LUMADS DECRY INJUSTICE VS CLOSURE OF LUMAD SCHOOLS
Kilab Multimedia
June 1, 2015
This was how teachers and parents of Indigenous Peoples (IP) or Lumad children described the desperate move of the Department of Education Region XI ordering the closure of Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center (STTICLC).
Thousands of IP students will be affected as a consequence of this closure as penned by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Josephine Fadul last May 12, 2015.
In that letter, Fadul reiterated the so called request of the Talaingod Council of Elders for the "temporary closure of the schools operated by STTICLC and the investigation, re-inspection and the reevaluation of the said schools".
Fadul also stressed the Division's request in implementing the creation of a public high school in Talaingod "utilizing military personnel as para-teachers".
To date, STTICLC is considered the largest and oldest running organization of Manobos in Talaingod supported by the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP).
It has a total of 36 learning centers in Southern Mindanao, 24 of which are DepEd registered while 12 are up for registration.
Garcia said that nearly a decade has passed since the establishment of these schools and they have submitted all requirements set by DepEd.
The STTICLC was established without any financial assistance from DepEd.
Garcia stressed that they have been abiding and complying with all the legal requirements and documentation.
STTICLC only learned about the issue through the media. "DepEd never bothered to communicate with us. Despite the series of dialogues between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and DepEd, the latter never informed STTICLC about this," Garcia said.
Garcia believes that there is a conspiracy among the AFP, National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and DepEd since the military had constantly tagged STTICLC as the school operated by the New People's Army (NPA).
Since last year, teachers, students and parents have been complaining and reporting series of harassments perpetrated by the military and para-military groups.
Garcia vowed that they will continue to protest and exhaust all actions to save their schools and defend the rights of Lumad children to education.
They also remained firm in their commitment to fight all forms of attacks and abuses in their communities. ###
Asian IP leaders express support for Philippine lumads
March 20, 2015Business World Online
DAVAO CITY -- Leaders of different indigenous peoples (IP) in Asia have expressed their support for and solidarity with IPs in the Philippines by signing a statement presented by groups in Southern Mindanao against military presence in their communities.
The statement was presented by the Confederation of Indigenous People in Southern Mindanao or PASAKA and the council members of Kalumaran during the recently-concluded United Nations (UN) Mechanism and Procedures meet in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
PASAKA Secretary General Kerlan Fanagel said the document covers their demand for the pull-out of military forces from IP communities and schools, disarmament and dismantling of all paramilitary groups, indemnification for destroyed livelihood, and resume peace talks between the government and the leftist group National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Mr. Fanagel also presented as IP country representative the alleged illegal school and community military encampment in different areas in Mindanao, forcible recruitment and harassments of paramilitary groups, forcible displacements due to military operations and several cases of killings, vilification of activists, threats, harassments and intimidation among others.
Organized by the Asia Indigenous People’s Pact or AIPP the gathering was attended by IP leaders and representatives from India, Nepal, Thailand, Burma, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
“This support shows that there is unity among Asian IP leaders. The IPs in Asia have the same problems in terms of land and resources,” said Mr. Fanagel who made the presentation as country IP representative.
Fanagel also said that his group will submit the findings on different areas in Mindanao of the International Solidarity Mission to the United Nation Human Rights Council and UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
PASAKA also intends to file charges in Philippine courts against the military.
“I submitted personally some documents to the UN Rapporteur on Indigenous People because local struggle is not enough here in the Philippines” he said, adding that they are hoping that their demands and issues will be presented in the UN forum on IP in New York next month.
Military officials have repeatedly denied the allegations saying the supposed campaign against militarization is being fueled by rebel groups. -- Maya M. Padillo
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