Support Indigenous Peoples 4 peace
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The World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) is committed to work for indigenous people’s rights around the globe. It is with this commitment that WSCF-NA, at the invitation of the WSCF Advocacy and Solidarity Committee and at the request of the Student Christian Movement (SCM) and other partners in the Philippines, is creating this campaign to raise funds for the support of the Lumads people of Mindanao. All the money raised will go to the Lakbay Lumad movement, to support their message as they travel speaking up against injustice and to raise awareness about the politically-motivated violence and forcible displacement they are experiencing, and how this repression is linked to foreign policy and multi-national corporate interests in the region; as well as providing concrete support to Lumad schools and community projects.
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The Lumad people - the collective term used to describe 18 non-Christianized and non-Muslim indigenous groups in the Philippines - have been fighting with their government which has signed MOAs (memorandum of agreements) with multi-million giant corporations granting them rights to the Lumad’s lands. Since 2010, the Philippines’ southern island of Mindanao and its forests, mountains, and agricultural fields have become battlefields, making farmers and indigenous people victims of widespread, intensive military campaigns.
The Lumad of Mindanao are resolutely fighting the exploitation of their ancestral lands due to foreign and local mining, transnational agro-corporation operations, and large logging operations. They have been against the military deployment in their communities and ancestral lands. Throughout these struggles the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), together with other partners on the ground, have been standing in solidarity with the Lumads.
In September last year, ALCADEV alternative Lumad school teacher and community leaders Emerito Samarca, Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo were killed by paramilitary group Magahat under the watch of the military in Lianga area. Around 3, 000 Lumad from Manobo tribe fled the upland communities as a result of the atrocities, and still remain in Tandag City open-air sports complex as refugees.
In October 2015, 700 indigenous people from Mindanao traversed more than 1,500 kilometers to bring their cries for justice to the seat of political power in Metro Manila. There they spent one month under the banner of Manilakbayan: Journey of Mindanao from the Margins to the Center, raising public awareness, meeting with government officials, and demonstrating at the headquarters of the corporations plundering their lands. This action has been call #Manilakbayan2015.
However, in January 2016 Lumad student Alibando Tingkas was also killed by suspected members of military-backed paramilitary in Talaingod. This led to forced closure of Lumad school Salugpongan Ta'tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center as the teachers, students and their community evacuated and flee from the imminent attacks.
The cry for justice for the Luman Indigenous People intensifed last February 24 2016 at 2’o clock in the morning, when unidentified men broke into the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran Mission Center in Davao City Philippines pouring gasoline and burning down dwelling places of 700 Lumads who were seeking refuge inside the church compound. The Lumads took shelter in the church compound more than a year ago fleeing from militarization and harassment. Five people were injured in the blaze, including three children.
In April-May of 2016, members of the SCM-USA and WSCF-NA had the opportunity to meet some of these indigenous community leaders during their historic speaking tour to the United States: “Lakbay Lumad USA: The Continuing Journey of Mindanao’s Indigenous Peoples for Peace with Justice.” The Lakbay Lumad tour which started in Washington DC, brought representatives of various tribes as well as faith-based advocates from coast to coast and through the midwest, to speak about the violence and forcible displacement they are experiencing at the hands of the state. They hope was to educate people in the U.S. about the situation of politically motivated repression in the Philippines and its links to U.S. foreign policy in the region, connect with people in the U.S. facing similar struggles, and build solidarity with one another.
Lakbay Lumad builds on the gains of Manilakbayan. By donating to this effort, you are helping us to build on the momentum of Manilakbayan. All the money raised will go to the Lakbay Lumad movement, to support their message as they travel speaking up against injustice and to raise awareness about the politically-motivated violence and forcible displacement they are experiencing, and how this repression is linked to foreign policy and multi-national corporate interests in the region; as well as providing concrete support to Lumad schools and community projects.
To learn about the Lumads’ inspiring efforts to stand up for their rights and defend their ancestral domain from militarization and corporate greed, please click on the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if7pDZRoVAM
Support the Lumad by joining the campaign to Stop the Killings, Save Our Schools, Protect Indigenous Life.
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The Lumad people - the collective term used to describe 18 non-Christianized and non-Muslim indigenous groups in the Philippines - have been fighting with their government which has signed MOAs (memorandum of agreements) with multi-million giant corporations granting them rights to the Lumad’s lands. Since 2010, the Philippines’ southern island of Mindanao and its forests, mountains, and agricultural fields have become battlefields, making farmers and indigenous people victims of widespread, intensive military campaigns.
The Lumad of Mindanao are resolutely fighting the exploitation of their ancestral lands due to foreign and local mining, transnational agro-corporation operations, and large logging operations. They have been against the military deployment in their communities and ancestral lands. Throughout these struggles the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), together with other partners on the ground, have been standing in solidarity with the Lumads.
In September last year, ALCADEV alternative Lumad school teacher and community leaders Emerito Samarca, Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo were killed by paramilitary group Magahat under the watch of the military in Lianga area. Around 3, 000 Lumad from Manobo tribe fled the upland communities as a result of the atrocities, and still remain in Tandag City open-air sports complex as refugees.
In October 2015, 700 indigenous people from Mindanao traversed more than 1,500 kilometers to bring their cries for justice to the seat of political power in Metro Manila. There they spent one month under the banner of Manilakbayan: Journey of Mindanao from the Margins to the Center, raising public awareness, meeting with government officials, and demonstrating at the headquarters of the corporations plundering their lands. This action has been call #Manilakbayan2015.
However, in January 2016 Lumad student Alibando Tingkas was also killed by suspected members of military-backed paramilitary in Talaingod. This led to forced closure of Lumad school Salugpongan Ta'tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center as the teachers, students and their community evacuated and flee from the imminent attacks.
The cry for justice for the Luman Indigenous People intensifed last February 24 2016 at 2’o clock in the morning, when unidentified men broke into the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran Mission Center in Davao City Philippines pouring gasoline and burning down dwelling places of 700 Lumads who were seeking refuge inside the church compound. The Lumads took shelter in the church compound more than a year ago fleeing from militarization and harassment. Five people were injured in the blaze, including three children.
In April-May of 2016, members of the SCM-USA and WSCF-NA had the opportunity to meet some of these indigenous community leaders during their historic speaking tour to the United States: “Lakbay Lumad USA: The Continuing Journey of Mindanao’s Indigenous Peoples for Peace with Justice.” The Lakbay Lumad tour which started in Washington DC, brought representatives of various tribes as well as faith-based advocates from coast to coast and through the midwest, to speak about the violence and forcible displacement they are experiencing at the hands of the state. They hope was to educate people in the U.S. about the situation of politically motivated repression in the Philippines and its links to U.S. foreign policy in the region, connect with people in the U.S. facing similar struggles, and build solidarity with one another.
Lakbay Lumad builds on the gains of Manilakbayan. By donating to this effort, you are helping us to build on the momentum of Manilakbayan. All the money raised will go to the Lakbay Lumad movement, to support their message as they travel speaking up against injustice and to raise awareness about the politically-motivated violence and forcible displacement they are experiencing, and how this repression is linked to foreign policy and multi-national corporate interests in the region; as well as providing concrete support to Lumad schools and community projects.
To learn about the Lumads’ inspiring efforts to stand up for their rights and defend their ancestral domain from militarization and corporate greed, please click on the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if7pDZRoVAM
Support the Lumad by joining the campaign to Stop the Killings, Save Our Schools, Protect Indigenous Life.
Organizer
Wscf North America
Organizer
New York, NY
