AN OPINION ON THE POLITICAL KILLINGS IN THE CORDILLERAS
Victims of Political Killings
The Philippines has become a hotspot of political killings. Statistics conducted by various independent monitoring bodies show that to date, there have been 271 disappearances and, 740 killings of activists and members of the media under the Arroyo administration.
As for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) communities, there are 73 cases of indigenous persons subjected to extrajudicial killings since 2005. The most recent is the shooting of Bayan Muna-Kalinga Chairperson Dr. Constancio “Chandu” Claver Jr. on July 31 in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga.
The killers ambushed Claver’s van with high powered rifles. The shooting resulted in the death of Ms. Alyce Claver, Constancio’s wife and an active member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA). Their 11-year old daughter Cassandra survived the shooting along with her father, but is deeply traumatized by the incident.
The Clavers are known to be advocates of human rights and justice. Chandu Claver is considered as “the doctor of the masses” in Kalinga where he has served for decades. He is also one of the founding members of the CPA-Kalinga Chapter. His wife Alyce on the other hand was an invaluable support to her husband and was a devoted mother to their three children. Alyce will be forever be remembered as a martyr of the people for she took a bullet that was aimed at her husband.
It can also be recalled that CPA Regional Elders desk Coordinator and Bayan Muna-Kalinga Vice Chairperson Rafael Markus Bangit was assassinated on June 8 of this year in Isabela province. He had a record that involved him in the campaign against the construction of the Chico River Dam and was one of the greatest assets in educating and informing the people of the various issues surrounding the IPs of the country.
At present, fingers are being pointed to the Arroyo administration. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military operatives in the respective provinces are said to be responsible for the killings. And although the president has appointed the Melo Commission to investigate the increasing political killings of activists and critical media people, the funny thing is that no perpetrator has been identified and brought to justice.
Probing the Arroyo Administration
It is truly ironic that the Arroyo administration claim with pride that it was elected as member of the Human Rights Council and that it has an Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA), when the bodies of victims of extrajudicial killings pile up as the president consumes her term. The numbers of these victims are appalling, surpassing even that of the Marcos Regime when the country was under Martial Law.
If the police and the appointed Melo Commission have not caught even a single suspect of the killing of activists and media people, can we conclude than that they are incompetent? Or worse, are they perhaps protecting people of their own rank that no perpetrator has been apprehended? What kind of government then do we have?
In a press release of the president last September, on the first working day of her appointed Commission, she absolved the military of the blame and dumped the blame fof the killings instead on the opposition and the “Left”.
On the other hand, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesperson, Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, struck back and said that the Melo commission was a big joke on a press release on September 2. He further reiterated that the commission was only formed to wash Arroyo’s blood-stained hands, and cover up the role of the military in the political killings.
An Analysis
With all the blame throwing and finger pointing adding to the political turmoil in the country today, who then should the people, believe? Who then should the people trust? If the government cannot ensure the basic right to life of its citizens, and to RESPECT, PROTECT, PROMOTE and FULFILL human rights, then it is failing its responsibilities and obligations to the International Human Rights Law. The question now states us in the face: Could people be blamed then for taking actions to right the wrong that they see in society?
Markus Bangit, Alyce Claver, along with other IP victims of political killings, are just a few of the people who died fighting for a better Cordillera, for a better nation. They are two of the few who dared to come out and speak for the indigenous peoples. They were silenced for their commitment and advocacy to indigenous peoples’ rights and human rights.
They are few of the people who had the guts to expose the issues on human rights violations. They were people who educated their fellow IPs in hopes of opening their eyes to the abuses to their rights. In doing so, they incurred the wrath of the power hungry people as they posed a threat to achieving their own personal gains. Thus, they paid the price with their lives.
Looking back, one cannot miss the irony that surrounded these people’s deaths. What is so ironic is the fact that Claver and Bangit were assassinated at the time that the beginning of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is being celebrated. It is also the time that the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples has been adopted by the Human Rights Council. This is despite the abstention of the Philippines to vote. This is supposed to guarantee the full recognition of the IPs rights. Hope remains that this will put an end to the continuing violation of human rights, not just in words but also in action.
The question then pops up: the Philippine government has expressed its full support on the plight of the IPs in the country, why then does the Philippine government refuse to sin the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during the UN General Assembly?
Why are there people like Bangit, Claver, Macliing Dulag and the likes, who continue to fight for the IPs right to their land, their life and their human rights? What good is the IPRA if the implementation is weak? Where is the government’s political will?
Looking back at history, the IPs of the Philippines have been marginalized since the Spanish regime. Up to date, the government that has the responsibility to protect its people, has failed to meet the needs of the IPs of its country. The sad part is that the government itself has played a part in the abuse and exploitation of the IPs and their lands. Many IPs have died and many more have been displaced due to the dams and mines that were permitted by the government to be built. Can we then blame Claver and Bangit who fought to protect their heritage?
Message
Cliché as it may seem, but we the youth are the hope of tomorrow. If so, then let us empower ourselves and be aware of what is happening to our country and its peoples. This is the only way that we can start to make a change in our country.
To my fellow IPs, let us not forget the heritage that our elders fought and died for that we may experience the richness of our culture today. Let us always remember our community, our roots, and our land. Let us not put in vain the sacrifices of Marcus Bangit, Alyce Claver, Macliing Dulag and many others who fought to keep our identities and heritage in tact.
REFERENCE:
Hapit, Vol. XIV, No. 2, April-June 2006 issue
The Philippines has become a hotspot of political killings. Statistics conducted by various independent monitoring bodies show that to date, there have been 271 disappearances and, 740 killings of activists and members of the media under the Arroyo administration.
As for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) communities, there are 73 cases of indigenous persons subjected to extrajudicial killings since 2005. The most recent is the shooting of Bayan Muna-Kalinga Chairperson Dr. Constancio “Chandu” Claver Jr. on July 31 in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga.
The killers ambushed Claver’s van with high powered rifles. The shooting resulted in the death of Ms. Alyce Claver, Constancio’s wife and an active member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA). Their 11-year old daughter Cassandra survived the shooting along with her father, but is deeply traumatized by the incident.
The Clavers are known to be advocates of human rights and justice. Chandu Claver is considered as “the doctor of the masses” in Kalinga where he has served for decades. He is also one of the founding members of the CPA-Kalinga Chapter. His wife Alyce on the other hand was an invaluable support to her husband and was a devoted mother to their three children. Alyce will be forever be remembered as a martyr of the people for she took a bullet that was aimed at her husband.
It can also be recalled that CPA Regional Elders desk Coordinator and Bayan Muna-Kalinga Vice Chairperson Rafael Markus Bangit was assassinated on June 8 of this year in Isabela province. He had a record that involved him in the campaign against the construction of the Chico River Dam and was one of the greatest assets in educating and informing the people of the various issues surrounding the IPs of the country.
At present, fingers are being pointed to the Arroyo administration. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military operatives in the respective provinces are said to be responsible for the killings. And although the president has appointed the Melo Commission to investigate the increasing political killings of activists and critical media people, the funny thing is that no perpetrator has been identified and brought to justice.
Probing the Arroyo Administration
It is truly ironic that the Arroyo administration claim with pride that it was elected as member of the Human Rights Council and that it has an Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA), when the bodies of victims of extrajudicial killings pile up as the president consumes her term. The numbers of these victims are appalling, surpassing even that of the Marcos Regime when the country was under Martial Law.
If the police and the appointed Melo Commission have not caught even a single suspect of the killing of activists and media people, can we conclude than that they are incompetent? Or worse, are they perhaps protecting people of their own rank that no perpetrator has been apprehended? What kind of government then do we have?
In a press release of the president last September, on the first working day of her appointed Commission, she absolved the military of the blame and dumped the blame fof the killings instead on the opposition and the “Left”.
On the other hand, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesperson, Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, struck back and said that the Melo commission was a big joke on a press release on September 2. He further reiterated that the commission was only formed to wash Arroyo’s blood-stained hands, and cover up the role of the military in the political killings.
An Analysis
With all the blame throwing and finger pointing adding to the political turmoil in the country today, who then should the people, believe? Who then should the people trust? If the government cannot ensure the basic right to life of its citizens, and to RESPECT, PROTECT, PROMOTE and FULFILL human rights, then it is failing its responsibilities and obligations to the International Human Rights Law. The question now states us in the face: Could people be blamed then for taking actions to right the wrong that they see in society?
Markus Bangit, Alyce Claver, along with other IP victims of political killings, are just a few of the people who died fighting for a better Cordillera, for a better nation. They are two of the few who dared to come out and speak for the indigenous peoples. They were silenced for their commitment and advocacy to indigenous peoples’ rights and human rights.
They are few of the people who had the guts to expose the issues on human rights violations. They were people who educated their fellow IPs in hopes of opening their eyes to the abuses to their rights. In doing so, they incurred the wrath of the power hungry people as they posed a threat to achieving their own personal gains. Thus, they paid the price with their lives.
Looking back, one cannot miss the irony that surrounded these people’s deaths. What is so ironic is the fact that Claver and Bangit were assassinated at the time that the beginning of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is being celebrated. It is also the time that the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples has been adopted by the Human Rights Council. This is despite the abstention of the Philippines to vote. This is supposed to guarantee the full recognition of the IPs rights. Hope remains that this will put an end to the continuing violation of human rights, not just in words but also in action.
The question then pops up: the Philippine government has expressed its full support on the plight of the IPs in the country, why then does the Philippine government refuse to sin the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during the UN General Assembly?
Why are there people like Bangit, Claver, Macliing Dulag and the likes, who continue to fight for the IPs right to their land, their life and their human rights? What good is the IPRA if the implementation is weak? Where is the government’s political will?
Looking back at history, the IPs of the Philippines have been marginalized since the Spanish regime. Up to date, the government that has the responsibility to protect its people, has failed to meet the needs of the IPs of its country. The sad part is that the government itself has played a part in the abuse and exploitation of the IPs and their lands. Many IPs have died and many more have been displaced due to the dams and mines that were permitted by the government to be built. Can we then blame Claver and Bangit who fought to protect their heritage?
Message
Cliché as it may seem, but we the youth are the hope of tomorrow. If so, then let us empower ourselves and be aware of what is happening to our country and its peoples. This is the only way that we can start to make a change in our country.
To my fellow IPs, let us not forget the heritage that our elders fought and died for that we may experience the richness of our culture today. Let us always remember our community, our roots, and our land. Let us not put in vain the sacrifices of Marcus Bangit, Alyce Claver, Macliing Dulag and many others who fought to keep our identities and heritage in tact.
REFERENCE:
Hapit, Vol. XIV, No. 2, April-June 2006 issue
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