Minority groups demand to end militarization and land plunder
VARIOUS youth and advocacy groups called out the government to serve justice to indigenous communities through ending militarization and the continuing plunder on ancestral lands in the Philippines.
Minority groups from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, along with the different sectors and organizations joined on Thursday the protest march titled “Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya” from Welcome Rotonda to Mendiola, Manila.
Beverly Longit, the international solidarity officer of KATRIBU-Alliance of Indigenous Communities of the Philippines said the goal of the protest is to address concerns of the indigenous communities.
“[The protest aims] to address the major concerns on the issues about the continuing plunder of ancestral lands and territories ng mga katutubo, as well as yung militarization on the indigenous and moro communities,” Longit said.
The protest march highlighted the minority groups’ support for the peace talks and the ongoing discussion between the government and the moro rebels.
The groups urged President Duterte to continue to fight for an independent foreign policy that will protect the lives and lands of the national minorities and recognize the rights to self-determination.
"Naapektuhan din ang ating mga katutubo sa mainit na usapin ng foreign policy pati nadin ang joint exercises kasama ang mga joint exercises ng US,” Longit added.
The minority groups are set to camp out in the University of the Philippines-Diliman on October 16, which will mark the culmination of the protest.
An exhibit and series of forums and discussions will be held on October 21 in UP Diliman as well.
The event was initiated by different organizations including Katribu Alliance of indigenous community of the Philippines, Suara-Alliance of Moros in the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other multi-sectoral organizations as well as regional and local formations of indigenous people.###
