Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!
It is with a heavy heart that I write you to ask for support and assistance for our indigenous brothers and sisters of Mindanao.
Currently a number of indigenous communities in Mindanao are suffering from militarization, threats, intimidation, and harassment. These communities are home to Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon International and Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (Misfi) schools in far flung areas of Mindanao, Philippines such as Talaingod and Compostela Valley, where the communities have long suffered from government neglect. These schools have been built through donations of communities and church people from UMC communities, such as the California Pacific Annual Conference and California-Nevada Annual Conference, at the request of the indigenous peoples in these communities.
These schools for several years now are certified by the Department of Education (DepEd) of the Philippines. Very recently the Dep Ed has taken side with the Philippine military in closing down these Salugpongan schools. The Philippine military even opened their own schools with military personnel serving as “para-teachers.”
The connivance of the DepEd and the Philippine Military is not only a clear violation of international humanitarian laws but a mockery of the tradition and cultural practices of the indigenous peoples.
Furthermore, the schools are being labeled as “rebel” schools. The military threatens to burn down these schools if the children from these communities continue to attend school there. In a number of communities, the military even told the people they will shoot teachers, many of whom are volunteer missionaries, if they show up to start classes in these schools on June 8th.
Due to threats, intimidation, and concerns for their lives, currently a total of 400 community members (children, women and elderly) have been displaced and evacuated ("bakwet") from several indigenous communities in Talaingod, Muling and Kapalong in Davao Del Norte. They are now seeking refuge at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP Haran) in Davao City. The indigenous peoples who have recently evacuated left behind their fields, crops, animals and their livelihood and are seeking help and protection of their communities and schools from wanton destruction by the military.
We as a church acknowledge the responsibility of the Philippine Government in the protection of the rights of the people, including the right to adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, and health care. (UMC Social Principles 164 V. A. The Political Community). These rights however are ceaselessly violated with the ongoing militarization of indigenous peoples’ communities in Southern, and other parts of Mindanao.
The Davao Episcopal Area of the Philippines Central Conference is actively responding to the clamor for help of our indigenous brothers and sisters to meet the most basic needs of food and clean water and support them in their struggle to return safely to their communities to continue to till their lands; and for the children to be able to go back to their Salugpongan schools and live a life free of threats, harassments and intimidation from the military.
But we cannot do this alone. We need international partners throughout the UMC connection to support the ongoing efforts of our local mission partners.
We are thus asking first and foremost, for prayers for the safety of the growing number of evacuees (“bakwet”), many of whom are children, women and elderly, now holed up in UCCP Haran, Davao CIty. We are also in need of financial support to help feed the evacuees and to help heal those who are sick among them. Above all, we need support for our advocacy and seek international attention for the right of these people to return safely to their communities, live free of intimidation, threats and harassment.
Your support is indispensable and we hope and pray to the almighty that our request for assistance will be granted.
Enclosed you will find fact sheets and more information on the tragedy of Salugpongan schools in Southern Mindanao.
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