[From the web] Philippines Must Take Immediate Action to Stop Violence Against Indigenous Peoples – A Call for Endorsements – AIPP

Philippines Must Take Immediate Action to Stop Violence Against Indigenous Peoples – A Call for Endorsements 11 October 2011 The Philippine government has an obligation to take swift action in investigating the murders and human rights violations of Indigenous Peoples (IP) by paramilitary groups and resolutely disband them. These groups have robbed IP communities of…

Human Rights Online Philippines

October 11, 2011

1–2 minutes

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Human Right, Human Rights and Liberties, Indigenous People, Internet Protocol, Philippine, Press Release

Philippines Must Take Immediate Action to Stop Violence Against Indigenous Peoples – A Call for Endorsements

11 October 2011

The Philippine government has an obligation to take swift action in investigating the murders and human rights violations of Indigenous Peoples (IP) by paramilitary groups and resolutely disband them. These groups have robbed IP communities of their right to protest destructive economic development on their ancestral lands, without facing harassment, brutal force and death by companies wishing to silence them.

Recent examples of the cascading series of human rights violations:

On 30, June, 2011, two members of Higaonon IP organisation Linundigan were killed by members of the paramilitary group Salakawan, after a claim was made for their ancestral land by one of Salakawan’s members, Laging Binsalan. Datu Lapugotan and Solte San-ogan were fatally shot when Lapugotan’s home was attacked while the family, including his wife, four children aged one to 14 years old, and nephew San-ogan, were sleeping. In September 2009, Lapugotan’s brother Dat Mampaagi was also murdered by paramilitary groups, when he opposed the entry of mining companies in their ancestral domains.