PRESS STATEMENT
Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP)
Reference: Pya Macliing Malayao- National Coordinator/Spokesperson
Contact Nos. 412-5340, 09105845353
August 23, 2014
The Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) strongly condemns the most recent cases of human rights violations (HRVs) against the indigenous peoples (IPs), demands justice for all the victims of HRVs and call for the end of the BS Aquino's counter-insurgency Operational Plan Bayanihan.
In a span of less than three weeks this month, the extent of HRVs against the IPs in Mindanao clearly demonstrate how the Oplan Bayanihan of the BS Aquino regime works against the rights and interests of the Filipino people.
In August 22, Genasque Enriquez, Secretary General of the KASALO Regional Lumad Organization in CARAGA, a council member of KAMP and the National Vice President and 2nd Nominee of the KATRIBU Partylist, was arrested in Surigao City by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Philippine National Police (PNP) and elements of the 30th IBPA by virtue of an alias warrant of arrest issued against him in March 25, 2013. Enriquez was charged by the Philippine Army with three counts of frustrated murder.
Prior to his arrest, Enriquez was also charged with trumped-up charges of murder and frustrated murder in July 2012, which was all related to different military offensives of the New People's Army (NPA) against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). All charges were all dropped due to lack of evidence.
Enriquez is a staunch Manobo leader from Lianga, Surigao del Sur who openly campaigned against large-scale mining operations and militarization in CARAGA. The arrest of Genasque Enriquez was preceded by a series of military harassments of IP communities in the CARAGA region.
To date, a total of 169 IP leaders and community members were implicated in trumped-up charges, and experienced illegal arrest and detention.
On August 14, Marcel Lambon was killed by suspected members of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA) in Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Lambon is a Higaonon council member of the Pigyayungaan Lumad organization and actively campaigned against the environment destruction and expansion of an oil palm plantation in Impasug-ong. In the first quarter of this year, Lambon was repeatedly harassed and accused as a member of the NPA.
On August 10, Datu Roger Alaki of Sitio Mintakei, Barangay Lydia in La Paz, Agusan del Sur was extra-judicially killed by the Bagani Force (another paramilitary group) and elements of the 26th IBPA. This incident occurred after Datu Alaki's community refused to sign a memorandum agreement with the Malampay Mining Company. Because of threats and continued harassment, 30 families of about 160 individuals fled their community.
The murders of Datu Alaki and Lambon raised the count of documented cases of extra-judicial killings of IPs to 45 under the BS Aquino regime.
Since August 7, continued counter-insurgency operations of units under the 1003rd Brigade of the Philippine Army have put the lives of Lumad communities in Kapalong, Davao del Norte in imminent danger. The military used the indigenous communities as shields, occupied the churches and schools and imposed food blockade. The military also openly accuse civilians and even children as members of the NPA that makes them more vulnerable to the atrocities of the military. More than 500 Manobos as a form of protest and also to ensure their safety decided to leave but were prevented because of the forced hamleting. The rabid paramilitary group Alamara is employed to stop them from leaving and to prevent human rights organizations to enter the militarized areas.
In the last four years, KAMP recorded sixteen incidences of forced evacuations of IPs involving about 9,754 individuals. Mostly in Mindanao, these evacuations were triggered by massive and prolonged military operations but suspected to be clearing operations to pave the way for the entry of mining and logging companies.
These cases of harassments, military encampment in IP communities, extra-judicial killings and the filing of trumped-up charges are the part of the Oplan Bayanihan, which was implemented by BS Aquino in January 2012 right after the dreaded Oplan Bantay Laya 2 Extension of the previous the Arroyo regime,,
Despite the arrest of the butcher Gen. Jovito Palparan, symbol of the brutality of the Oplan Bantay Laya, the repression and the culture of impunity continues and worsens under the BS Aquino regime. The Lumad people felt the brunt of BS Aquino's own counter-insurgency program, but it also brings suffering to the communities of the Aggay, Igorot, Dumagat, Palaw'an, Ayta, Mangyan, Tumandok and Ati.
The Oplan Bayanihan is implemented hand-in-hand with so-called development programs such as large-scale mining, dams, energy projects, economic zones and mono-crop plantations, among others, which are mostly foreign-owned and controlled in partnership with local big business elites.#
Kalipunan ng Mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP)
National Alliance of Indigenous Peoples Organizations in the Philippines
Room 304 NCCP Building, near Quezon Avenue corner EDSA, West Triangle, Quezon City
(02) 412-5340
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