Cordillera indigenous peoples this week joined the indictment of
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) for human rights
violations, economic plunder, and transgression of the Filipino
people’s sovereignty at the Italy-based International Permanent
People’s Tribunal (IPPT) at the University of the Philippine in
Diliman, Quezon City. This was simultaneously with the indictment at
The Hague, The Netherlands.
“The
Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) participates as part of its actions
to gain justice for its martyrs killed during the GMA reign. The
killings is a national policy, where indigenous peoples are no spared,
not even innocent apoliticals”, said CPA Chairperson Beverly Longid.
Longid is also the vice chairperson of the Cordillera Human Rights
Alliance (CHRA).
The
CPA and the victims’ families have initially submitted the following
cases to be included in the indictment of human rights violations:
•
The killing of Rafael Markus Bangit on June 8, 2006 in Isabela
province. Bangit was respected tribal leader of the Malbong tribe of
Tabuk, Kalinga, and was also a peacepact holder for his tribe. He was
instrumental in forging peace and preventing tribal disputes between
and among tribes in Kalinga, through years of experience and skill as a
tribal leader and elder. He headed the Elders Desk of the CPA and was a
member of the CPA Regional Council.
•
The killing of Jose Doton, a peasant leader in Pangasinan province, who
led the Pangasinan people’s struggle against the Japan-funded San Roque
Dam through the Tignay dagiti Mannalon a Mangwayawaya ti Agno (TIMMAWA
or Peasant Movement to Free the Agno River). The CPA has worked closely
with Doton in this campaign to save the land, life and resources of the
people in San Nicolas, Pangasinan, and the Ibaloi communities’ in
Itogon, Benguet.
•
The killing of Alyce Omengan-Claver, and the frustrated killing of her
husband, Dr. Constancio Claver on July 31 in Tabuk, Kalinga. The ambush
of the Clavers took place in broad daylight on a busy street, with
their second daughter with them. Fortunately, she was unhurt, but
deeply traumatized from the incident. Alyce has worked with the CPA
chapter in Manila as a student, and continued to support and be part of
its advocacy upon returning to Tabuk with Dr. Claver. Dr. Claver is the
vice chairperson of CPA-Kalinga, and the provincial chair of the Bayan
Muna Partylist. Markus Bangit was his chairperson of the said
partylist. The unlawful arrest, detention, and torture of the Punks 11
in Buguias, Benguet
The IPPT
The
Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal is an international opinion tribunal,
independent from any State authority which examines and judges
complaints on violations of human rights and rights of peoples
submitted by the victims themselves or groups representing them. It was
founded in June 1979 in Italy by law experts, writers and other
intellectuals. The Tribunal succeeded the Russel Tribunals I and II or
the International War Crimes Tribunal, which held two sessions in 1967
to expose the war crimes committed against the Vietnamese people.
In
1980, the Tribunal convened a session on the Philippines to hear the
case against the dictator of Ferdinand E. Marcos, at the suit of the
National Democratic Front of the Philippines [NDFP] and the Moro
National Liberation Front [MNLF]. It was the first international
juridical body to condemn the US sponsored Marcos dictatorship.
On
the appeal of the Initiating Group of Philippine organizations, the
Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal decided to convene the Second Session on
the Philippines. It shall hear and deliberate on the indictment against
the Arroyo regime, the US government and multilateral agencies acting
as their accomplices, in violating the Filipino people’s individual and
collective rights, and for crimes under international law.
Continuing demand for justice
“This
indictment with the International Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal is a
major part of the Filipino people’s campaign to expose, condemn, and
hold accountable the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime for its crimes
against the Filipino people. It would show that the killings and
disappearances against activists is a State policy and implemented at a
nationwide scale”, concluded Longid.
The
Initiating Group of the PPT include Peace for Life, IBON Foundation,
Ecumenical Bishop’s Forum (EBF), United Church of Christ in the
Philippines (UCCP), the Public Interest Law Center (PILC), the
Philippine Peace Center and the National Alliance for the Advancement
of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN).
Also in attendance at the
launching and indictment in Quezon City are the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (BAYAN or New Patriotic Alliance), HUSTISYA (the organization
of Survivors, Friends and Families of victims of political killings and
human rights violations), DESAPARECIDOS and SELDA (Samahan ng mga
Ex-Detainees laban sa Detensyon at Amnestiya].
# AT Bengwayan/CPA Public
Information
www.cpaphils.org
