A lumad leader from Davao presented cases of human rights violations (HRVs) committed by the armed forces during the 2015 preparatory meeting on United Nations mechanisms and procedures relating to Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
Kerlan Fanagel, secretary general of Pasaka or Confederation of Indigenous People in Southern Mindanao and council member of Kalumaran, said he personally submitted documents to the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous’ People, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz.
The gathering was hosted in Siem Reap, Cambodia by the Asia Indigenous People’s Pact or AIPP.
Among the top cases Fanagel presented as IP country representative were illegal school and community encampment in different areas in the country mostly in Mindanao, forcible recruitment and harassments of paramilitary groups like the Maggahat Force and Alamara, forcible displacements due to military operations and several cases of killings, vilifications of activists, threats, harassments and intimidation among others.
Fanagel said “we will not confine ourselves in resolving these cases with our national government knowing the rotten justice system we have in our country. It is obvious we can’t get justice in the Philippines.”
However, he said several cases will also be filed in the regular courts.
Fanagel said his group will also submit the findings of the International Solidarity Mission held in Balit, Agusan Del Sur and Talaingod, Davao Del Norte to the United Nation Human Rights Council, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
