KALUMARAN

Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao

PRESS RELEASE

July 25, 2010

For reference : Datu Monico Cayog, Chairperson, 0909-554-8217

LUMADS CHALLENGE AQUINO TO ADDRESS WOES

Indigenous peoples from Mindanao call on President Noynoy Aquino to stop ongoing aggressive development projects and military operations in lumad communities as it has brought more hardship and threats to them.

The Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad (KALUMARAN) wants Aquino, who will deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, to address their concerns particularly on human rights, protection of natural resources, review of current policies and laws on indigenous peoples’ rights, and stopping of development projects unwelcome in their ancestral domains.

Datu Monico Cayog, Chairperson of Kalumaran and a Bagobo leader in Davao del Sur, said Aquino should heed the report of United Nations for the World Indigenous Peoples that says conflicts will surround ancestral lands such as in Mindanao due to the scramble for the remaining natural resources for profit.

Cayog said Mindanao's remaining resources are under threat of aggressive expansion of agri-business investments, energy projects and open-pit mining operations. Lumad ancestral lands have also been attractive sites for dam and energy projects like the Pulangi V Project in Bukidnon-North Cotabato and Agus Dam; mining and logging in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Caraga region among others.

For that, Cayog challenged Aquino, who has promised reforms in governance, to take a "clear stand to protect ancestral lands from environment plunder for the interest of the Lumads and the country as a whole."

"Until we see the withdrawal of troops and bulldozers from our communities, until we see that the Lumads' rights to their land is respected, there will be no peace for the Lumads," he said.

Kalumaran urges the new administration to probe the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other government agencies in corruption and compromises with big businesses to facilitate the latter’s entry to ancestral lands.

They also want the review of the process of application for ancestral domain titles since it has become a source of conflict for the indigenous people.

The group also wants Aquino to pullout troops, dismantle military-created armed groups like Task Force Gantangan, and push for the further review of the internal security measures that have resulted to violations of human rights against the Lumads.

Cayog says that nearly 70 lumad leaders have been killed in Mindanao under Arroyo's regime, notably Dos Monzon from Davao Oriental, Datu Mampaagi Belayong of Agusan del Norte and Datu Aladino Badbaran of Agusan del Sur, who have stood up against military and encroachment of development projects.

Kalumaran is also calling Aquino to take action on Arroyo for her nine-year stint plagued with killings of IP leaders, displacement of communities from military and plunder of ancestral lands by projects.

The group is pushing an eight-point agenda proposed by Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) that includes: Stopping the plunder of ancestral domain, stop all destructive projects, repeal the IPRA, end militarization and violations to IP rights, justice for IPs whose rights are violated, uphold the integrity of the partylist system that is infiltrated by government and military-backed lumads, advance peace talks, and implement international agreements that the Philippine government has signed that respect the rights of IPs.

The agenda will be presented to Aquino on August 9, in time for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

KAMP’s member organizations including Kalumaran and 285 local organizations from 41 provinces nationwide will be participating in SONA rallies and activities across the country on July 26, highlighting the sectoral concerns of indigenous peoples.

http://lrcksk.org/