Thousands of displaced indigenous peoples in Mindanano still in evacuation centers

From InterAksyon (Jun 6): Thousands of displaced indigenous peoples in Mindanano still in evacuation centers

Chancellor Michael Tan of University of the Philippines Diliman visited the United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Haran in Davao City last March, he saw a welcome sight.

The Manobo children, who had fled their homes in Davao del Norte and Bukidnon last year after soldiers and paramilitary groups occupied their communities and tribal schools, were studying.

They were learning science, solving math problems, and practicing their writing. Their education did not stop, even though they were in situations that were far from ideal.
Unfortunately, they lacked books, school supplies, and audiovisual materials.

"I never forgot: There was an Encyclopedia Britannica, letter V to X,” he told reporters at a news conference at UP Diliman on Monday (June 6). "What will the kids do with Encyclopedia Britannica?"

He had made an appeal to his network for donations. So far, he had received some children’s books. He was still looking forward to seeing more people, as well as other universities, responding to the students’ needs.

As for UP, the community was looking for ways to support the children’s education and their life in the evacuation centers.

Still in evacuation centers

"It’s painful to see those children having such a difficult time," Tan said. "And of course, we also need to make a stand, we need to protect them as they stay in the evacuation centers. Shortly after I visited them, there was a fire, and the children were affected by this. The story was – and I saw this myself – there were people guarding them outside. In many ways, they are imprisoned in the evacuation centers. It’s hard for them to leave because there are security problems."

Along with officials of UP Diliman, which housed the lumad last year when they went to Manila to create awareness about their situation and persuade the government to bring them back home, the Save our Schools (SOS) Network, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu), and Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns are calling on the government once again to help bring the indigenous people back to their communities so that their children can return to school – "Balik komunidad, balik eskwela."

According to SOS Network national spokesperson Reina Requioma, over 5,000 indigenous students and 372 teachers have been displaced from their communities and will start the school year in evacuation centers.

"The term [of President Benigno Aquino III] is about to end," Salinlahi Secretary-General Kharlo Manano said. "But our lumad brothers and sisters remain in the evacuation centers."

He noted that another news conference was also ongoing at UCCP-Haran to draw attention to the 400 lumad kids who would be starting the school year in the evacuation center, and a motorcade was also held in Caraga to point out that 600 lumad kids would be starting the school year in the Tandag Sports Complex in Surigao del Sur.

Some 4,000 lumads in Surigao del Sur took refuge in the Tandag Sports Complex following the September 2015 murders in Lianga town of school administrator Emerito Samarca and Manobo leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Bello Sinzo, allegedly by the Magahat militia.

According to Manano, seven schools of the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur and two Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development high schools were still closed.

Education is important

Katribu council member Kakay Tolentino said that the government had long neglected the education of indigenous people. This was why since the 1980s, they had been establishing small schools with the help of nuns, priests, and other individuals to teach literacy, numeracy, and their own culture.

Education is especially important for the indigenous people so they can fight for their right to self-determination and their right to their ancestral domain.

Tolentino said there was big potential in their form of education, which was patriotic, scientific, and humane.

"Education is a right of every Filipino citizen, including indigenous peoples of the Philippines," added UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Nestor Castro.

He called on the government to stop the militarization in the lumad communities, help the lumads return home, and continue the alternative learning systems which are suited for the culture of indigenous Filipinos.

"We call on incoming President Rodrigo Duterte to push through with his strong support for initiatives of indigenous people to develop education in their own communities, and to uphold the initiatives of indigenous people to put up their own schools," Tolentino said.

Mining firms should shape up

Tan said he expected Duterte to do something about the problems the lumads face, especially since at the root of it were the mining activities being implemented in these communities.

Tan added that Duterte’s statements regarding mining were "encouraging,' and that the Davao City Mayor was reportedly sympathetic to the cause of the indigenous people.
During a thanksgiving party for his supporters on Saturday, Duterte said that "mining people" should "shape up."

"Karamihan ng ginagawa ninyo ngayon, especially Surigao, puro butas-butas na (most of what you do now, especially in Surigao, is bore holes)," Duterte said. "They have to stop. They are spoiling the land, they are destroying Mindanao. Iilan lang sila. Mga taga-Manila na nananalo. Kahit mga Moro, silang mga nauna dito, nawala sila (They are only a few. Mostly Manilans win the concessions. Even the Moros, who came here first, are out of the picture). They are among the marginal side of business endeavors here in Mindanao."

"Mauna muna ang mga taga-Mindanao na mahirap," he added. "Lahat ng malaking minero na sumira, they will have to stop. Mangita muna sila ng laing negosyo (Poor Mindanaoans will have to come first. Big miners that destroyed it will have to stop.
They have to look for another business). That has to change, para sa akin, galing dito, and I would like it to be a cooperative of all Filipinos na nakotkot diha (that dig there). We will just support them and give instructions on how not to end up spoiling the land we have here."

UP Professor Gerry Lanuza, SOS-UP Diliman convenor, said he was "very hopeful" that the incoming president would do good by the lumads.

"First of all, he’s from Davao," Lanuza said. "In addition to that, he has a good track record as far as the lumads are concerned. In fact, he was the one who intervened with Catamco.

"Last year, North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco told the lumads at UCCP-Haran to return to their communities. Later on, she was accused of instigating the violent attempt to "rescue" the refugees, whom she and the military described as "manipulated" by leftist groups, and truck them back to their villages.

Lanuza added that Duterte also "interfered" in the bloody dispersal of protesting farmers in Kidapawan City in April.According to reports, he urged his supporters to donate sacks of rice to the El Niño-affected farmers, and pledged that the Davao City government would do the same.

"And he is close to the left of Davao, so we expect that when he assumes the presidency on June 30, he will really pull (those soldiers) out (of the communities). And mining, that is what it all boils down to. (The lumad) are being forced out so that (mining) can come in," Lanuza said.

http://interaksyon.com/article/128701/thousands-of-displaced-indigenous-peoples-in-mindanano-still-in-evacuation-centers