(Due to its significance, we yield this space to the statement of the Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights marking the Aug. 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. – Ed.)
WE UNITE with indigenous peoples around the globe in commemorating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. It has been said numerous times that indigenous p6eoples and their communities are the remaining frontiers and for a long time, are effective protectors of natural resources. More so, they are at the frontlines in confronting the effects and causes of the climate crisis. However, up to this day, indigenous peoples are being challenged by age-old issues caused by modern industries and the global capitalist economy.
In the Philippines, a new administration took over last month but the aspirations and demands of indigenous peoples may remain elusive. The dam projects such as the Kaliwa, Gened, Jalaur, and Alimit may push through with construction during this administration. Mining activities and new mining projects are aggressively pursued from north to south.
In his first State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. failed to mention plans that would include indigenous peoples’ rights and welfare but more on his administration’s grand plans for infrastructure, energy, and tourism. Those programs in the past brought about economic displacement, cultural degradation, and physical displacement of indigenous peoples. Improvements in the delivery of social services were mentioned but those are focused on digitization for education and pandemic response for the health sector. It is difficult to visualize how indigenous peoples can benefit from these as most of their basic concerns such as their rights to ancestral lands, self-governance, and access to basic services are not addressed.
Being a continuation of the past administration’s policies and actions, addressing human rights violations will still be an uphill battle for indigenous peoples. Yet we still demand from this government to heed the indigenous peoples’ clamor for justice by holding into account the perpetrators of extra-judicial killings, dropping of false charges filed against indigenous peoples and human rights defenders, release of innocent prisoners, and to stop the irresponsible vilification or red-tagging of indigenous leaders and their organizations.
As we brace for more challenges in defense of land, life and rights, it is most important for indigenous peoples, their organizations and communities to continue engaging policymakers, local governments, government agencies and corporations at different levels. Community defense using knowledge of national and customary laws must be enhanced as proper processes of free prior and informed consent should be held before any project and policy commence in indigenous communities. Uphold indigenous peoples’ rights!
