Lumads demand end to violence

MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of lumads from Mindanao arrived in Metro Manila over the weekend to call on the government to stop the militarization of their communities and put an end to human rights violations in the south.

Participants of Manilakbayan 2015, including hundreds of lumads from various communities in Mindanao and their supporters from other parts of the country, arrived on Sunday for a month-long camp-out in the nation’s capital.

The participants spent the night at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran, Parañaque before marching toward Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila yesterday.

Hundreds of students, religious leaders and human rights advocates met the lumads and their supporters as they marched along Taft Avenue.

Among those who welcomed them were students of De La Salle - College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University, St. Scholastica’s College, Philippine Christian University, and the University of the Philippines - Manila.

The lumads marched to Mendiola yesterday afternoon. Their 1,000-kilometer march concluded with songs, statement of protest and the ritual killing of chickens.

Policemen said the protest action was peaceful.

The lumads then proceeded to UP Diliman in Quezon City, where they will stay until Sunday.

UP Diliman chancellor Michael Tan earlier noted the importance of making the students understand the plight of tribes in the south.

“It’s part of the academic life,” he said.

In a statement, the Save Our Schools UP Diliman chapter said that alternative schools of the lumads in Mindanao have been closed down and are facing threats of demolition.

“School heads, teachers and hundreds of students were prevented from holding classes, were tagged as rebels and became victims and witnesses to the violence perpetrated by soldiers and paramilitary groups,” the group added.

“The university is committed to campaign for rebuilding and preservation of alternative schools where Lumad children are to be educated in order that they could shape their future and improve their communities according to their aspirations,” it added.

Groups are also calling for an end of militarization in lumad communities after thousands have been displaced due to an ongoing armed conflict between government forces and the New People’s Army (NPA).

Several lumad leaders, including a school official, were killed by a paramilitary group allegedly created by the military to hunt down members of the NPA.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied the allegations and attributed the killings to tribal conflict.

The Commission on Human Rights is investigating the incidents.

According to Save Our Schools, the continuing violence results in the destruction of indigenous communities and their culture.

“Violence in the Lumad communities in Mindanao has to end. We could not allow it to desecrate the right to education. It is our responsibility, as a university, to stand up and support this right,” said the group.

Among the activities set at the university are a benefit concert, a cultural festival and commemoration of lumad leaders who were killed because of the conflict in the south.

In a separate statement, 43 political prisoners currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City have also expressed support for the lumads.

“Like the oppressed Lumad, we, political prisoners, have also long been subjected to fascist treatment. Despite the denials of the ruling regime, there are now more than 700 political prisoners at present, practically all victims of illegal arrest and detention, torture, criminalization of political cases, trumped-up cases that include planting of false evidences and use of paid witnesses, and other fascist acts of violence and restrictions in prison,” the group said.

“We appreciate very much that the October 2015 Manilakbayan is also taking up the issue of fascist political detention and demanding freedom, justice and respect of human rights for all political prisoners. We appreciate a lot Manilakbayan’s including us in the route of their march, and staging rallies at the gates of camps where we are imprisoned,” they added. With Aie Balagtas See