Monday, November 2, 2015

Mindanao: A Militarized and Plundered Land

Mindanao:
A Militarized and Plundered Land
Source : www.manilakbayan.org

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy 02 November 2015






Attacks on
Schools

Indigenous community schools in Mindanao have been targeted for closure, encampment, vilification, and harassments. These schools have been initiated by Lumad community organizations, with assistance from non-government organizations and support groups, in response to the need to address high illiteracy rates in rural areas. Since April 2015, Lumad children of Talaingod in Southern Mindanao have been holding classes in an evacuation center after their  schools were ordered closed and after soldiers have encamped in their communities. The same experience of attacks prevails among Manobo, Banwaon, and Mamanwa children in Caraga; Blaan and Tboli children in Socsksargen region; and Higaonon and Manobo children in Northern Mindanao


Attacks
on our
Communities


Militarization of communities has led to forcible evacuations of Lumads. Their livelihood has been disrupted. Community infrastructure like schools, clinics, collective farms have been destroyed. Using the classic divide-and-rule approach, the AFP has organized, armed, and trained indigenous para-militaries to fight against their kin.


Attacks on our People

Advocates against big mining, plantations, and other extractive  projects, as well as teachers and students, have been lodged with fabricated criminal suits. They are facing threats to their lives.n Several of those who find their names in the AFP’s “order of battle hit list” have become victims of summary executions.


Support
our Calls

Stop Oplan Bayanihan, the Aquino government’s war against the people No to Big Mining and Plantations!
Cancel all mining permits! Stop plantation expansion!
Stop the Attacks on our Schools!
Pull out military troops from our schools and communities!
Rescind Department of Education Memorandum 221 or the
militarization of schools!
Stop the Attacks on our Communities!
Disband all indigenous paramilitaries!
Indemnify rural communities displaced by militarization!
Stop militarization in rural and urban communities!
Stop the Attacks on our People!
Justice for all victims of extra- judicial killings by the Aquino government!
Drop false criminal charges against our community and sectoral leaders!


DEFEND MINDANAO
FROM MILITARIZATION AND PLUNDER!

Support
Manilakbayan
2015

We in Mindanao are fighting to defend our schools, communities, and people from militarization and plunder.
Manilakbayan 2015 is a people’s caravan from Mindanao to Manila, to bring the voices of indigenous peoples and peasant communities to the national capital.
At the doorstep of the Presidential Palace and before the national platform, we vow to demand justice for victims of  extrajudicial killings, to demand the dropping of false charges against our leaders and people, to press for the pull out of military troops from our schools and communities, and to clamor for the disbandment and disarming of paramilitaries. Manilakbayan 2015 needs the participation of the people in Manila and the solidarity of peoples all over the world.Mindanao needs your active support!


How you can help

JOIN the Manilakbayan from Mindanao to Manila

WRITE letters to government agencies and international bodies to call attention to our plight

EDUCATEyour community/group about the situation in Mindanao and our calls for justice

MOBILIZEa demonstration, media event or any gathering on the Global Week of Action for Mindanao on December 3-9, 2015

DONATE and support the cause for human rights and ecological justice


T: +63 82 327 2719
E: support.manilakbayan@gmail.com
W: www.manilakbayan.org
FB: manilakbayan ng Mindanao
Contact Us



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