IN ACTIVE defense against the rights violations of Aquino administration’s Internal and Peace Security Plan Bayanihan (Oplan Bayanihan), Mindanaoans will take it to the next level—a protest action in Mendiola.
Various sectors from different organizations in Mindanao have united to traverse islands and launched a series of protest actions and solidarity activities along the way that will culminate in Mendiola, Metro Manila, during the International Human Rights Day this December 10, 2014.
CAGAYAN DE ORO. These lakbayanis were headed to the National Capital Region after a brief rest at Barangay Platero in Biñan town in Laguna on November 21. (Photo grabbed from Manilakbayan ng Mindanao FB page)
The campaign dubbed as “Food and Peace for MindaNow!” aims at spreading awareness to the local and international community about the plight of our local farmers, indigenous communities, women and children wherein large-scale mining companies and agro-industrial plantations are operating.
The campaign also believes that the present ‘development activities’ in the hinterland will only bring about incurable destruction to our environment and culture of the lumads.
Act of defense
In an article posted in Rmp-nmr.org, it said the campaign is an act of defense for the achievements that the people have attained – literacy and numeracy schools of the Lumads, sustainable agricultural production, and the assertion of the rights of the indigenous peoples that entails the preservation and development of their culture.
CAGAYAN DE ORO. These lakbayanis were headed to the National Capital Region after a brief rest at Barangay Platero in Biñan town in Laguna on November 21. (Photo grabbed from Manilakbayan ng Mindanao FB page)
The constant military operations and activities in the countryside are rapidly, and on a massive scale, destroying the achievements of the people in the far-flung communities of Mindanao.
Most, if not all, of the participants in the campaign have their stories of human rights abuses. Here are some of them:
Bullets for a makeshift shanty
Do you still remember the story of Nexon Tongao who was shot by police officers during an illegal demolition in Lugait town in Misamis Oriental?
Tongao died while trying to put his child to safety amid the commotion between the residents who defended their rights as human beings, versus the police officers whose mandate that time was essentially to strip the protesters off of their safety—the security of having a home and livelihood that is very basic and essential to living according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Now, in the ‘ManiLakbayan ng Mindanao 2014,’ his son Roniel Tongao will carry the voice of his father and their community to the country’s center.
Agrarian reform can put you to jail
Modesto Bernas is a member of Palapay Binakalan Farmers’ Association and was charged with double murder and multiple frustrated murders. He was charged with the crimes he did not commit.
CAGAYAN DE ORO. Around 500 farmers from Quezon province welcomed the arrival of the more than 300-strong Manilakbayan ng Mindanao contingent in Gumaca town. The contingent was offered with fresh coconut juice by the locals after the traditional handshaking. A short program followed before the Manilakbayanis as well as those who welcomed them proceeded to Lucena City on November 18. (Photo grabbed from Manilakbayan ng Mindanao FB page)
When he and his family were already sleeping one night, dozens of police officers barged in without a search warrant. Having no idea of what was happening, Modesto’s family was shocked and scared as police officers held them at gunpoint.
Modesto, who is already 52-years old, was brought to the Police Regional Office in Camp Alagar in Cagayan de Oro.
According to arresting officers, he must be a member of the New People’s Army because he could explain agrarian reform—a must have information for farmers to protect their land and tenure.
In the campaign, Modesto’s wife, Dolores Bernas, will air her grievances against the injustice their family suffered.
Bullets for the kids
Due to fear getting caught in the crossfire of the ongoing military operations in the countryside in August 12 this year, Jordan Havana together with the men in the community searched for food.
Their community sought refuge in the forest for three days, away from their homes and source of food.
While they were eating durian, they heard a series of gunshots that were directed to them. They ran for cover until they reached a river where they saw men in camouflaged uniforms that fired at them.
Jordan Havana and his brother, Johnny Boy, are participating in ‘ManiLakbayan’ to spread the rights abuses committed against them. They want the people in the urban to know their situation in the hinterland.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/weekend-cagayan-de-oro/2014/11/22/mindanaoans-mendiola-378066
More press coverage of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) driven "Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2014" being carried out by known communist front organizations/activists.
ReplyDeleteAmidst all of the wailing and gnashing of teeth by the commies over the large military presence in Mindanao and the implementation of OPLAN Bayanihan is the glaring omission of an explantion of why this is so. The trught is that over half of the strength of the New People's Army, the military wing of the CPP, is located in Mindanao, mainly in Northeastern Mindanao, and especially among the lumad (hill tribe)communities.
NPA depredations are the real reason for the large military presence in the area. The NPA engage in "revolutionary taxation," a form of extortion, of multinational corporations and local businesses. They routinely burn the assets of those companies who to fail to pay their "taxes." The NPA has kidnapped ordinary soldiers and policemen, executed local leaders that oppose the NPA presence in their areas, and recruited "child soldiers" to do their bidding in violation of the laws of war.
If the NPA were to disband tomorrow there would be no need for such a large military presence in the region and people could get on with their daily lives in relative freedom and safety. Of course the commies will never admit this fact.