Wife of slain anti-mining village chief goes to national capital, protests killing of husband, threats against community

By KALUMBAY Regional Lumad Organization
April 19, 2012

MALAYBALAY CITY  – The 19 families of Human Rights Defenders remain adamant in continuing their camp-out protest at the Bukidnon Provincial Capitol grounds.  Instead of backing down from the pressure, they have stepped up their campaign, bringing the issue to both the national and international communities.

Liguyon’s wife, Sharon, is joining this month other Internally Displaced Persons from Mindanao to bring their case to Manila.  She is to lobby to the national offices of government agencies such as the Commission on Human Rights and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to demand for justice for Jimmy Liguyon and to ensure the security of the 19 families who have evacuated after Liguyon’s death.

Previously, on April 11 Bukidnon Vice Governor Zubiri went to the camp-out of 19 indigenous families, telling them to leave the capitol grounds and settle at a relocation site.  But the families, led by the women, explained the significance of their camp-out.

“Ang among pagkampuhan diri pagpadayag sa among pagprotesta, pagpangusog ug pagsiguro nga aksyunan sa gubyerno ang problema (We have camped-out to show our protest, our insistence to make sure that the government will act on the problem),” said Marlyn Gaguy, one of the women leaders of Kasilo.

“Wala mi problema kung unsa man ang itsura sa among balay nga puy-an basta natagaan og hustisya ang pagkamatay sa among kapitan ug maprotektahan dili lang kami kundi ang uban pang mga pamilya nga ginahulga sa mga paramilitar (We don’t have a problem however our houses will look as long as we have achieved justice for our barangay captain and we have ensured the protection of not only our families but of the others who are being threatened by the paramilitaries as well.”

The evacuees are also doubtful of the assurance of security for their families in the subdivision they were to be relocated.  The following day, they saw Joas Lekawan, one of the actual members who was with Butsoy Salusad when he killed Jimmy, in front of the camp.

“Libre man gani nga mualigid ug magmatyag sa amo ang mga miyembro sa NIPAR nga naa mi sa capitolyo samot pa kaha nga naa mi sa sabdibisyon (Members of NIPAR are free to monitor us even if we are at the capitol grounds, how much more if we are already at the subdivision)?” said Marlyn.

Tribal leaders in southern Bukidnon who are recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples have also been asked by the government to negotiate with the evacuees.  Lito Gawilan, a board member of the Federation of the Manobo-Matigsalug Tribal Councils, proposed a ‘payment’ of a horse to settle the problem.