Mindanao peoples’ rage for justice reaches the nation’s capital through ManiLakbayan

A Press statement by the Manilakbayan of Mindanao
December 3, 2012

We, the 74 delegates of Manilakbayan and from the different tribes and regions in Mindanao, come in solidarity with everyone here in the nation’s capital in our arrival for our 10-day Manilakbayan to defend our rights, our land and our environment.

This is a historic moment for us Lumad (Mindanao indigenous peoples), Moro people, environment advocates and human rights defenders, coming together with you Metro Manila and Luzon people, as we journey towards justice and genuine peace.

We are now here because Manila needs to listen to the marginalized peoples of Mindanao. It is ironic that Mindanao is considered the food basket, the wellspring of many natural, mineral and aquatic resources; but it is also the most neglected in terms of services, as these resources are plundered by foreign multinational corporations in cahoots with the government.

Mindanao is also one of the most bloodied places since the Aquino administration began in mid-2010. Thirty five (35) of our fellow community leaders have been killed for defending our land and our environment, more than 1,000 families displaced; more leaders have been harassed, survived assassination and faced false charges in courts in order to silence us.

This is not to count yet the situation of the Moro people who, until now, suffer from the brutal attacks of government army forces and the long-ingrained discrimination against them.

With us now are the relatives of Blaan woman leader Juvy Capion of Tampakan in South Cotabato who, with her two children, were massacred by elements of the 27th IB who are known protectors of Xstrata, the 4th biggest copper mining company in the world; the family of Datu Jimmy Liguyon of Bukidnon who was murdered for refusing to sign a consent form for the entry of a mining company, and other families and relatives who are demanding justice for their martyred kin.

Anti large-scale mining advocates from the Zamboanga peninsula are also here to press for the stop of the big Canadian mining firm Toronto Ventures Incorporated (TVI) who have wreaked havoc on the lives of the Subanen people.

We are now here, at the heart of the national government, to bring this message: We are not deterred, we manifest our fight!

We bring with us this urgent call as our communities continue to face the threats of large-scale mining and militarization. We come with our rage for justice, for our leaders who have been slain, and for our communities that face these threats.

We will also bring our plight to the institutions in Manila – the schools, churches, Congress and hopefully Malacañang, the perpetrator of this mining liberalization which has been given a big push by Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan.