Tribal groups mark Indigenous Peoples Day with rallies

TRIBAL groups in the Philippines marked International Day of Indigenous Peoples on Tuesday with protest actions calling for an end to human rights violations, land grabbing and environmental destruction.

Members of indigenous communities marched to Manila to stage rallies near Malacanang presidential palace and at the Supreme Court to petition for a “Writ of Kalikasan” or a stop to destructive mining.

“We were on the exact same spot as we were a year ago,” said Piya Macliing Malayao of Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines (KAMP), speaking at a rally on historic Mendiola Bridge.

“This time last year, we offered up to Malacanang the Indigenous Peoples’ Agenda – a list of just demands to the newly elected president. But none were given attention. Instead, we found ourselves in worse situations,” said Malayao, a Bontoc-Igorot from the Mountain Province.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Agenda includes demands for justice for 139 extra-judicial killings among indigenous peoples and the cancellation of mining permits that reportedly drive away indigenous communities from their ancestral lands.

Another tribal group held a protest action outside the Supreme Court building in Manila to demand a stop to mining operations in the southern Philippines.

“Since 1997 until now, mining companies did not stop on applying for mining permits despite our strong opposition to their entries to protect and defend our homes, livelihood and food base,” said Jesus Catamco Jr. of the Alliance for the Integrity of Nature.

“We will never allow all forms of mining… we do not want our ancestral domain to be destroyed. Our ancestral domain supplies us with everything we need,” said Mario Catanes, head of an organization of the Subanen tribe.

The group filed a petition for a Writ of Kalikasan from the Supreme Court.

The Writ is a special civil action provided under the Rules of Procedure promulgated by the Supreme Court in April 2010 for immediate resolution of environmental cases.

In the southern Philippines, members of lumad communities hit the streets of Davao to call attention to their plight and protest alleged abuses by multinational corporations.

Dulphing Ogan, secretary general of the Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (Kalumaran), said lumad communities continue to suffer from the effects of development projects pushed by the government and private business interests.