.


The launching was held at the Salugpongan Hall, UCCP- HARAN, Fr. Selga St., Davao City and attended by some 50 members and supporters. The Katribu Partylist was formed in Metro Manila last August 9, 2008.


The Katribu sees its entry into the mainstream politics as a venue to promote the interest of the IPs through legislative reforms and campaigns.


Fanagel noted that "With the multi-national corporations' greed to loot our lands with their so-called development projects, We Lumads have been displaced and have become squatters in our own land. Projects such as mining, dams, plantations for jathropa, bananas, palm oil, coconuts and pineapple, have only favored the elite and the foreign big businesses."


He also said that "twin to the so-called development is the militarization of our communities." Intensified military operations in the hinterland communities is abetted with the Investment Defense Force and the National Internal Security Program for Indigenous Peoples.


Militarization has resulted to displacement, harassments, threats, forced recruitment for Task Force Gantangan, and physical assault. The worst is the extra-judicial killing Lumads leaders namely Ludenio Monzon and Marcial Latiban of Davao Oriental, Agustin Cumawas in North Cotabato, Datu Dominador Diarog of Kahusayan, Tugbok District, and Datu Aladino Badbaran of Agusan del Sur.


"Instead of protecting the welfare of the indigenous peoples, the Arroyo government has sold our patrimony through the implementation of the Mining Act of 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA)," Katribu lamented.


The groups also said that Lumads continue to fall prey to discrimination and are deprived of the much-needed social services by the state.


"Thus, we in KATRIBU Partylist are emboldened to carry on this urgent call to protect our communities, our rights, our resources and patrimony for the welfare of the Lumads and the nation. We carry on this legacy of the indigenous people to defend our ancestral land and the right to self-determination. Furthermore, we believe it is time to put our stake in the political arena, by asserting our rights and voice in the party-list system," Katribu said in their yesterday's declaration.


The Katribu also declared that: "On this significant occasion, we in KATRIBU Partylist strive to unite our collective voice, to pursue our long dream of a just society where the rights of the indigenous peoples along with other basic sectors are realized to the fullest.


We shall draw from the support of our communities, along with those in solidarity with the Lumads and environment, to push for reforms to serve the interests and protect the rights of the poor and marginalized sectors. With that, we particularly call for ways to stop the plunder of our resources, ask for the repeal of laws that tolerate this plunder, and seek repatriation to communities that have been damaged by these activities.


For the defense of our rights, we shall pursue all avenues to attain justice to victims of militarization, especially here in Southern Mindanao where the 10th Infantry Division of the AFP has wreaked havoc to our communities with the implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 and the NISP-IP. We call for the pull out of military troops in communities, and an end to forced recruitment of Lumads to paramilitary forces.


We shall unite the Lumads and other sectors with similar ideals of promoting the rights and welfare of the marginalized. This is a great and formidable task for the indigenous peoples, but we believe that in our unity comes the strength to take on this challenge, guided by our history of struggle and the vision of a just society for us all." ###


For Reference:


KERLAN FANAGEL
Regional Coordinator
Katribu Partylist



DULPING OGAN
National Vice Chairperson
Katribu Partylist

PRESS RELEASE


YOUTH GROUPS SUPPORT KATRIBU PARTYLIST


Davao City-- At least 50 youth leaders vowed to support the newly-launched KATRIBU, a partylist group for indigenous people saying that "it is high time for Congress to hear the voice from the Lumads and other tribes in the country."


Katribu Partylist aims to win three seats in Congress during the the 2010 election to represent and fight for the issues on the preservation and protection of ancestral doman and the environment.


Various youth groups led by Kadumahan Youth, a city-wide school based IP youth and advocates' organization, declared their support to KATRIBU Partylist as one of it's major resolutions in a Mindanao-wide consultation on Indigenous Youth held here today. The youth leaders representing indigenous peoples and advocates' organizations, student councils, and student publications gathered at the Salugpongan Hall of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines for a consultation on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change.


"We believe that the youth as the catalyst for change can voice out our common vision of protecting the Lumads and supporting their right to ancestral domain and the preservation of their culture," said Russ Angelo Ybanez, Kadumahan spokesperson and a delegate to the said consultation.


Ybanez added that "(T)he Katribu will complement in the struggle for justice for the indigenous people who have long been victimized by relentless militarization, evacuation, extra-judicial killing and landgrabbing as a result of development aggression."


Ybanez also said that "Arroyo government's plunder of natural resources poses alarming impact to climate change which will eventually result to more disasters just like what happened in Luzon".


The consultation was held coinciding with the celebration of the Tribal Filipino Week. Advocates and representatives from the different government agencies, peoples organizations, non-government organizations and various schools also participated in the first part of the said event. They expressed concern over the militarization and encroachment of multi-national corporations in lumad areas.


Leaders from PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao and KALUMARAN graced the event challenging the indigenous youth and advocates to be involved in solving the pressing issues of our times, stressing on how these problems link each and every sector of the society.


“It is inspiring to see young leaders having the time, commitment and passion to learn from the issues confronting the Lumads and to join in the struggle for the rights of Lumads," said Dulping Ogan, National Vice Chairperson of Katribu Partylist.


During the consultation's solidarity ritual, youth leaders gave soil, seedlings, musical instrument, ballpens and liyang (lumad basket) to the lumad leaders.##





For Reference:


Russ Angelo Ybanez

Spokesperson

Kadumahan Youth

Press Release

September 29, 2009


Katribu condemns return of 'berdugo' AFP CO, Talaingod paramilitary recruiment


Katribu Partylist, a lumad sectoral group, expressed alarm over the recent installation of Col. Eduardo del Rosario as the new 1003rd Infantry (Raptor) Brigade Commander due to his bloody record of perpetrating scores of human rights violations against Lumads and peasants in Davao city and nearby provinces. It also scored Del Rosario's role in enticing Lumads in Talaingod to be recruited as part of Bagani force, a paramilitary group.


The group said the installation of Col. Eduardo del Rosario as the new 1003rd Commander would surely mean escalation of human rights violations in lumad and farmer communities, him being a' berdugo' during his time as Task Force Davao Chief and 73rd IB Commander.


“In 2001, del Rosario as the former 73rd IB Army Chief was infamous in organizing the dreaded lumad vigilantes called Alamara and Bagani which resulted to massive human rights abuses, terrorizing lumad communities through pitting lumads versus lumads and pitting lumads versus visayan settlers,” said Kerlan Fanagel, Katribu Partylist Regional Coordinator.


Ata-Manobo datus in Talaingod had recently scored military abuses in the area, and had also urged the Commission on Human Rights and the local government to swiftly act on their demand for a troops pull-out. The military's 1003rd under Del Rosario had been recruiting the Lumads to become members of the Bagani Force, an apparent rehash of the dreaded Alamara.


According to Fanagel “It was under the leadership of Col. Del Rosario when soldiers of 73rd IB perpetrated the cold-blooded Pangyan Massacre last April 15, 2002 in Pangyan, Marilog, District, Davao City which killed peasant leader Apolonio 'Tatay Poloy” Enoc along with 5 other innocent civilians, and the youth camp raid in Malagos in 2003 which traumatized more than 30 youth and children.”


“During his stint as Task Force Davao Chief, del Rosario instigated massive human rights abuses in the city and have sown terror in the lumad communities such as Paquibato and Malabog Districts in cahoots of his lumad cohorts Joel Unad and Ruben Labawan," Fanagel said.


Fanagel added that Unad and Labawan are until now facing issues of encroaching and grabbing lands from lumads and visayan settlers alike.


The group said that there is no reason for the military to be proud of Col. Del Rosario's baptismal as “Datu Limbotong” as it is nothing but a defilement to the lumad culture.


“With del Rosario back in Davao Region, we expect the worst for our fellow lumads.


But we vow to double up our defense against militarization and continue our struggles for the respect of lumad's rights and welfare,” Fanagel stressed. ###



For reference:



KERLAN FANAGEL

Regional Coordinator

KATRIBU PArtylist

September 26, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

IP partylist group slams Suerte for lying; reiterates call for troops pull-out in Talaingod

DAVAO CITY - Lying through his teeth is how Katribu Partylist describes Colonel Lysander Suerte of the 10th Infantry Division (10th ID) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The group strongly believes that Suerte's response regarding the recent cases filed by Lumads before the Commission on Human Rights was merely an attempt to conceal the real score in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

Last week, Ata-Manobo datus from Salugpungan ta tanu Igkanugon pointed to soldiers of the 60th Infantry Batallion stationed in Talaingod as perpetrators of the series of human rights violations.

“Eversince the creation of the 10th ID, military troops in Davao region have been on rampage and have continuously committed massive rights violations against the hapless Lumads and farmers. The mere existence of their troops within the civilian populace is already a violation as it poses danger to the community,” Katribu Party list Regional Coordinator Kerlan Fanagel said.

“Col. Suerte's declaration that more than half of the New People's Army rebels are Lumads only show his twisted perception and the state's discrimination against the indigenous people. The military troops attempt to rule Lumad communities in a climate of impunity,” Fanagel added.

Despite the demands made by the Salugpungan for the 60th IB to pull-out from the area, the soldiers continued to conduct counter-insurgency operations and disrupt the farming activities of the Lumads in such farflung hinterland villages,” Fanagel added. At least 28 lumads have died of sickness and hunger. Ata-Manobo residents could no longer harvest their crops since military troops prevent them from going to their farms.

“Daghan nang mga humay namo ang nangadaot ug di na gyud namo ma-ani tungod kay mahadlok man gyud mi sa mga bahad sa mga military. Usahay na lang gani mi makakaon og bugas ug karon nga ting ani, wa pa gyud mi naka sanggi, daghan kanamo ang nangagutom, daghan naman gani ang namatay sa sakit, sayang gyud ang among hago nga naadto lang sa wala, mao nang kusog ming nanawagan nga unta manghawa na sa among komunidad ang mga military.” (There were many rice crops which have gone to waste and we can no longer harvest out of frear from the military. We were not able to harvest, despite the fact that many of us are hungry. That's why we strongly call for their pull out), Datu Sumpo Taosan of Talaingod said.

For reference:


KERLAN FANAGEL
Regional Coordinator
KATRIBU Partylist

Mission Statement
Fact Finding Mission in Sitio Dulyan, Talaingod, Davao del Norte
September 15-16, 2009

We, Lumad and peace advocates, human rights advocates, students, and health professionals, church people, condemn the acts of harassment and intimidation we have been subject to by the military soldiers of the 60th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Dennis Ayungo during the Fact Finding Mission held in Sitio Dulyan, Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte on September 15, 2008.

The said military elements interrupted and attempted to join the fact finding mission, and in the process, caused fear and intimidation from among the Lumad residents. The military willfully prevented civilian participants to the FFM from freely relaying the real conditions in the area, particularly as regards to the continued military encampment in their community.

Moreover, the military intentionally held and/or detained the mission team for three hours delaying the team’s departure from the area. Military soldiers accosted the drivers who were supposed to bring the mission team back to the town center on the pretext that the drivers did not have licenses.

The team was only allowed to leave after the soldiers found out that the incident was being aired at a local radio station and that several media people have already been alerted regarding the said incident.

This experience has only further encouraged the fact finding mission team to expose the atrocities committed by the 60th Infantry Battalion against the Ata-manobo communities in Talaingod which started since last July.

The mission team thus presents here the objectives and findings of the fact finding mission.

Objectives of the Fact Finding Mission

The fact-finding mission team consisting of lumad, peace and human rights advocates was formed in response to the recent reports reaching the PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations and Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous Peoples office regarding the human rights violations being perpetrated by the military in various villages in Talaingod.

The invitation from Salupongan ta Tanu Igkanugon (local lumad organization) to attend the B’walawan Festival on September 15, 2009 was an opportune time to hold the fact-finding mission.


Findings of the Mission Team:

While the Mission Team was in Sitio Dulyan, in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod, we have witnessed the ill effects of the counter-insurgency operations perpetrated by the 60th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Dennis Ayungo under the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The gravity of the militarization in the impoverished communities of the Ata Manobo tribes have been documented. Testimonies from the residents of Sitio Dulyan and of the five tribal leaders from other communities also reveal the following:

1. Hamletting of civilian communities.
Around 22 elements of the 60th IB have been encamping right within the villages of
Sitio Dulyan, Brgy Sto.Nino.

Meanwhile military troops in a Re-engineered Special Operations team (RSOT) who now call themselves as Community Assistance Development (CAD) team under the 60th IB have also encamped within Sitios Banwalay, Bagang, Laboo, Laslasakan, Bugni, Sambolongan, and Nasilaban in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod.

For over a month now, the Ata-Manobos have been suffering from destruction of properties, violation of domicile, illegal search, coercion, harassment, intimidation, threats and curtailment of fundamental civil and political rights to free movement, free association and free speech of civilians in the aforementioned affected areas.

2. Violation on the rights of children in the context of military encampment in schools:

The continued forcible dislocation and trauma wrought by the intermittent militarization of their communities caused the children emotional and psychological trauma.

Their schooling has stopped as the military insists on encamping right within their school grounds/premises and their parents witnessed how the military destroyed the crops and fences of their community farm.

The military soldiers led by Lt. Dennis Ayungo and Sgt. Christopher Oliveros have been going house to house in the community telling the the lumads not to send their children in Salupongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center and the said military soldiers accused that the teachers as fakes and communists.

The military soldiers have also been intervening in the activities of the school and they launched their own activities and forced the people to join such as forcing the lumad residents to build the military's makeshift puroks and CR.

3. Harassment of community - based lumad teachers:

The teachers of Salupongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Learning Center, the only functioning school in the area, also expressed their fears about the continued use of their school premises for military purposes since the military started the militarization of Talaingod on August 15, 2009.

The teachers were constantly being intimidated and harassed by the soldiers led by Sgt. Chirstopher Oliveros. They testified how they are constantly interrogated and their credibility is questioned.

4. Forced recruitment of villagers into paramilitary groups, CVO’s and CAFGU’s

The glaring impact of forced recruitment by the military of Talaingod residents into the Barangay Defense System (BDS), CVO or Bagani Force is the disruption of their economic livelihood. Hunger is stalking Lumad communities. On the whole, the military has taken over and transformed the lumad area as a military garrison undermining civilian supremacy in this 5th class municipality.

Conclusion:

Aggravating the ill-effects of the relentless militarization and the human rights violations is the fact that law enforcement, local government unit and prosecution institutions remain largely inutile and are a failure in the attainment of justice for the victims.

The harassment and the attempts to discredit the credibility of the Mission Team in the area last Tuesday September 15 was a glaring indication of how armed elements such as the 60th IB of the 10th ID try to rule remote civilian areas such as Talaingod under a climate of impunity, supplanting local civilian authorities.

Apparently, the latest RSOT or CAD operations of the 60th IB in Dulyan and the other communities in Talaingod is designed to dismantle the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon which has over the last decade remained strong in its stand against the influx of aggressive capitalist incursions in their ancestral land.

The hardline positioning of Salugpungan against so-called development projects is being undermined through massive psychological warfare and intelligence building in the area.

Despite the LGU and the NCIP’s pronouncement that they oppose encroachment by big plantations in Talaingod, the presence of the military forces in the area is enough proof that the state is dead-set in pursuing the project in the area--in Salugpungan’s history, military operations preceded the IFMA project in Talaingod.

Recent reports have shown that an estimated 40,000 hectares of land in Talaingod, Davao del Norte has been proposed to be the site of the needed expansion of coffee plantations in the country. In fact, a Memorandum of Agreement between the government and the Nestle Philippines, Inc. in terms of coffee production had already been signed two months ago.

Moreover, the RSOT or CAD operations which fall within the framework of the “hamletting” program of the US-Southern Vietnam military strategy, intend to force and intimidate residents to participate in the military’s counter insurgency operations; restrict their economic and political mobility, entice lumad leaders who are facing false charges to surrender; and recruit paramilitary forces from among the residents.

The RSOT operations wreaked havoc on the lives of the civilians and has apparently turned communities as shields in the military’s proxy war.

Evidently, the military troops operating in Sitio Dulyan and in other villages in Brgy. Palma Gil, Talaingod violated the following provisions of the Geneva Conventions and other international humanitarian law:

- Protocol II, Part IV, Article 13 which provides that “The civilian population and individual civilians shall enjoy general protection against the dangers arising from military operations.”

- Part IV Article 12 of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL) which cites that “Civilian population shall have the right to be protected against the risks and dangers posed by the presence of military camps in urban centers and other populated areas.”

- The on-going hamletting of the 60th IB in Talaingod is a clear violation of the basic rights of the indigenous people especially their rights to self-determination and ancestral domain.

In the guise of counter-insurgency operations, the military attempts to weaken the unity of the Ata-Manobos. The military tries to reinvent itself by initiating the implementation of projects that are supposedly civilian in nature. Harassment, grave threats and coercion through the pulong-pulong (meetings) belie military’s claim that there were no human rights violations committed in the area.

We are deeply concerned that as the military elements under the 60th IB continue to stay right within the civilian populace in Talaingod in the course of their counter-insurgency operations, more Lumad civilians will be victimized and more cases of human rights abuses will continue.

In view of the foregoing, the team has come up with the following recommendations:

a. Immediate withdrawal of AFP troops specifically the 60th Infantry battalion led by Lt. Dennis Ayungo and Sgt. Oliveros in the affected villages of Talaingod Davao del Norte, most especially in civilian-populated areas, public places and other structures manned by civilian authorities.

b. Stop the encroachment of Nestle Philippines in the ancestral domain of the Ata-Manobos

c. Creation of credible investigative bodies to look into the human rights violation cases against the Ata-Manobo lumads, including the extra-judicial killings of Kapis Butod.

d. Stop the recruitment of the BDS, CVO and Bagani Forces and dismantle their structures.

e. Stop the vilification campaign against leaders and members of Salupongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon and other legal peoples' organizations.

f. Immediate implementation of the planned on-site investigation by the Municipal and Provincial Local Government Unit and Commission on Human Rights on the human rights violations committed against the Ata Manobo civilians in Talaingod.###

For Reference:

MEL ELIO
Chairperson- PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao

KERLAN FANAGEL
Regional Coordinator- KATRIBU Partylist

DULPING OGAN
Secretary General- Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (KALUMARAN)

DATU DOLOMAN DAWSAY
Spokesperson- Salupongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon
Sitio Dulyan Tribal Chieftain

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2009


PASAKA denounces AFP's classic scheme of pitting lumad vs lumad, reiterates call to stop militarization in lumad areas and stop assaulting progressive lumad organization

PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao denounces the recent attempt of the military under the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to cover up and deny the recent atrocities they have been enforcing in peasant and lumad communities by employing their old tactics of pitting the lumads versus lumads.

“It has been the AFP's classic scheme to use lumads not only during their counter-insurgency operations but also in their witch-hunting campaigns against progressive legal organizations who have been exposing the barbaric acts and massive human rights violations that the military have relentlessly inflict against the hapless lumad civilians in the countrysides,” PASAKA Secretary Kerlan Fanagel said.

“It is not surprising at all that Joel Unad of the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD) defended the AFP instead of supporting the calls of the lumads to stop the militarization and human rights abuses in lumad areas since MIPCPD in the first place is an infamous military-backed organization that has been recruiting lumads into paramilitary and vigilante groups,” Fanagel added.

PASAKA recalled that the MIPCPD has a standing Memorandum of Understanding with the Eastern Mindanao Command of the AFP executed last November 28, 2007 which is a defilement of the lumad culture and warned the military that not all lumads are party to the agreements or negotiations entered into by the MIPCPD.

“It is just unfortunate that there are lumads who pretend to be tribal leaders but in fact they are tribal dealers who have given their loyalty and bias to the military, the number one aggressor of the lumads' rights, instead of directing their efforts in serving the interest of the lumads and to find ways into alleviating the dire situation that the hapless lumads have long been suffering,” Fanagel lamented.

Fanagel said, “10th ID Chief Maj. General Reynaldo Mapagu who have recently dared PASAKA to file charges in the proper courts should check the long list of cases and better read the hundreds of affidavits filed against his abusive troops in the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) office and we challenge him to readily face and be accountable for the gross violations perpetrated by his men if he is sincere in his words about wanting fairness, impartiality and justice to reign.”

“We are reverberating our call to immediately pull out military troops who have been terrorizing the lumad communities and to stop targeting the civilians, we are alarmed with the recent reports that military under 60th Infantry Battalion is again terrorizing the Ata Manobo lumads in Talaingod by staying in their houses and in the schools in Sitio Dulyan and Sitio Nasilaban, Brgy. Palma Gil in Talaingod town which started five days ago and until now the said soldiers hamletted their community,” Fanagel said.

PASAKA is also alarmed with the recent report from one of it's local organization that 400 farmers and lumads coming from 7 barangays (Sto. Niño, Tumanding, Mari Caridad, Kinawayan, Kabantian, Duruluman, and Malibatuan) in Arakan Valley North Cotabato left their homes and are now staying in Arakan gym as fears continue to escalate after military soldiers under 57th IB occupied the public halls in Brgy. Sto. Niño and Brgy. Tomanding. The victims are now lobbying to the Sanguniang Bayan to pull out the military troops under 57th IB from their communities.

PASAKA also decries continuing assault on progressive peoples' organizations as lumad members and staff staying in PASAKA office have experienced being tailed and harassed by some armed burly men for 2 consecutive days this week.

“We also noticed surveillance being conducted by suspicious persons and noticed that our office is constantly being monitored. If anything untoward incident happens to any of our members and staff, there is no one to blame but the the military who have labeled our organization as one of the “enemies of the state,” it only proves that the government's offensives against people’s organizations are in accordance with the objectives of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 (OBL), which apparently remains operational,” Fanagel said.#


For reference:

Kerlan Fanagel
Secretary General- PASAKA
Regional Coordinator – KATRIBU Partylist
Contact Number: 09192714767

PRESS RELEASE
August 17, 2009

LUMADS MARK WORLD'S IP MONTH WITH PROTEST ACTIONS AGAINST MILITARIZATION

In commemoration of the World's Indigenous Peoples' Month as declared by the United Nations, lumad leaders representing various tribes in Southern Mindanao came together in a 3-day PASAKA Council meeting and discuss the recent plight of the lumads in the region and reaffirm their vows to continue the lumad struggle for the rights to ancestral lands and to self-determination. “As part of our culmination activity in commemorating IP month, we are conducting protest actions in the form of picket rally to register our call to stop killing lumads and stop militarization in lumad areas,” PASAKA Secretary General Kerla Fanagel said.

On top of the demands and recommendations crafted by the PASAKA council is the immediate pull-out of the military troops holding massive military operations which resulted to massive human rights violations against the lumad civilians in Paquibato in Davao City, Talaingod in Davao del Norte, Laak and Monkayo in Compostela Valley and in the towns of Lupon, Baganga, Cateel, Boston in Davao Oriental and Lianga Surigao Del Sur.

“Lumad communities in Southern Mindanao and its neighboring regions is besieged with military offensives such that civilian communities continue to experience human rights abuses and falls prey to the military’s terrorist war under the counter-insurgency plan Oplan Bantay Laya II (OBL II) and specifically in the National Internal Security Plan on Indigenous Peoples (NISP-IP) being implemented by the AFP in the lumad communities,” Fanagel said.

According to Fanagel, “The long list of indigenous martyrs in Southern Mindanao like Datu Dominador Diarog of Davao City, Ludenio Monzon of Boston, Marcial Latiban of Cateel, Kapis Butod of Talaingod, Agustin Cumawas of Matalam and many others who were slain by the state’s bullets magnifies the fact that the Arroyo government has no respect for indigenous peoples’ rights. The killing of civilians and activists who are resistant to the encroachment of military might and pseudo-development projects in farmer and indigenous communities is also under the AFP's implementation of OBL II.”

PASAKA is alarmed with the recent reports of human rights violations. “We received area reports that several families from 13 barangays in Baganga, Davao Oriental have again experienced military hamletting and abuses. Some victims have already sought assistance in the province as fears continue to escalate in Davao Oriental after military abuses have been committed against the local residents,” Fanagel added.

Meanwhile troubles also hound Davao City’s suburbs as military operations continue unabated in Paquibato District. According to the reports of the local organization, last August 9 , the regular mass in a chapel in Fatima, Paquibato did not take place because the military spread threats that there were bombs around their areas, sowing fear among the people.

Also in time of the 3rd founding anniversary of the 10th ID of the AFP, PASAKA called on the military’s regional command to put the welfare of civilian communities before the military’s target quota of killing and to heed the call of the lumads to pull-out military troops from the peasant and lumad communities since these military soldiers have never protected the civilians and in fact have gone frenzy on abusing the hapless lumads and farmers.

PASAKA also called on the church leaders, local government units, and peace advocates to call for the immediate pull-out of military troops in civilian communities and stop targeting the civilian populace.

“Amidst the dire poverty and hunger aggravated by the grim economic crisis, the most impoverished sectors which are the peasant and lumads are subject to gross military abuses. What the people need is food, jobs and education, not unjust war being launched by the Arroyo government,” Fanagel said.#


For reference:


KERLAN FANAGEL
Secretary General
PASAKA

Contact: 09192714767