Heighten vigilance, militance to honor slain environmental, land defenders —IP rights activist

An activist for the rights of indigenous peoples on Monday urged the public to heighten its vigilance and militance against abuses as a way to honor the "heroism" of environmental and land defenders who died while fighting for their causes.

Beverly Longid, global coordinator of International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation and international officer of Katribu, made the call as she spoke at an online forum on environmental and land defenders on National Heroes' Day.

"Today, as we celebrate National Heroes' Day, we need to heighten our vigilance and militance. Because aside from the terror law, there are many other policies implemented and are still being implemented that infringe on our basic human rights," Longid said.

"Our vigilance and militance, I think, is the best honor and tribute that we can give to the martyrs and heroes for freedom and self-determination," she added.

During the forum, Longid discussed the report of international NGO Global Witness on their findings on the plight of environmental and land defenders.

She said that in 2018, the Philippines ranked first on the list of countries with the most number of killings of land and environmental defenders.

"Since Global Witness started publishing its data in 2012, the Philippines has consistently recorded the highest number of killings in Asia of people, of activists who oppose illegal logging, destructive mining, or corrupt agribusiness," she said.

"It adds to the alarm that very few or not at all of the perpetrators have ever been prosecuted," she added.

Citing the report, Longid said corporate greed is "driving attacks against Filipinos."

She added that the "broken promises" of President Rodrigo Duterte, such as supporting marginalized and indigenous communities on combating corruption and protecting the environment, also played a role in the killings of environmental and land defenders in the country.

"These broken promises, in the end, turned into threats, and threats turned into killings," she said.

With this, Longid said the public should further oppose and expose the "selling out" of the country's patrimony and sovereignty to China, the United States, and other foreign interests.

"We also need to expose and oppose its corruption, its incompetence and incapacity to lead the country," she said.

"We need to aggressively campaign to stop the killings and end impunity in the Philippines. And we also need to actively support the campaign to defend the Cordillera against plunder and state terrorism, to defend Negros, and to defend the Lumad against state terrorism," she added. 

In a separate statement, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also honored Filipino heroes who dedicated their time, effort, and even their lives to uplift the welfare of others amid the health crisis the country is currently facing.

"Ngayong krisis pangkalusugan ang ating binabaka, mahalagang bigyang pugay natin ang mga frontliners na araw-araw bumabangon upang magligtas ng buhay at sinisigurong malayo sa anumang kapahamakan ang mga mamamayan," said CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline De Guia.

"Hindi rin matatawaran ang pagtugon ng iba’t ibang indibidwal na patuloy na itinataguyod at dinedepensahan ang karapatang pantao ng mga bulnerable at marginalisadong komunidad, lalo na sa panahong maraming pagtatangkang patahimikin ang pagpuna’t sikilin ang batayang kalayaan ng mga mamamayan," she added.

De Guia urged the public to let the spirit of heroism and camaraderie be their guide in their daily interactions with other people.

"Kinakailangang hindi mawaglit sa ating kamalayaan na ang mga karapatan at kalayaan na tinatamasa natin ngayon ay produkto ng iba’t ibang yugto ng kabayanihan na kinakailangang patuloy nating pangalagaan at ipaglaban," she added. —KG/KBK, GMA News